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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Is it possible to use a rail gun to launch satallites?
« on: 27/11/2009 16:11:26 »
What do you think, would it be possible to use rail guns to launch satellites in an orbit?
I think the answer is No, because the satellite had to be accelerated to escape velocity, that means it had to cross the thick lower layers of the atmosphere at a speed of at least 40.000 km/h - I think it would melt down within no time.
Another issue is, that you would need to calculate the vector and kinetic energy of the object with a practically impossible accuracy in order to launch it to the proper orbit (you would need to consider wind, atmospheric turbulences and so on in every layer of the atmosphere, e.g.).
Furthermore I think, even if it would be possible, it would always be cheaper to just build a rocket anyway.
What do you think?
I think the answer is No, because the satellite had to be accelerated to escape velocity, that means it had to cross the thick lower layers of the atmosphere at a speed of at least 40.000 km/h - I think it would melt down within no time.
Another issue is, that you would need to calculate the vector and kinetic energy of the object with a practically impossible accuracy in order to launch it to the proper orbit (you would need to consider wind, atmospheric turbulences and so on in every layer of the atmosphere, e.g.).
Furthermore I think, even if it would be possible, it would always be cheaper to just build a rocket anyway.
What do you think?