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Sherry Buschmann, manager of the Marshall Center’s launch technologies, says maglev technologies could help reduce the cost of space launch. |
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Bill Jacobs, maglev lead engineer at the Marshall Center, discusses the advantages of magnetic levitation launch-assist technologies.
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Transcript: "Maglev allows us to design and build smaller launch vehicles, which results in cheaper access to space. Electricity is a readily available energy source, and it's environmentally friendly. But best of all, it's cheap. We expect to be able to operate a full-scale track for just $75 worth of electricity per month." |
Transcript: "A maglev launch, or a horizontal launch, would be using electronic propulsion - first of all, the track - to allow you to get up to a certain speed by using energy from the ground, rather than carrying it on the vehicle. Then, from that point on, we would take the vehicle, and it would take off such as an airplane would, then become a rocket soon after." |
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A magnetic levitation — or maglev — track at the Marshall Center accelerates a model spacecraft from zero to 60 mph in less than one-half second. |
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| For video tape copies of this video file, contact Marshall Space Flight Center's Media Relations Office at (256) 544-0034 |
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