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Feasibility of an earth-to-space rail launcher systemThe feasibility of earth-to-space electromagnetic (railgun) launchers (ESRL) is considered, in order to determine their technical practicality and economic viability. The potential applications of the launcher include nuclear waste disposal into space, deep space probe launches, and atmospheric research. Examples of performance requirements of the ESRL system are a maximum acceleration of 10,000 g's for nuclear waste disposal in space (NWDS) missions and 2,500 g's for earth orbital missions, a 20 km/sec launch velocity for NWDS missions, and a launch azimuth of 90 degrees E. A brief configuration description is given, and test results indicate that for the 2020-2050 time period, as much as 3.0 MT per day of bulk material could be launched, and about 0.5 MT per day of high-level nuclear waste could be launched. For earth orbital missions, a significant projectile mass was approximately 6.5 MT, and an integral distributed energy store launch system demonstrated a good potential performance. ESRL prove to be economically and environmentally feasible, but an operational ESRL of the proposed size is not considered achievable before the year 2020.
Document ID
19820061124
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rice, E. E.
(Battelle Columbus Labs. OH, United States)
Miller, L. A.
(Battelle Columbus Laboratories Columbus, OH, United States)
Marshall, R. A.
(Australian National University Canberra, Australia)
Kerslake, W. R.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Propulsion Systems Technology Section, Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1982
Subject Category
Ground Support Systems And Facilities (Space)
Report/Patent Number
IAF PAPER 82-46
Accession Number
82A44659
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-22882
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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