The world's first machine launches objects into space at a speed of 8,000 km/h

Recently, the US firm SpinLaunch announced plans to develop a giant 'shooter' to put objects weighing up to 200 kg into orbit, by launching at 8,000 km / h out of a large storage compartment. 90 m. The project is implemented in collaboration with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This machine is said to have a small cost and less impact on the environment than using traditional rockets. It is expected that the catapult will be taller than the Statue of Liberty (50 m) in New York.

The giant catapult sends the object into orbit.

According to the plan, the first orbital flights using the "launcher" will be launched in 2025. Over the next eight months, the researchers will conduct about 30 suborbital test flights at the Spaceport facility America in New Mexico.

The object part still needs to use rockets. First, the launch machine will bring the satellite and cargo as high as possible at a speed of 8,000 km / h. Then, small rockets will help bring the object's flight path into orbit. The amount of rocket fuel that needs to be consumed will be only a tiny fraction of that of using a traditional rocket.

Traditional rockets use more than 1 million liters of water for cooling. Although the greenhouse gas emissions from rockets are relatively small compared with conventional aviation, their emissions are enormous per launch. So this situation could become a big problem as the space industry develops further.

Furthermore, rocket launches damage freshwater supplies, while some rockets release aluminum oxide directly into the stratosphere. Space junk has also become a big problem. So far, many rockets and pieces of material are floating freely in orbit around Earth.

Meanwhile, SpinLaunch's side says that 70% of its space catapults will save 70% of fuel and materials compared to a traditional rocket.

In addition, the technology of this launch system is nothing special. SpinLaunch claims that it has leveraged industrial hardware and existing materials to build the innovative accelerator system mentioned above. It can achieve supersonic launch speeds without any advancements in materials or the use of emerging technologies.

The project is part of NASA's Space Act Agreement, signed with the world's richest billionaire's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin company. The purpose of the agreement is to encourage private firms to develop the space industry.