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 个月前

    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 个月前

      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 个月前

      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 个月前

        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 [they/them]
          ·
          4 个月前

          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 个月前

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

        • Egon [they/them]
          ·
          4 个月前

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