[amsat-bb] Re: Launch Costs (was-re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol. 7, Issue 312)

[Gus 8P6SM]

On 09/26/2012 01:38 AM, Tony Langdon wrote:
> And of someone wanted to try out a new propulsion system on a live
> satellite, I'm sure AMSAT would be more than happy to help with the
> comms side of things.

One can understand the reluctance to allow an explosive kick-motor on a 
launch vehicle.  But is that the only way?

What about a trebuchet?  Springs?  Rubber bands?  Cylinders of 
compressed gas?  Gas produced when needed by mixing two stable chemicals 
together?  A motor that spins up an arm to 'throw' the payload? A 
magnetic railgun that fires a slug down out of orbit, resulting in 
recoil pushing the satellite up?  Or the payload up, while deorbiting 
the railgun?

Surely someone smarter than I can come up with a scheme that might 
actually work?  And someone with a smoother tongue than I can persuade a 
university that this is valuable research to be pursued by their space 
science department?

-- 
73, de Gus 8P6SM
The Easternmost Isle