Reverse Mass Drivers: Catching Surfaces Grazing Orbiting Spacecraft

[DrHan]

If a mass driver could theoretically launch a vehicle then surely it could catch one too. Anyone know about articles related to mass drivers that refer to catching surfaces grazing orbiting spacecraft ?

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

There's at least one fundamental difference between launching a high-speed object ahd catching one. Can you speak to that difference?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Is this related to why "the javelin catch" is not an olympic sport?

 

[Bystander]

Anyone know about articles related to mass drivers that refer to catching surfaces grazing orbiting spacecraft ?

Are you familiar with the Ringworld braking system?

 

[Melbourne Guy]

If a mass driver could theoretically launch a vehicle then surely it could catch one too.

That's SpaceX's next secret innovation. Elon was one his way home one evening, just daydreaming as Fully Autonomous Most Famous Level 7 Autopilot mode carried him along, and as the regenerative braking slowed his Model Z, he suddenly thought, "Hold on a minute..."

Seriously, I guess it could be done, theoretically, but it seems a dangerous game to play because any mishap is likely to demolish your expensive mass driver and probably the facility that powers it. And you just know there's going to be a mishap