John Hunter wants to shoot stuff into space with a 3,600-foot gun. And he’s dead serious—he’s done the math. Making deliveries to an orbital outpost on a rocket costs $5,000 per pound, but using a space gun would cost just $250 per pound.

Building colossal guns has been Hunter’s pet project since 1992, when, while a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he first fired a 425-foot gun he built to test-launch hypersonic engines. Its methane-driven piston compressed hydrogen gas, which then expanded up the barrel to shoot a projectile. Mechanical firing can fail, however, so when Hunter’s company, Quicklaunch, released its plans last fall, it swapped the piston for a combustor that burns natural gas. Heat the hydrogen in a confined space and it should build up enough pressure to send a half-ton payload into the sky at 13,000 mph.

Hunter wants to operate the gun, the “Quicklauncher,” in the ocean near the equator, where the Earth’s fast rotation will help slingshot objects into space. A floating cannon—dipping 1,600 feet below sea level and steadied by a ballast system—would let operators swivel it for different orbits. Next month, Hunter will test a functional, 10-foot prototype in a water tank. He says a full-size launcher could be ready in seven years, provided the company can round up the $500 million. Despite the upfront cost, Hunter says he has drawn interest from investors because his reusable gun saves so much cash in the long haul. Just don’t ever expect a ride in the thing: The gun produces 5,000 Gs, so it’s only for fuel tanks and ruggedized satellites. “A person shot out of it would probably get compressed to half their size,” Hunter says. “It’d be over real quick.”

How to Shoot Stuff into Space
STEP 1: HEAT IT
The gun combusts natural gas in a heat exchanger within a
chamber of hydrogen gas, heating the hydrogen to 2,600˚F and causing a 500 percent increase in pressure.

STEP 2: LET THE HYDROGEN LOOSE
Operators open the valve, and the hot, pressurized hydrogen quickly expands down the tube, pushing the payload forward.

STEP 3: TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
After speeding down the 3,300-foot-long barrel, the projectile shoots out of the gun at 13,000 mph. An iris at the end of the gun closes, capturing the hydrogen gas to use again.

" /> A Cannon for Shooting Supplies into Space
Monday, September 06, 2010
   
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A Cannon for Shooting Supplies into Space

Friday, 15 January 2010 08:30

John Hunter wants to fire things in to space with a 3,600-foot gun. And he’s passed serious—he’s finished a math. Making deliveries to an orbital armed forces upon a space station costs $5,000 per pound, though regulating a space gun would price usually $250 per pound.

Building gigantic guns has been Hunter’s house pet plan given 1992, when, whilst a physicist during Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he initial dismissed a 425-foot gun he built to test-launch hypersonic engines. Its methane-driven piston dense hydrogen gas, which afterwards stretched adult a tub to fire a projectile. Mechanical banishment can fail, however, thus when Hunter’s company, Quicklaunch, expelled a skeleton final fall, it substituted a piston for a combustor which browns healthy gas. Heat a hydrogen in a cramped space as well as it should set adult adult adequate vigour to send a half-ton cargo in to a sky during 13,000 mph.

Hunter wants to work a gun, a “Quicklauncher,” in a sea nearby a equator, where a Earth’s discerning revolution will assistance slingshot objects in to space. A floating cannon—dipping 1,600 feet next sea turn as well as steadied by a counterbalance system—would let operators pivot it for opposite orbits. Next month, Hunter will exam a functional, 10-foot antecedent in a H2O tank. He says a full-size launcher could be prepared in 7 years, supposing a association can turn adult a $500 million. Despite a upfront cost, Hunter says he has drawn seductiveness from investors since his reusable gun saves thus most money in a prolonged haul. Just don’t ever design a float in a thing: The gun produces 5,000 Gs, thus it’s usually for fuel armoured column as well as ruggedized satellites. “A chairman shot out of it would substantially get dense to half their size,” Hunter says. “It’d be over genuine quick.”

How to Shoot Stuff in to Space
STEP 1: HEAT IT
The gun combusts healthy gas in a feverishness exchanger inside of a
chamber of hydrogen gas, heating a hydrogen to 2,600˚F as well as initating a 500 percent boost in pressure.

STEP 2: LET THE HYDROGEN LOOSE
Operators open a valve, as well as a hot, pressurized hydrogen fast expands down a tube, pulling a cargo forward.

STEP 3: TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
After speeding down a 3,300-foot-long barrel, a missile shoots out of a gun during 13,000 mph. An iris during a finish of a gun closes, capturing a hydrogen gas to make use of again.


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