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The same technology used in magnetically levitated ("maglev") trains may give spaceships a low-cost, stable boost for the future of space travel—possibly even for joy rides.
A research group from two universities in Beijing, China has constructed a maglev test vehicle that works on a model track made of a permanent magnet-high temperature superconductor (PM-HTS).
With a typical launch cost for a spaceship around $20 million, it’s difficult to practically conceive of a space industry beyond federally funded agencies. Nevertheless, many people believe that expanding space travel—whether for research purposes, entertainment, or even colonization—is not impractical.
Bridging the economic hurdle may be technologies such as the maglev launch assist.
According to an analysis, the cost of launching payloads into the low earth orbit with maglev may be achieved with only hundreds of dollars per pound (John Olds and Peter Bellini).
Most recently, researchers in a group including Wenjiang Yang and his colleagues from the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have investigated the possibility of the “Maglifter,” a maglev launch assist vehicle originally proposed in the 1980s.
In this system, a spaceship would be magnetically levitated over a track and accelerated up an incline, lifting off when it reaches a velocity of 1,000 km/hr (620 miles/hr).
The main cost-saving areas would come from reduced fuel consumption and the reduced mass of the spaceship.
“Magnetic levitation is a promising technology for future space transportation,” Yang told PhysOrg.com.
“The most expensive part of space missions to low-Earth orbit is the first few seconds—getting off the ground.”
SOURCE:
Physorg.com
Originally posted by Vanhandle
So is this like another "Space Elevator" type idea or is it an actual propulsion technology? Sounds good either way, the future is magnets!
Originally posted by Vanhandle
I wonder if this magnetic propulsion will have any impact on future space exploration programs.
From everything I read it seems that within the next twenty years we will be using some pretty incredible technologies using advanced magnet systems.
Originally posted by XphilesPhan
Errrmmm I dont see how a country that was only able to put a man into orbit a few years back is going to be able to build something like this. I dont beleive the chinese have the technology to do this.
the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Errrmmm I dont see how a country that was only able to put a man into orbit a few years back is going to be able to build something like this. I dont beleive the chinese have the technology to do this.
I think that says it all. Toss the idea out the window.
Originally posted by iori_komei
Why in the word would we do that?
The concept, which is very realistic, did'nt even come from China, i
n fact NASA and other space organizations have put research into it.
Originally posted by etotheitheta
Because they are Chinese, and they are the Chinese equivalent of NASA.
And they quit after realizing how ridiculously expensive, time consuming and scifi the idea was at about the 5 minute mark.
Originally posted by iori_komei
First of all, they are not the Chinese equivalent of NASA, they are
universities that have aeronautical study courses/sections.
And it does'nt matter if they are Chinese, science/technology tran-
scends idiocentric national boundaries.
No, NASA is still studying it, however because of all the funding cuts
NASA has gone through, it is not able to be given the funding of a
major project as of now.
Originally posted by etotheitheta
That means to say that it is not worth the cost.
Originally posted by iori_komei
Originally posted by etotheitheta
That means to say that it is not worth the cost.
No, it means that NASA just does'nt get enough funding.
There are lots of projects that are and have been considered important,
but because of funding cuts only a few could actually be developed.