Magnetic Orbital Launch by Levitation and Integrated Electronics
(MOLLIE)
The greatest challenge facing our young space program is how to cheaply, easily, and reliably get into low Earth orbit. The current solution requires large rockets which have to carry all of their fuel and oxidizer with them to make the transit from Earth to orbit. This means that only a fraction of the weight that leaves Earth actually arrives in orbit and the per-pound cost is very high. Thus only businesses and governments with large pocket books are allowed access to space. This situation must change if humans are to leave their home planet and move about the solar system.
In the end, the best solution is to learn to manipulate the connections of gravity so that we can slowly and comfortably move into orbit. But this solution seems unlikely to be implemented in the near future. So what can we do in the mean time using current and proven technologies? I think the obvious answer is to build a magnetic levitation device that could impart 60% to 80% of the energies necessary to achieve Earth orbit. The last few percentages would be provided by the on board rocket engines of the vehicles being launched.
A good location for the American version of MOLLIE would be the mountains of southern New Mexico near Socorro. West of Socorro is a mountain. West of the mountain is a high mountain plain that proceeds for many miles. I would propose a magnetic levitation launch track that would start somewhere around Magdalena, follow the plain east until it arrives at the base of the mountain where it would travel up the mountain and terminate at the top of the mountain. This would give a number of miles of track to accelerate spaceships to near orbital velocities, providing most of the necessary energy from ground based sources.
The track would be made modular. Each module would be complete and independent, with its own super cooled magnets, power source, and electronics. The only difference between modules would be the programming residing in the computers of the module that tell it how and when to operate. The entire system would be redundant, built to fail to a safe condition, and involve thousands of computers working together.
Each module could be powered by sunlight, wind energy, or the traditional grid system or any combination. The amount of energy needed at any time would only involve a few modules and is not great overall. An energy pulse would essentially move through the system, but never would all the units be on at the same time. A possible energy combination might use solar panels to gather sunlight thereby spinning a series of wheels in an inertial energy storage system. These systems can provide large quantities of electricity for a short period of time, which is what MOLLIE would require during the launch of a spaceship. The modules would be interconnected, so that any module could call for power from other modules in the event of local failures. The total amount of energy stored would always be greater than needed to allow for emergencies and situations that are outside of normal.
The integrated electronics are key to the success of this project. Every module must have its own complete computer system and be capable of acting on its own if necessary. But every module must be in constant communication with the space ship being launched, at every stage of its acceleration to insure that the process is continuing normally. Adjustments must be made at every step of the way to make sure of a successful launch by having all computer system constantly updating sensor information, measuring the progress of the launch, comparing this information to its preprogrammed plan, and then making adjustments so that the system insures the safety of the rocket and crew.
MOLLIE would be designed with flexibility in mind. It would be adaptable to a large number of shapes, sizes, and weights of vehicles that could be launched from its platform. This feature would encourage private companies to develop their own vehicles knowing that they could be launched from MOLLIE cheaply and that they would only have to carry about 25% of the current fuel and oxidizer loads necessary to achieve low Earth orbit. To allow them to “hook up” to MOLLIE, each craft would probably have its own super cooled magnetic system. Since MOLLIE would also have a super cooled magnetic system, this would allow the rocket and its launcher to have a firm “grip” during their short time together. If my calculations are correct, MOLLIE could accelerate a vehicle at 4 or 5 G’s for about 100 seconds and impart the necessary velocities to the space ship and its cargo. Multiple launches per day could easily be achieved, with electrical energy being the only restraint in how many vehicles could take off in any one day.
One problem that might surface is the greater air resistance near the Earth’s surface that the accelerating vehicle would experience. Most vehicles that would be launched by MOLLIE would also have to return to Earth from orbit, so they would already have to face the high heat of reentry. But MOLLIE would operate so quickly, there would be very little time for heat to build up. Thus, I think that many vehicles could be launched from MOLLIE without concern for the thicker atmosphere near the Earth. If heat did become a problem, there may be several ways to help the situation. One way might involve the use of acoustics to develop a vacuum in front of the vehicle, so that in essence, the space ship would fly up the back end of a lightning strike, using a vacuum to protect the space ship from the heat that would normally be caused by friction with the atmosphere.
For each vehicle to be launched on MOLLIE, a profile would be developed that contained all the information the system would need to watch over the launch. The vehicle type, flying characteristics, weight, cargo, and any other pertinent information would be retained in the system. As the launch is progressing through each of the modules, the system would analyze the real results and compare it with the projected results. That way, each module will help make the corrections necessary during each launch so that the varied systems can work together to keep catastrophic problems from occurring.
Fail safes would be developed all the way through the system. Multiple redundant processors would ensure the integrity of the sensor data and calculations made during the launch. Interlinking of power modules and the ability to transfer power from any module to any other module in real time would insure that adequate power would be available all the way through the launch. Each spacecraft launched would set its controls so that any failure between the systems would cause them to “fly away” from each other. The magnetic link would be instantly aborted so the launch vehicle could then fly back on its own to a nearby runway.
The system would constantly measure set points, where certain actions become possible or not possible. One example would be the point on the track where it could no longer bring the launch vehicle to a safe stop on the track, in the event of some catastrophic failure of the space ship during launch. For many emergencies, the track would be able to bring the launch vehicle to a complete stop on the track, and then move it back to the beginning point for further work. If the craft had already passed this mid point, then the track would no longer be able to stop the vehicle before it reached the end of the track. However, all possible scenarios would be rehearsed over and over by the computer systems, so that in actual launches, the system itself would be in charge and would make every go/no go decision. Human beings can not react fast enough to make these decisions in real time, while this is one of the best characteristics of properly designed computer systems.
I am not an artist so I can’t show you what MOLLIE looks like in my mind. If someone out there wants to paint a picture of it, just get a three dimensional map of the Socorro area. Then, start about Magdalena and draw a track sitting on concrete stands continuing all the way to the base of the mountain. You should have it curve gently upward at the mountain base and the end of the track should be at the top of the mountain pointing up and to the east. Individual crafts would have different abilities to manipulate themselves once they leave the end of the track by using their onboard propulsion systems. The track itself should show repeating modules that each look identical. There would be a greater concentration of modules at both ends, since the craft might be running very slowly near the ends, due to launch or problems with a launch. You could show acres of solar panels lining both sides along the entire route, soaking up sunlight to change it into orbital velocities. There might be a little “house” beside each module that houses the rotating wheels of the inertia energy storage system. The magnets would be super cooled and would rest atop each of the concrete piers.
Can you imagine a ride on this orbital launch system? You would strap yourself into your seat with your belt and wait for the countdown. At zero there would be an immediate but gentle pressure as the system would quickly ramp up to 3, 4, 5, or 6 G’s, depending upon the craft and its cargo and the requirements of the flight. The rush would be tremendous as the craft would just keep accelerating as you head for orbit. Depending upon the launch vehicle, it would ignite its rocket engine some where along the track. Each engine would start on the track, so that the system might have the chance to measure the force of the engine and compare it to what was projected. This would allow the rocket engines to completely come up to power and to be checked out before the track would release the craft to Earth orbital insertion. Non explosive engines like those that Burt Rutan is using in his craft would be required, because an engine explosion could kill people and damage the track, making it far less useful.
MOLLIE could also be used for intercontinental travel. A jet/rocket, or some other concept, could be developed to allow people to travel from one continent to another in a very short period of time. The launch would be pretty much the same, except that the craft would not try for orbit. It would just coast through a hyperbolic curve and land with the help of jet engines when it arrives a few minutes later at its destination. Socorro Space Port does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Magdalena is an old mining town. There used to be a railway that runs to it. This is important, because any real space port would be transporting tons of material to space on a daily or weekly basis. Therefore you would need rail access to the launch site to move freight to the take-off point. The space crafts themselves might even be transported to Magdalena via rail, but a runway may also be needed nearby to service returning space transports and incoming cargo and passenger jets.
With an easy way to get tonnage to orbit, specialized craft could then be developed that would stay in space and never come back to Earth. These could be much like tug boats that would either carry cargo or people from one point in space to another. Once one gets to low Earth orbit, it is not to hard to get to any other place in space, like the moon, Mars, or any of the L points that will become increasing important to science and our understanding of our cosmos. As many atomic bombs as we have, I think we should consider the Orion Project again. It would use the “extra” atomic bombs on Earth to propel itself through space and it turns out to be one of the most feasible and economical ways to move about the solar system. It alone could open up tourist travel to Mars, making the trip in weeks, not months or years. And keeping its operation above Earth’s atmosphere would insure it didn’t pollute as it ignites atomic bomb after atomic bomb propelling itself to Mars and beyond. MOLLIE would make it safe to transport nuclear material to orbit and all the radiation from the blasts would hardly be noticed in space.
Let’s work together as a species and build MOLLIE so we can take our rightful place in space.
μmike