Launching Ramp

I like Rudy's suggestion.

If Dr. O'Neill, Dr. Kolm and some graduate students could achieve 500
gravities with a research mass driver two decades ago, and if modern
maglev trains can accelerate many tons of hardware and people to
hundreds of miles per hour, I wonder what a team of hobbyist/amateurs
could do with some second-hand electronic parts and the right piece of
property today.

Come to think of it, a "launch ramp" up the side of a suitable slope
might not be necessary. Dig a hole. Point the maglauncher near to
vertical. That might even make recovery from failed vehicle engine
ignition safer to recover from.

Of course, if a magnetic catapult provides the "first stage" for
launching a bean can-sized satellite, how does one shield the mission
electronics from EMP damage?

Hmmm...maybe work on development of the launch catapult and vehicles for
a few years while waiting for the mission package to run on photonics
rather than electronics.

Colin Keizer