Construct a maglev launch system on our moon

[wolram]

if were posible to construct a maglev launch system on our moon how
much energy would be required to launch shutle sized space craft?

 

[drag]

Greetings wolram !

Originally posted by wolram
if were posible to construct a maglev launch system on our moon how
much energy would be required to launch shutle sized space craft?

Take the kinetic energy and divide it by 3
(in the more pessimisitic case) or by 1.5 (in the
optimistic case) to account for efficiency.

E = Ek / eff = Ms * V^2 / 2 / eff

Ms(without fuel and boosters) = 9,000 kg = 20,000 pounds
V (for low lunar orbit, if I remember correctly the
approximate value) = 2 km/sec = = 1.25 miles/sec

E would be 27*10^9 - 54*10^9 J .

In addition we need to substract the gravity of the
moon during the acceleration but if the acceleration
is sufficiently fast it will have a small effect that
we can ignore in this approximation.

If the acceleration is a = 30 m/sec^2 = 100 ft/sec^2 = 3g
then the power output during the acceleration process
(P = E / t) would be about 400 - 800 MW.

Live long and prosper.

 

[On Radioactive Waves]

Why divide? Did you mean multiply, or am I missing the boat here?