[ExI] Linear motor for space launches/was Re: Inflatable towercould climb to the edge of space

[spike]

>...On Behalf Of Dan
....
> Subject: [ExI] Linear motor for space launches/was Re: 
> Inflatable towercould climb to the edge of space
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 6/17/09, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:
> > I did some more calcs on this notion today, and 
> rediscovered something 
> > I found about ten years ago when this topic came up...
> 
> Which brings us back to, I think, the notion of using 
> existing structures for the linear motor -- e.g., local terrain.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Dan


Right, and another back to the future: a concept I studied about a dozen
years ago: building a rail launcher to lift stuff from the surface of the
moon.  Depending on what you want to build in space, that solution
eventually becomes very attractive, because of the low escape velocity (2400
m/sec).  That bar is soooo much lower and easier to achieve.  It all comes
down to a technology we do not currently have but is very conceivable:
manufacturing robots that can work on the surface of the moon with some
degree of autonomy.  They do not need artificial intelligence, but they
should be able to do some repetitive tasks, such as going out for a scoop of
dirt and separating the iron from the silicon and aluminum.

spike