Could the same technology that powers the magnarail help space travel??

Question

As I'm sure many of you have heard, there are now high speed trains that run purely on properly aligned magnets running along the tracks and wheels of the train. Would it be possible to construct a system of circular satelites aligned with this same magnet technology? Maybe circular so that the ships could pass through them??

perhaps we could use a solar power plant up there to help power a track or gun on moon? Also, use jets that are currently being built by companies such as rocketplanes limited inc. we could bring up other sources of fuel. But would placing so many satelites, plants, planes, etc. in space distort gravity? Wouldn't our oceans tides be affected?

I would only require these satelites at various locations through space to keep the ship moving. Of course it would take resources but with the current advaces made in the space tourisim industry.. mining in asteroid fields and on Mars is possible. We could obtain the resources from locations other then Earth. The magnet satelites could provide the acceleration and deacceleration needed in space. Of course it would take time to set up the infrastructure but if it was cheap transportation after it is built it could provide mass transit. Of course the intitial momentum would have to be built by a magna track built on the moon... but this is already in the works at NASA. The magnasatalites would simply aid in the process and of course would need to be able to reposition itself and power itself. That's where solar panaling comes into play.

Answer 1

Magnetic levitation allows a train to move with no friction between it and the ground. It still experiences air friction. A satellite stays in orbit because the acceleration of gravity is exactly the right amount to keep it in its circular path. This orbital motion is already enough to prevent friction with the ground. But since it's above nearly all of the earth's atmosphere, it has almost no air friction. Why would you need magnetic levitation? You already have something better.

A train could use magnetic PROPULSION whether it used magnetic levitation or wheels. The train itself would be a linear induction motor. It would need a power source just as any other form of propulsion. A maglev train can't propel itself by turning its wheels, so magnetic propulsion might be a good second choice. But it would be much harder to build that infrastructure in space.

Answer 2

There has been alot of speculation about building a moon based "rail gun" on these principles to "shoot" ships, cargo, etc from the reletive low gravity of the moon to other places using this technology. You still have the "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" problem so you would want it anchored on something pretty massive (like the moon). You would not want it on earth because you would have to create such speed to overcome gravity that it would be unrealistic, especially given wind resistance.

Answer 3

After some thought, this isn't as bizarre a concept as it first seemed.

If a series of stationary satellites were placed for example, between the earth and the moon, they could, indeed, be used to accelerate, then decelerate ships along their path.

The energy requirements (For example, the energy required to keep the satellites stationary must be considered [only one in the string would not require energy input to remain stationary].) might well prove to be prohibitive, as may the technical challenges (for now, at least).

Answer 4

the type of circular satellites you mentioned would need immense energy that in near future, i don't think so......but to use magnetic force for space travel, at least for launch, is quite possible , i think. With some kind of a "Gauss gun" at a very larger scale to practically "fire" a space shuttle the orbit.... still very very very large amount of energy would be needed, but aren't they already using huge amount of oil, and everything,other than the spacecraft is wasted, a magnetic launch site will be costly but at least environment friendly

Answer 5

there is too much hardwar involved to be place on sattelites.
here is something along these lines, but built on the ground:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver

Answer 6

I'm working on that one right now.