Digest Number 307

Most of the mass drivers that I have read about use a
circular track for acceleration. So, instead of a hole
at the bottom of the mountain there could be a
circular track for acceleration that would release
into the track arching upward. It would have to be a
gentle arc to not waste energy in turning fast.

I think the main problem with this idea of gaining
near escape velocity around sea level would be the
atmosphere. The atmosphere is just too dense to go
that fast It would build up too much heat and too much
resistance.

NASA has the intent to research magnetic catapults the
same as our mass driver, the problem is they don't
have any money to do it. They are giving a few dollars
for the basic research to someone can't remember who.
The scramjet is a fact. The problem will be in
marrying it to a rocket and getting it to supersonic
speed so it can function.