Launch and ascent system

摘要

This invention uses magnetic levitation in combination with magnetic propulsion (MAGLEV) to accelerate an aircraft of spacecraft-or both crafts as a coupled unit-from standstill along a guideway to the highest possible launch velocity. The acceleration along the guideway is fuel efficient. The craft(s) are brought to launch velocity without using on board fuel. The computer controlled acceleration along the guideway could avoid high g forces to prevent damage to fragile payloads. The guideway may be sectionalized and of any shape. One section, for instance, may be circular to permit a long magnetically accelerated run with a relatively short length guideway. Very heavy crafts and payloads can be launched with superconducting levitation magnets in the guideway which form strong repulsive force fields with superconducting magnets in the MAGLEV vehicle. In another embodiment, the invention includes attraction magnets for the levitation. The invention could operate in an airless environment, such as the moon, to launch rocket powered spacecraft with their payloads. On earth, the invention could launch a rocket powered spacecraft coupled to an aircraft having air breathing engines. The aircraft would power the spacecraft to a staging altitude, where the spacecraft would actuate its own rocket engines for propulsion beyond the atmosphere, and separate from the aircraft. Unlike the space shuttle, all major components of the invention's space launch would be recovered for reuse. The invention may be multipurpose for serving to efficiently launch conventional aircraft. With a circular guideway, takeoff is inherently omnidirectional to take advantage of launch conditions.