Can We Throw Satellites to Space? - SpinLaunch
Real Engineering・2 minutes read
Spinlaunch is developing a space catapult to subvert the rocket equation by reducing the amount of fuel needed, using carbon fiber technology for their tether design and vacuum chamber. They aim to achieve high speeds and offer a launch price significantly lower than competitors, facing challenges in scaling up their technology and securing patents.
Insights
- Spinlaunch is developing a revolutionary space catapult that aims to reduce the amount of fuel needed for rockets by spinning them in a centrifugal mass accelerator under vacuum, with carbon fiber playing a crucial role in their tether design to support the weight of 100 million kilograms.
- Spinlaunch's innovative vacuum chamber technology, which operates at high speeds and tight tolerances using a combination of pumps, allows for maintaining a high atmospheric chamber rather than a true vacuum, crucial for their aerothermal needs, and enables the rapid sealing of the chamber after launch using a double-door airlock system to maintain vacuum integrity for multiple launches per day.
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Recent questions
What is Spinlaunch and its goal?
Spinlaunch is a project involving a space catapult aiming to reduce the amount of fuel needed for rockets by spinning a small rocket in a centrifugal mass accelerator under vacuum to achieve high speeds before releasing it to reach orbit.
Why is carbon fiber used in Spinlaunch's tether?
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used in Spinlaunch's tether due to its unmatched strength-to-weight ratio and availability in industrial quantities, crucial for supporting the weight of 100 million kilograms in the orbital system.
How does Spinlaunch maintain vacuum in its chamber?
Spinlaunch maintains vacuum in its chamber by utilizing a series of pumps, including roots pumps, turbomolecular pumps, and vapor diffusion pumps, to draw a vacuum and remove bulk gas, ensuring the chamber is at the desired pressure level for launch.
What challenges does Spinlaunch face with its prototype launcher?
Spinlaunch's prototype launcher faces challenges like vibration due to uneven weight distribution, which is solved by releasing a balanced counterweight to address issues during launch and ensure stability.
How does Spinlaunch recapture electricity during launch?
Spinlaunch recaptures electricity stored as kinetic energy in the tether, reducing electricity costs and enhancing the efficiency of the launch system, contributing to the project's goal of reducing fuel consumption and costs.
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