// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Mass Driver
A mass driver is a proposed machine that uses powerful electromagnetic fields to accelerate a payload along a long track to incredibly high speeds. It's envisioned as a way to launch materials or spacecraft from a planet or moon into space without using traditional rocket fuel.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A mass driver is a non-rocket spacelaunch system concept employing a linear electromagnetic accelerator, typically a coilgun, to propel a payload to orbital or escape velocity. This propulsion method converts electrical power into kinetic energy and is theorized for launching raw materials from low-gravity celestial bodies like the Moon or asteroids for in-space resource utilization.
BACKGROUND
Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric entry.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- electromagnetic launcher
- EML
- coilgun launcher
- magnetic catapult
- linear motor launcher
- electromagnetic accelerator
USAGE NOTE
The term is most often used when discussing future, large-scale space infrastructure projects like lunar mining or asteroid colonization.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Mass Driver.
A spaceflight technology company developing a kinetic launch system that uses a large, vacuum-sealed centrifuge to spin a payload to hypersonic speeds before launching it into space. This is a form of mechanical mass driver.
This technology company develops the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for the U.S. Navy. EMALS is a functional, large-scale electromagnetic catapult (a type of mass driver) used to launch aircraft from carriers, demonstrating mastery of the core technology.
The U.S. space agency has funded and studied mass driver concepts for decades, particularly for launching materials from the Moon (lunar mass drivers) and as a potential Earth-based launch-assist system through programs like the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC).
The NRL has conducted extensive research and development on electromagnetic railguns. A railgun is a linear electromagnetic accelerator, and the technology, research, and components are directly applicable to building mass drivers for space launch.
A U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory with world-leading expertise in the high-pulsed-power systems that are essential for powering large-scale electromagnetic accelerators like mass drivers.
Specializes in pulsed power systems and plasma accelerators. The company has developed plasma railguns, a technology closely related to mass drivers that involves the electromagnetic acceleration of mass.
An organization dedicated to the development of the StarTram concept, a proposed maglev-based mass driver designed to launch cargo and passengers into orbit. The concept was co-developed by Dr. James R. Powell, a co-inventor of superconducting maglev.