China is building a giant railgun: Mach 5 will launch a 50-ton spacecraft into space
As early as the nineties of the last century, the electromagnetic orbital launch device emerged as a cutting-edge launch technology planned by the space agency. However, due to technical challenges and insufficient support from the government and military, the United States only completed the 15-meter-long test set, and unfortunately discontinued its construction when it reached 10 meters.
Now, more than 30 years later, Chinese state media broke the shocking news that Chinese scientists were working on building a giant electromagnetic railgun. The news sparked a heated discussion among netizens, with many believing that the project would not only usher in a new era, but also surpass the current human understanding, and its potential even surpassed that of the American SpaceX Starship.
It is reported that China is going all out to use electromagnetic railgun technology to send a manned spacecraft weighing 50 tons and comparable in size to the Boeing 737 into space orbit. This ambitious goal undoubtedly underscores China's ambitions in the field of space exploration.
The idea of an electromagnetic accelerator, whether a railgun, a catapult or a mass drive, is extremely attractive as an alternative to conventional rockets. Compared to the large amount of fuel that chemical rockets have to carry when they lift off and the additional burden of lifting and lowering fuel, electromagnetic accelerators stand out for their high efficiency.
Experts point out that the greater significance of the electromagnetic railgun is that it leaves most of the firing system on the ground, making the aircraft itself as lightweight as possible. This innovation undoubtedly opens a new chapter in space exploration, heralding a more efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable future of space technology.
How strong is the electromagnetic launch orbit?
The concept of a space railgun may seem simple, but in fact it contains incomparably complex details, and the numerical calculations behind it are staggering.
According to Chinese state media, China is currently planning to build an electromagnetic launch orbit with great potential to accelerate the shuttle to Mach 1.6 (manned) and even Mach 5 (unmanned). Once the shuttle breaks through the atmosphere, the on-board rocket engine will ignite and continue to propel it to orbital velocity and travel through space.
According to the goals of the program, it is not only necessary to build a spacecraft that fits perfectly with the railgun, but also to develop a launch device that can precisely control gravity, vibration and various other variables to ensure the absolute safety of passengers.
It is reported that the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) Aircraft Technology Research Institute has built a two-kilometer-long test track in Datong City, Shanxi Province. At present, the track has a speed capacity of up to 1,000 km/h, and plans are to increase the speed to five times (to 5,000 km/h) in the future.
How difficult is it to achieve an "electromagnetic emission orbit"?
According to the mainland's "electromagnetic launch orbit" plan, if this system is to be developed into a full-fledged space launch system, the arduousness of the task is self-evident. This is not only a simple expansion of the scale of technology, but also requires revolutionary breakthroughs in many core areas such as the railgun body, control system, power supply mode, and railgun component manufacturing.
First, in terms of track length, for the railgun to reach Mach 1.6 with passengers on board, the length of the track needs to be extended to at least 5 miles. In order to achieve an even more impressive Mach 5 speed, the length of the track needs to increase exponentially.
Second, the project required massive amounts of electromagnets (and possibly even cryogenic cooling technology) to build the largest vacuum chamber in human history, equipped with efficient pumps to maintain the vacuum. The huge tubular vacuum chamber also needs to be equipped with a specially designed airlock to ensure that the aircraft can leave safely and stably at supersonic speeds.
Mistakes in any one of these areas could lead to catastrophic consequences, and their potential power is large enough to be compared to tactical nuclear weapons.
Finally, the issue of power is also a challenge that cannot be ignored in this project. To accelerate a vehicle of similar mass to Mach 5, the energy required for China's railgun would skyrocket to a staggering 50,000 megajoules.
In the face of these challenges, Chinese astronauts are forging ahead with unprecedented determination and perseverance to explore the endless mysteries of space. This exciting program will bring a new breakthrough to the human space industry and open a brilliant chapter. May China's aerospace industry flourish and contribute to mankind's dream of exploring the universe!
At last
The announcement of the development of a giant rail gun plan by China Aerospace is an important milestone in the development of China's aerospace technology, indicating that China has mastered the relevant core technologies and will play a more important role in future space exploration.
At the same time, it will also promote the further development and innovation of global space technology, and open up a new path for mankind to explore space and realize the dream of space.