this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
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Space

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Giant catapult sends satellites into space without rocket fuel (www.thebrighterside.news)
submitted 12 hours ago by cm0002 to c/space
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[โ€“] [email protected] 12 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, this is just a first stage replacement. You still need a rocket to get most of the way into orbit.

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

The first stage counts for the bulk of the fuel and total mass, so this would still be a big deal.

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 2 hours ago

Yeah definitely. The way the rocket equation works out, the second stage gives most of the Delta V, but the first stage needs to be much bigger because it needs to lift itself and the second stage.