https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3255351/nasas-dream-comes-true-china-plans-build-giant-rail-gun-launch-hypersonic-planes-space

  • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
    ·
    4 months ago

    The article says that the railgun part accelerates the plane to mach 1.7 and then the rocket on the plane fires and it accelerates further.

    The Concorde was designed to cruise at mach 2, so that's a very survivable speed if the acceleration on the rail isn't too abrupt, like you said.

    • appel@whiskers.bim.boats
      ·
      4 months ago

      I think the acceleration is the crucial part, the speed you are going at is irrelevant, just the change in speed

    • plinky [he/him]
      ·
      4 months ago

      It’s still would be like 1-2 km, if they aim at 10g. And they still need to find another 20 machs from rocket booster.

      Doing full railgun with small rockets is more poggers (without humans obv ) shrug-outta-hecks

      • Coolkidbozzy [he/him]
        ·
        4 months ago

        Tests will be carried out at 1.2 mile long low-vacuum track high-speed maglev test facility in Datong, generally used when researching magnetic levitation train technology

        Within coming years, the Datong test facility will be extended to 37.2 miles long, to achieve a maximum operating speed of a staggering 5,000km/h.

        biiiiig track incoming

        from daily mail

        • Nakoichi [he/him]
          ·
          4 months ago

          That would still be a rough ride for a person, but it could absolutely revolutionize getting construction materials into orbit.

      • Maoo [none/use name]
        ·
        4 months ago

        If you assume humans are frictionless spheres they could probably ride on that second one

        • Egon [they/them]
          ·
          4 months ago

          They will be spheres if they do ride on it. Several in fact.