I was just thinking about, if it would be possible (in theory) to use a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Synchronous_Motor"]Linear Snychronous Motor[/ame] to accelerate a spaceship for example on the lunar surface to orbital speed. I know it's sounds crazy but I think it's more realistic than a "space lift" on earth.
Le'ts have a look to the data of the Transrapid for example I've took from wikipedia:
Maximum speed:
550 km/h
Acceleration:
0 => 200 km/h => 60s (3.3m/s^2)
200 => 400 km/h => 60s (3.3m/s^2)
I think the "only" limit on Earth is given by the air pressure and the required energy to compensate this losses right?
So this data are possible on EARTH inside an atmosphere, so what would be possible if there is no atmosphere?
It will only need the (electric) energy for acceleration, and there would be nearly no limit for the maximum speed.
Of course, it is complicate to stabilize the a train on that speed to keep it running in the rail, but i'm sure, in future this could be solved (If people lives on the moon :lol
, and i'm sure, the data would be much better without an atmosphere...
So let's say, it's possible to reach an acceleration of 30m/s^2 ~ 4G (Sorry i don't know if this is realistic, but in my mind, it's "just" a question of energy and of the human body... so i hope 4G is realistic), then it needed a rail of ~ 50km to reach orbital speed. And maybe, for some cargo much higher G's are possible... So it's possible to send cargos without any fuel to earth... or maybe to Mars...
I absolutely know that this is science fiction, because today, it's not possible to build such a rail on the Moon, but what do you think about this?
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Synchronous_Motor"][/ame]
Le'ts have a look to the data of the Transrapid for example I've took from wikipedia:
Maximum speed:
550 km/h
Acceleration:
0 => 200 km/h => 60s (3.3m/s^2)
200 => 400 km/h => 60s (3.3m/s^2)
I think the "only" limit on Earth is given by the air pressure and the required energy to compensate this losses right?
So this data are possible on EARTH inside an atmosphere, so what would be possible if there is no atmosphere?
It will only need the (electric) energy for acceleration, and there would be nearly no limit for the maximum speed.
Of course, it is complicate to stabilize the a train on that speed to keep it running in the rail, but i'm sure, in future this could be solved (If people lives on the moon :lol
, and i'm sure, the data would be much better without an atmosphere...So let's say, it's possible to reach an acceleration of 30m/s^2 ~ 4G (Sorry i don't know if this is realistic, but in my mind, it's "just" a question of energy and of the human body... so i hope 4G is realistic), then it needed a rail of ~ 50km to reach orbital speed. And maybe, for some cargo much higher G's are possible... So it's possible to send cargos without any fuel to earth... or maybe to Mars...
I absolutely know that this is science fiction, because today, it's not possible to build such a rail on the Moon, but what do you think about this?
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_Synchronous_Motor"][/ame]
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