Unique idea to use kinetic energy to 'throw' spacecraft into space

SpacePort sub-orbital accelerator to launch rockets into space orbit. (Photo: SpinLaunch)

California-based startup SpinLaunch (USA) has just caused a stir with its innovative approach to space flight, which is to use a centrifuge to launch rockets into space.

It is known that SpinLaunch is researching and building a launch system that uses kinetic energy as the main energy.

The system is based on a complex mechanism, consisting of a centrifuge that is vacuum-sealed, which then spins the space rocket at several times the speed of sound, before launching it up on a slide. .

If successful, SpinLaunch's system could revolutionize as the most reliable and cost-effective way to send objects into space.

In October 2021, the company used SpacePort - a sub-orbital accelerator located in the state of New Mexico to successfully test-launch a prototype into the atmosphere. At about 50 meters high, the SpacePort sub-orbital accelerator is only a third of the scale that SpinLaunch needs to launch an actual rocket.

The Spinlaunch rocket is put on the launch pad.

The system uses centrifugal force to "throw" the rocket away from the Earth.

The rocket is launched along a slide, when the required speed has been reached.

It is known that SpinLaunch has been incubating the idea with an innovative system for many years, and has received more than 100 million USD from various investors, including Google Venture, Airbus Ventures and Kleiner Perkins.

Jonathan Yaney, CEO of SpinLaunch said: "I found that the bolder and crazier the project, the better for humanity. It was important for us to show that this is indeed possible."

At first, this was seen as a crazy idea. But the successful test conducted in October changed all that, turning SpinLaunch into a company that could completely change the "game" of sending humanity into space.

It is known that conventional space rockets have to rely on huge fuel sources and powerful engines to be able to take off. So most of their mass is used for this purpose, and only a small part is left for the associated payloads.

Meanwhile, SpinLaunch's method makes a breakthrough by using only kinetic energy to reach the required height, after which the auxiliary engine can take over to propel the ship to the destination. This helps the rocket free up more space for other purposes.

Additionally, like SpaceX, SpinLaunch also plans to recover the space rockets after launch, to further reduce costs.

However, it is still too early to say that this method is applicable to modern spacecraft.