EM launch

Hi everyone,

I have some good news about electromagnetic launch; in particular, news
about EM launch to space, as opposed to ordnance delivery by railguns
etc.

First, there has been some research funding available lately. For
example, in August, the Air Force awarded three contracts for EM launch
research that is explicitly directed toward space access. In addition,
a study on a launcher topology that has the possibility of operating at
speeds necessary for launch to orbit is being conducted at the Naval
Research Lab. Finally, my research on EM launch continues to be funded
(knock on wood), primarily by the State of Texas through the Texas
Center for Superconductivity.

The main purpose of this post, though, is to promote another EM launch
funding opportunity: A nonprofit organization called the Lifeboat
Foundation has decided to raise funds for an EM launch contest that I
proposed. The details are on the foundations' site:

Front page: http://lifeboat.com/ex/main
Details: http://lifeboat.com/ex/grant1
Newsletter with more details: http://lifeboat.com/news.cgi?33

Both the director of the foundation and I expect the contest to grow in
participation, funding, and media coverage during the next few years.
Going over to the Lifeboat site now and contributing $10 to get the
contest started would be extremely helpful. Even better, if SSI has the
capability for collective action, this seems like a good chance to
contribute a moderate amount and attach the SSI name to a potentially
high profile event.

I would also like to note that support of this project is in the spirit
of a previous thread, in which it was pointed out that it might be more
effective for SSI to lobby a larger environmental group and then let
them do the hard work of lobbying others in Washington - The director
of the Lifeboat Foundation appears to be very energetic, and SSI could
benefit from collaboration.

No need to thank me for initiating this - just send money!

Phil Putman
Research Assistant Professor
Texas Center for Superconductivity and
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-4006
713-743-9481
pputman@...