What do you think boys and girls? 

You spin a small satalite round and round really fast untill it's very fast indeed and then let it go.

Spinlaunch are hoping to launch satalites this way with just electrical power. 

 

 

Very interesting.  No, not at all feasible for launching humans into space from Earth, but small satellites are certainly possible.  Launching things from the moon would certainly be possible.

Satellites, yes but way to much centrifugal force for hummin' beans!

42 minutes ago, charliearon said:

Satellites, yes but way to much centrifugal force for hummin' beans!

 

10,000 G so no. 😀 The electronics in the satellite have to be capable of taking 10,000 G too. Which is feasible. Been done before. 

If you don't mind using more real-estate it might be feasible for squidgy beings. Gradually accelerate horizontally and then up at a rate that was compatible with human G tolerance and then up we go. Weeeeee!!!!!

Edited November 12, 20214 yr by martin-w

Perhaps the engineers amongst us can set me straight but, whether you accelerate gradually or not, the centrifugal G force at 450 rpm will be the same and, in order to lower the G force to human tolerance, you would have to have a diameter of more than 1km.

Why don't we just invent anti-gravity and forget about all this stuff?

I know what gravity does, but what is it?  Where does the force come from?  Is anti-gravity theoretically possible?

Noel

I should have said "discover" antigravity. Where is Albert when you need him? Will there ever be another like him?

Edited November 12, 20214 yr by W2DR

1 hour ago, birdguy said:

I know what gravity does, but what is it?  Where does the force come from?  Is anti-gravity theoretically possible?

Noel

 

Warped fabric of space-time according to Einstein. Mass warps space-time and then stuff goes where the geometry of space-time takes it.

 

Then, Martin, I can assume each bit of mass in the universe warps space-time a bit?

Before we got into space the earth and the moon were the masses that warped space-time.  Have all the satellites and objects we have launched into orbit changed the warp of space-time properties of earth since before we had satellites?

Noel

Edited November 12, 20214 yr by birdguy

27 minutes ago, birdguy said:

Then, Martin, I can assume each bit of mass in the universe warps space-time a bit?

Before we got into space the earth and the moon were the masses that warped space-time.  Have all the satellites and objects we have launched into orbit changed the warp of space-time properties of earth since before we had satellites?

Noel

 

All mass has a gravitational field, a mouse does, an ant does, you do and I do. But because our masses are so small the gravitational field is miniscule and undetectable. So no, something as small as a satalite has no signicant influence on a large body like the Earth. However, it is proposed that we can nudge asteroids of course by parking a satalite next to them. Would provide just enough influence to deflect it in a minor way but if done when a great distance from the Earth it could be enough for it to miss.

If we are being honest, we know what gravity does but not what it is. What we really need is a quantum theory of gravity. 

What would the orbital path of a satellite around an irregulary shaped asteroid?  

Noel

5 hours ago, martin-w said:

10,000 G so no. 😀 The electronics in the satellite have to be capable of taking 10,000 G too. Which is feasible. Been done before. 

What electronics are rated for 10,000G? I can see 10 or 100, but getting two full orders of magnitude above that strikes me as an engineering and materials effort that is more expensive than a rocket launch, given how the costs seem to be on an almost exponential decline these days.

I'm also interested in how this will work given that it is at peak velocity in the thickest layers of the atmosphere. Not only do you have insane G-loads, but the thermal shock will be pretty impressive as well.

Cheers

 

58 minutes ago, Luke said:

What electronics are rated for 10,000G? I

 

Experiments have been done with  electronics completly encased I believe. 

 

Edited November 12, 20214 yr by martin-w

Although a bit dated, this unclassified document from the Army Research Laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Ground clearly shows that the technology for hardening electronic components for a force of as much as 30,000 G's has been around for quite a while. And I'll bet that in the 15 years since this was published said technology has progressed even further....Doug

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.101.9472&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Edited November 12, 20214 yr by W2DR