A company called SpinLaunch believes it can offer the most environmentally friendly and inexpensive way to reach space. Instead of a rocket, the satellites will be sent more than 100 km from the earth's surface using a giant rotating slingshot. SpinLaunch has been developing the kinetic system for launching into space for 6 years. It does not rely on explosives or fuel.
The system works with an electrically powered centrifuge that rotates objects in a vacuum chamber at speeds up to 8,000 km / h. They are then fired into a 90-meter tube.
On October 22, SpinLaunch conducted a successful test at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company will soon build a larger accelerator.
Although the system does not have the ability to launch humans, orbiting telescopes or interplanetary missions into space, its applications would revolutionize some areas of space science.
