NASA Will Test Gigantic Centrifuge for Hurling Objects Into Space

Indeed, the g-forces promise to be intense, as speeds within the scaled-up orbital version of the accelerator are expected to reach 5,000 miles per hour (8,000 km/hr). A launch vehicle carrying a satellite or other cargo (no humans, obviously) will be positioned at the tip of a rotating carbon-fiber arm located within a 300-foot-wide (91-meter) steel vacuum chamber. The arm, moving counterclockwise, will spin increasingly faster until it’s ready to shoot the object through the smokestack-like tunnel at the top of the accelerator. Once in the stratosphere, the launch vehicle will engage its thrusters to complete the journey to orbit. The company expects to launch satellites weighing upwards of 440 pounds (200 kg).

The company claims the system will result in a 70% reduction in the use of fuel compared to conventional rockets and a 10-fold reduction in the overall cost to launch. The accelerator uses an electric engine, making it considerably more environmentally friendly than the alternative. SpaceLaunch says many components of the system are built from existing industrial hardware and that no radical advancements in technologies or materials are required. As an added bonus, a single facility could perform multiple launches each day. Accordingly, SpaceLaunch is positioning the system as a clean, cheap, and efficient way for companies to populate LEO with satellites and to build satellite megaconstellations.

In addition to efficacy, SpaceLaunch will have to prove safety, such as demonstrating the ability to detonate a wayward projectile. The company will inevitably run into the Federal Aviation Administration, which needs to ensure the safety of U.S. assets during commercial launches. This will all take time, but having NASA involved is an instant credibility win for the young company. It’ll be fascinating to see how this promising concept evolves from here.