zeitgeist57 Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 After a lifetime of being told how expensive it is to get stuff - especially people - into space, great to see a creative way to get small objects into low-earth orbit. Some commercial applications and we're adding to space trash, I guess...but cool nonetheless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 This seems like the shit that happens when engineers get drunk. "what if we just threw it into space, you know like a sling" Hold my beer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 Love the idea. I've been meaning to look into it more, been busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 Doing some cursory reading, seems like the challenge now is to develop payloads that can withstand the G forces that this generates. No small task, but then, neither was building a giant slingshot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rally Pat Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 Neat idea, the cost of space flight is already plummeting thanks to reusability from SpaceX and dedicated small sat launch vehicles like Rocket Lab's Electron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Cranium Posted November 15, 2021 Report Share Posted November 15, 2021 What's the big deal. Hillbillies have been doing this for years with punkin chunkin. Granted they are not reaching orbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted November 16, 2021 Report Share Posted November 16, 2021 Highly engineered yeet cannon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted November 16, 2021 Report Share Posted November 16, 2021 Newtons Cannonball https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_cannonball Interesting read, summery Newton theorized this in the early 1700's and we finally got around to proving it. SpinLaunch is a really cool idea, looks like they are planning to use the ground system to get the payload a really good start on becoming orbital and then onboard rockets will finish the job. It would save tons of fuel and expensive hardware if they can get it to work. They should put a few sites on high mountains to further reduce the required kinetic energy. Might be able to launch heavier or more fragile systems as the first couple miles are the roughest from sea level and then the next real hurdle on the way up is caused by exceedingly high speeds lower in the atmosphere which introduces instability. They will be a very interesting company to follow for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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