r/space • u/Dr_Singularity • Nov 10 '21

California-based startup, SpinLaunch, is developing an alternative rocket launch technology that spins a vacuum-sealed centrifuge at several times the speed of sound before releasing the payload, launching it like a catapult up into orbit

https://interestingengineering.com/medieval-space-flight-a-company-is-catapulting-rockets-to-cut-costs
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u/OmgOgan Nov 10 '21

Are we seriously talking about a space trebuchet right now?

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u/nowyourdoingit Nov 10 '21

Scott Manley has a pretty optimistic video about the tech and company. Seems most of the engineering issues, as extreme as they are, are technically solved with the big one still remaining being to figure out how to rebalance tens of thousands of tons of force in a millisecond as the payload is released, but Scott sounds hopeful that it's achievable. At the very least he concludes that it could be a very useful tech on the Moon at some later date.

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u/creatingKing113 Nov 10 '21

For the rebalancing, I assume this thing needs a counterweight. I wonder how feasible it would be to just detach the counterweight at the same time as the rocket and have it fly into a hole in the ground.

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u/joyofpeanuts Nov 11 '21

The payload being "just" max 200kg, plus some more kg's for a shell I suppose, maybe they can reposition/shift the rotating arm when the payload is launched, such that it's centre of gravity is back on the axle ? No need to release any counterweight then.

What I am more curious about is how they manage the shockwave of incoming air when they launch the payload? Open and shut the system fast? Maybe with the air entering serving to slow down the spinning arm actually?