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Using Sling Shot Power to Hurl Into Orbit

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the still-wating-for-my-space-trebuchet dept.

the_2nd_coming writes "space.com has an article about a new application of a very old technology. NASA is putting money into Momentum-eXchange/Electrodynamic Reboost tether technology -- MXER for short -- an innovative concept that if implemented would station miles and miles of cart-wheeling cable in orbit around the Earth. Then, rotating like a giant sling, the cable would swoop down and pick up spacecraft in low orbits, then hurl them to higher orbits or even lob them onward to other planets."

6 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Fr15ht |*s0t!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Fr15ht |*s0t!!!Fr15ht |*s0t!!!Fr15ht |*s0t!!!

  2. fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    as in fifth....

  3. Oh the possibilities... by gspr · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I just kinda like the sound of SCO being "hurled" or "lobbed" by a giant slingshot!!

  4. Preview by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Steve Job's shat in his pants when he saw this at a NASA preview...

    --
    If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
  5. Finger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I'm at work... and I've got a finger up my ass!

  6. What does your post have to do with anything? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    just asking.