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Magnetic Ring Could Launch Satellites, Weapons

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the round-and-round-it-goes dept.

MattSparkes writes, "A new study funded by the US Air Force has suggested a cheaper method of sending satellites (possibly missile weapons) into orbit. A 2-km-wide ring of superconducting magnets would contain and propel a payload, accelerating it over a period of hours, before suddenly flinging the satellite into space at 23 times the speed of sound. The satellites would be engineered to withstand the g-forces encountered (2,000 g), and be cased in an aerodynamic shell. A two-year study has been commisioned and will begin within a few weeks at LaunchPoint Technologies in Goleta, California." New Scientist points out that if such a launch ring were built, it would instantly become "one of the most important targets on the planet."

2 of 612 comments (clear)

  1. Terrorists by Ice+Wewe · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    No, they wont attack it. The plane that they've 'borrowed' (for jihad) will unexplicably be pulled towards the magnet. Duh, I wonder why...

  2. Nonsense. by supabeast! · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    "New Scientist points out that if such a launch ring were built, it would instantly become "one of the most important targets on the planet.""

    If the ring is built, it will most likely be built by the United States. The same United States that right now, via a combination of nuclear weapons at underground launch sites around the world, mounted on jets in the form of cruise missiles, and moving around the oceans on submarines, has the power to quickly raze just about any area on the planet - enough nukes to wipe out human life entirely, if the desire arose. The same United States that already has launch sites for rockets and space shuttles that it has been using for the last five decades to put things in orbit. Given all that our nation already possesses that can do what the magnetic ring could, exactly why is the extra convenience it offers likely to make it an "important target?" Especially since it would be far easier to rebuild than something like the space shuttle and related facilities?

    Oh right, it's because New Scientist is a crappy publication aimed at the monosyllabic masses, and the Slashdot editors should be ashamed of themselves for linking to it.