Science fiction and science also have been fantasizing and even designing systems similar to elevators that lead us to outer space. It is a very efficient alternative in economic and logistics terms: The infrastructure would avoid launching spacecraft to the orbit without using conventional propeller rockets and with reusable systems.
For example, Spinlaunch seeks to launch satellites into space through the use of centrifugal force. Green Launch, meanwhile, wants to launch useful loads directly to orbit using a space cannon.
Now, another company has joined the initiative: Auriga Space, which seeks to develop a launch track that will feed incredibly powerful magnets with electricity. These magnets will accelerate a vehicle six times the speed of sound before throwing it into space. Ista technology is similar to that used by the fast Maglev Trains (magnetic levitation) whose roads resort to magnets to levitate the cars and take them to very high speeds.
In the launch, Most of the weight of a rocket consists of the necessary propeller to launch it to space. Auriga Space, meanwhile, aims to eliminate the need for large amounts of propeller. Its launch track has a steep ramp in the final stretch that drives the rocket towards the sky. The vehicle will only need to turn on your engine for the final impulse to orbit.
The Space Auriga track is also reusable and almost instantaneous. According to the company, advances in power electronics make their new system viable. Previously, other initiatives proposed “spatial elevators” Similar magnetic levitation. However, these never translated into a serious test campaign.
In An interviewWinnie Lai, founder and executive director of Auriga, explained: “Less than 2% of the mass of the rocket reaches space. Therefore, our ultimate goal is to make space launches more efficientand by increasing efficiency, we believe that we can reduce the cost and also allow much more frequent launches. “
Auriga Space seeks to start attending hypersonic test clients. Next year, it will display an inner track at the laboratory scale called Prometheus and an exterior accelerator for large -scale hypersonic tests called Thor. Its orbital launch system, which will be available soon, is called Zeus.
Investors They also seem to believe in the vision of Auriga Space: the company has raised a capital round of 4.6 million dollars. The investment round was led by the European firm Otb Ventures. In addition, Auriga Space has raised 1.4 million dollars in new AFWerx and Spacewerx contracts.
The company is still in the development phase and has not yet defined the size of its launch vehicle. Like Spinlaunch, who has faced setbacks related to high gravity loads in his vehicle, Auriga Space must accurately balance the launch speed to avoid a negative impact on its useful loads.
With its system, Auriga Space will allow customers to perform multiple hypersonic tests with a single payload at a lower cost than existing alternatives. The company also believes that its technology will allow you to satisfy the need for the US space force. UU. “Responsible launch”. This refers to The ability to launch useful loads to space practically without prior notice.