a discussion forum for Polywell fusion
https://talk-polywell.org/bb/
Ah yes, the helicon thruster. Shows up as a component of the VASIMR and Dr. Winglee's contraptions (M2P2, Magbeam, etc).
Depends on your definition of "best."Betruger wrote:I'm no specialist, but everything I've seen shows the VASIMR schemes as clearly the best for propulsion within the Mars/Jupiter asteroid belt, and easily the best for station keeping around any planet or satellite within the inner system.
KITE launchers of the world unite!djolds1 wrote: Nice ideas all, and IMO all irrelevant. Its those first 150kms that are killer. Beat those and you're halfway to anywhere.
KitemanSA wrote:KITE launchers of the world unite!djolds1 wrote: Nice ideas all, and IMO all irrelevant. Its those first 150kms that are killer. Beat those and you're halfway to anywhere.
There are a number of options. Various air launch/cannon or ram accelerator/tether relays, The "Cheap & Stupid Engineering" philosophy of the Sea Dragon BDB, and of course a megascale structure for a national prestige project. Plenty of pathways if the will is there.SkyBase, anyone?KitemanSA wrote:KITE launchers of the world unite!djolds1 wrote: Nice ideas all, and IMO all irrelevant. Its those first 150kms that are killer. Beat those and you're halfway to anywhere.
VASIMR's big claim to fame is its ability to thrust/impulse throttle, which no other electric propulsion system can do. However, it is a bit of a power hog.Betruger wrote:I'm no specialist, but everything I've seen shows the VASIMR schemes as clearly the best for propulsion within the Mars/Jupiter asteroid belt, and easily the best for station keeping around any planet or satellite within the inner system.
Obviously the poster is paid by the Kite Manufacturers Association of the United States. Probably a Kite lobbyist............KitemanSA wrote:KITE launchers of the world unite!djolds1 wrote: Nice ideas all, and IMO all irrelevant. Its those first 150kms that are killer. Beat those and you're halfway to anywhere.
See endo-atmospheric tethers in the non-rocket spacelaunch page of wikipedia.Roger wrote:Obviously the poster is paid by the Kite Manufacturers Association of the United States. Probably a Kite lobbyist............KitemanSA wrote:KITE launchers of the world unite!djolds1 wrote: Nice ideas all, and IMO all irrelevant. Its those first 150kms that are killer. Beat those and you're halfway to anywhere.
Ah, my very favorite launch technique, the ram accelerator. A fun variant is the laser launch tube. Maybe if the military ever gets those megawatt lasers right...KitemanSA wrote: There are a number of options. Various air launch/cannon or ram accelerator/tether relays, The "Cheap & Stupid Engineering" philosophy of the Sea Dragon BDB, and of course a megascale structure for a national prestige project. Plenty of pathways if the will is there.
Please be careful who you quote. I didn't say that, Duane J. Oldsen did. Credit where credit is due, what?JohnSmith wrote:Ah, my very favorite launch technique, the ram accelerator. A fun variant is the laser launch tube. Maybe if the military ever gets those megawatt lasers right...KitemanSA wrote: There are a number of options. Various air launch/cannon or ram accelerator/tether relays, The "Cheap & Stupid Engineering" philosophy of the Sea Dragon BDB, and of course a megascale structure for a national prestige project. Plenty of pathways if the will is there.
JohnSmith wrote:Ah, my very favorite launch technique, the ram accelerator. A fun variant is the laser launch tube. Maybe if the military ever gets those megawatt lasers right...
How about 1000km long?Aero wrote:I saw on TV that the Pumpkin launcher (tosser) record is over 4000 feet. If we could just ramp that technology up by a factor just over 5280 times, that would make a fun launch device. Its real simple tech, too! It just uses a very long tube and a lot of compressed air.