Hurling rockets into space with mechanical centrifuge

Dark projectile with glowing trail re-entering above a crescent Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENZ_rQLCa9Q

Kinetic launch concepts spin a payload inside a vacuum chamber until centrifugal speed can replace most of a rocket first stage.

California startup SpinLaunch’s mechanical centrifuge aims to fling small vehicles toward space; remaining onboard propulsion then finishes orbital insertion with far less propellant mass.

Monday March 22nd 2021