P3_6 Space Cannon

Authors

  • Pok Fong University of Leicester
  • Mikey Hawkins University of Leicester
  • Lilli Helps University of Leicester
  • Emily Lear University of Leicester
  • Jacob Selby University of Leicester

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of firing spacecraft into orbit using a cannon (likely either a coilgun or railgun). We discover that a cannon capable of doing such things would have to fire the craft at around 8.2 km s^-1, and be at least 1142 km long, to avoid placing the craft’s inhabitants under fatal accelerative forces.

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Published

31-12-2019

How to Cite

Fong, P., Hawkins, M., Helps, L., Lear, E., & Selby, J. (2019). P3_6 Space Cannon. Physics Special Topics, 18(1). Retrieved from https://journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/pst/article/view/3381

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2019): Physics Special Topics

Section

Articles