Doug Jones writes:
> Best angle = 0, whether launching to escape or to low lunar orbit
> (LLO allows much looser trajectory control due to shorter time of
> flight).
Thanks! (I'm useless with orbital mechanics).
Obviously LLO is sufficient, since one can use solar sails or plasma drives to go from there.
> > Another nice point about a linear mass driver is that in the simplest
> > implementation it is just a linear array of identical modules:
>
> The trouble is, they *cannot* be identical; to get even low
> efficiency the inductance, capacitance, and initial voltage on the
> caps must vary along the length. Also, the switching speeds are the
Isn't this primarily a timing problem? I.e. in the simplest implementation a sequence of axially aligned, sequentially fired solenoids, firing a ferromagnetic brick?
> most critical design driver- solid state relays of the speed and
> power needed aren't cheap. I can dig up detail information if
How much power can we switch with a triggered arc discharge?
> anyone is really truly interested.
If this is not too much trouble on your part, please do.