A launch loop is a wild, ambitious non-rocket space launch system. It uses electromagnetic forces and crazy-fast moving cables to fling spacecraft into orbit.
This megastructure could really change the game for space access. Instead of relying on rockets, it leans on continuous mechanical motion.
Picture a massive iron cable loop, racing through a track system way up above Earth. The whole thing stores a ridiculous amount of energy and momentum in that moving loop.
Electromagnetic suspension keeps the structure floating. When the fast-moving cable gets nudged off its straight path, it pushes down, which keeps the magnetically levitated track up in the sky.
Spacecraft—up to 5 metric tons, if you can believe it—can ride this elevated track. Electromagnetic acceleration pushes them up to orbital speeds and then, bam, they’re off into space.
The loop itself never stops moving, but it stays put relative to the ground. Blue stationary cables anchor everything, while the red moving loop does the heavy lifting (literally) to keep the high-altitude track up there.
Keith Lofstrom dreamed up the launch loop back in 1981. He wanted a new way to get to space, and his idea took off—people started calling it the Lofstrom loop after him.
Between 1983 and 1985, Lofstrom dug into the details. He took inspiration from earlier PORS (Partially Orbital Ring System) ideas but tweaked everything to build a maglev acceleration track that could actually work for people.
The Lofstrom loop moved the ball forward compared to orbital ring designs. Instead of relying on superconducting maglev, launch loops use electromagnetic suspension, which feels a bit more down-to-earth for construction.
Engineers saw that launch loops seemed way simpler than space elevators. They don’t need impossible materials or wild engineering leaps—just a lot of clever design and some tough components.
Launch loops sort of sit in the middle of the non-rocket launch world. They’re trickier than tethers like rotovators but way easier than full-blown space elevators.
Space elevators need cables stretching from Earth to geostationary orbit. Launch loops skip that headache by using electromagnetic support at much lower heights.
Rotovators and tether systems keep things simple but can’t handle big payloads. Launch loops, on the other hand, can toss much heavier spacecraft thanks to their electromagnetic acceleration.
Mass accelerators usually mean you have to build something huge at ground level. But launch loops get around the altitude problem by holding up their launch track with active cables, not massive towers.
Since launch loops use electromagnetic systems, they’re basically silent. That’s a big plus—no roaring engines, so they could fit in with commercial space tourism without making everyone’s ears ring.
A launch loop depends on three major systems working in sync. The sheath forms the backbone, the rotor and cable generate momentum, and magnetic suspension keeps everything lined up and running.
The sheath is the main structural piece. It stretches for hundreds of miles and has to stand up to some serious force from the rotor inside.
Engineers pick lightweight but tough materials for the sheath—think carbon fiber composites and advanced alloys. It’s got to be strong, but not so heavy that it defeats the whole purpose.
The sheath keeps a precise shape so the rotor can whip around smoothly. Support towers along the way help hold the right curve and height.
Temperature control is a headache. The moving rotor throws off a lot of heat, so the sheath needs cooling systems to avoid overheating and keep everything safe.
The rotor is a giant cable, always zipping through the sheath at more than 14 kilometers per second. That’s how it creates the force to support the whole structure.
This cable weighs thousands of tons. Only high-strength steel or maybe carbon nanotube composites can handle the extreme tension and speed.
Electromagnetic motors scattered around the loop keep the rotor moving. They need to run nonstop to fight friction and hold that crazy velocity.
The rotor’s momentum is what keeps the launch loop suspended. Without it, gravity would win.
Magnetic suspension holds the rotor in place, so it never touches the sheath. This maglev cable transport system cuts out friction that would otherwise tear the thing apart.
Electromagnetic suspension uses powerful magnets to push the cable away from the sheath. The system automatically tweaks the field strength to keep everything spaced just right.
Magnetic bearings stabilize the cable and react instantly if it drifts. Sensors track the position, and the system corrects any movement in a flash.
The magnetic suspension eats up a lot of electricity. Superconducting magnets help by using less power and making stronger fields, but they need to stay cold.
Backup magnetic systems add a safety net. If one section fails, others step in to keep the cable where it belongs.
A launch loop works by whipping a high-speed iron cable around at extreme altitudes. Electromagnetic forces and fast servo controls keep everything stable while they ramp up payloads to orbital velocities.
The loop generates lift with a cable racing at about 14 kilometers per second inside its sheath. That cable weighs something like 20 million tons and holds enough linear momentum to support the entire structure.
The cable runs in a closed loop between two ground stations. When it bends at the top section, it pushes momentum downward, which creates an upward force to keep the track floating at 80 kilometers or even higher.
Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) guides the cable with magnetic fields, keeping it away from the sheath walls and perfectly on track. Superconducting magnets generate those strong, steady fields.
The cable’s speed stores a massive amount of kinetic energy—about 100 terawatt-hours. That energy powers the structure and accelerates payloads without needing extra juice during launches.
Payload vehicles hook onto the elevated track and start their long acceleration. The track stretches for several hundred kilometers, so passengers and cargo get up to orbital speed without wild g-forces.
Magnetic levitation holds the payload vehicle above the track. With no friction, the ride stays smooth as the vehicle reaches up to 11 kilometers per second. Superconducting coils in both the track and the vehicle generate the magnetic lift.
As the vehicle speeds up, it cuts through Earth’s magnetic field and creates eddy currents in its own magnetic system. These currents add some weird forces, but the control systems adjust the field strength to keep everything lined up.
At the eastern end, the vehicle lets go of the track and zooms into orbit. The timing of this release decides where it ends up.
Servo control systems keep watch over thousands of details across the launch loop. They track cable position, field strength, deflection, and weather. The system reacts in milliseconds to stop dangerous swings.
Wind, temperature changes, and payload launches can all nudge the cable. Active damping uses magnetic forces to push back against unwanted movement.
Temperature changes stretch or shrink the cable, messing with tension. Servo controls adjust magnetic fields and tweak the cable’s path to keep up with daily and seasonal changes.
If things go south, emergency shutdowns can stop everything in minutes. The system slows the cable down carefully to avoid damage, and backup power keeps control systems alive if the grid goes out.
Launch loops hit three major engineering obstacles. They need wild advances in materials, super-smart electromagnetic controls, and a ton of power to make reliable space access a reality.
The loop stays up thanks to electromagnetic suspension that holds the rotor at 80 kilometers up, spinning at more than 14 kilometers per second.
Engineers have to keep the rotor perfectly lined up over hundreds of kilometers. If it drifts, the whole thing could go down.
They’ve built in backup electromagnetic levitation at regular spots all along the loop. Ground stations keep a constant eye on the rotor and tweak its path to avoid dangerous swings.
Weather can mess with the loop, especially high-altitude winds. Active systems have to compensate in real-time.
Control systems react in milliseconds, using fast computers and a network of sensors to keep everything stable.
Right now, our best materials just aren’t strong enough for a launch loop. The rotor needs to survive forces that would shred steel or aluminum.
High-tensile materials like carbon nanotubes or graphene might do the trick. At least, in theory.
Making enough of these materials, and making sure they’re flawless, is a huge challenge. The loop would need thousands of tons of the stuff.
The rotor faces massive centrifugal force and can’t have any weak spots. Regular metals would snap in minutes.
Temperature swings from ground to 80 kilometers add even more stress. The materials have to handle -60°C to +40°C without falling apart.
Quality control is absolutely critical. Even a tiny flaw could cause disaster.
Launch loops chew through a ton of electricity. The electromagnetic levitation alone needs megawatts, spread out over the whole length.
Getting the rotor up to speed at the start takes the most power, maybe hours or days of energy input.
Power has to reach all parts of the loop, so you need high-voltage lines and substations along the way.
If the grid blips, energy storage systems kick in. You can’t just shut down a launch loop instantly—power needs to keep flowing.
How often you can launch depends directly on your power reserves. Every launch draws extra energy on top of what the system already needs.
Maybe regenerative systems can claw back some energy during launches, but you’ll still need a hefty outside power source to keep things running.
Launch loops bring three big advantages that could totally shake up how we get to space. They promise huge drops in cost, better safety with minimal environmental impact, and, honestly, launch frequency like we’ve never seen before.
Launch loops could cut payload costs to about $3 per kilogram. That’s a jaw-dropping change when you compare it to rockets, which still charge thousands per kilogram.
This system keeps costs low by using reusable infrastructure. Instead of burning through expensive fuel and tossing away rocket stages, launch loops run on electricity. You can pull that power from solar, wind, or even nuclear—whatever works best.
Building a launch loop might cost around $10 billion for the whole setup. That’s about the same as 20 Space Shuttle launches, but you get decades of use out of it. Over time, you’re not throwing money away on single-use launches.
Operating expenses stay low because you keep reusing the same track and cable. Maintenance replaces fuel as the main ongoing cost, so budgets get a lot more predictable. Plus, if you’re launching several times a day, the fixed costs really spread out.
Launch loops run up at 80 kilometers, where space debris and meteorites rarely cause problems. Most junk that could hurt a spacecraft orbits much higher, and anything at this height just falls back down instead of building up.
The system creates zero direct emissions during launches. Electric power means no rocket exhaust, nitrates, or greenhouse gases. If you use clean energy, the operation doesn’t pollute the air at all.
Sound pollution barely registers compared to rockets. The electromagnetic system runs quietly, so you could launch near cities without waking up the neighbors. Rockets, on the other hand, need all sorts of noise barriers.
Passengers experience gentle 3g acceleration—most people can handle that just fine. The smooth ramp-up makes space travel possible for way more folks, not just the super-fit.
Launch loops let you launch several times an hour, no matter the weather. Rockets have to wait for clear skies, but the launch loop’s enclosed track shields vehicles from rain or wind.
You can run launches back-to-back with this setup. There’s no need to wait for perfect orbital windows, since the system gives spacecraft enough speed before they even leave the track.
The loop handles 5-metric-ton payloads easily. That’s plenty for most satellites or even crewed missions. If you need to send more, just schedule more launches instead of building bigger rockets.
Operators get to pick launch times that work for them. Whether it’s commercial satellites, cargo, or passengers, you don’t have to wait your turn behind other rockets. This kind of reliability is a game-changer for space tourism and business.
Launch loops go up against some pretty wild space launch ideas. These concepts all try to lower costs with massive infrastructure instead of relying on rockets. Each one brings its own mix of construction difficulty, safety, and payload options—things that really matter for commercial access.
Space elevators would use a cable stretching from Earth all the way up past geostationary orbit—over 35,000 kilometers high. But the cable needs to be made from materials way stronger than anything we’ve got right now. Carbon nanotubes? Maybe someday, but not yet.
Launch loops stick to much lower altitudes—about 80 kilometers up. They rely on steel cables and magnetic levitation, both of which we already know how to build.
Construction Requirements:
Space elevators constantly risk getting hit by debris or meteorites. One strike could snap the cable and cause a disaster. Launch loops avoid this by operating lower, where debris burns up in the air.
Radiation is another big difference. Passengers on a space elevator would spend days passing through the Van Allen belts. With a launch loop, you’re in orbit in hours, so radiation exposure is way less.
Orbital rings would circle the entire planet at set heights. They’d use spinning mass streams or solid rings to create artificial gravity and hang tethers down to Earth.
Partial orbital rings only cover part of the planet, making them cheaper but less versatile.
Key Differences from Launch Loops:
The energy stored in orbital rings dwarfs what’s in a launch loop. A failure could have global consequences. Launch loops keep their energy in smaller, more controlled sections.
Partial orbital rings strike a balance—they offer regional launches without the insane material needs of a full ring.
Space fountains use streams of magnetically-accelerated particles shot upward, holding up a tower against gravity. The stream loops back down, keeping the structure stable.
StarTram uses magnetic levitation along a really long track, usually built on a mountain. Vehicles speed up along the track and launch into space at the end.
Operational Characteristics:
Space fountains can get knocked around by weather. High winds or storms could throw off the particle beam. Launch loops hang from cables, so they’re steadier.
StarTram sits between launch loops and rockets. It gets vehicles moving fast, but you still need a rocket for that last push to orbit. Launch loops, at least in theory, can give you all the speed you need.
Launch loops could totally change how we put satellites in orbit, open the door for affordable space tourism, and even help with space colonization. You’re looking at up to 95% savings compared to rockets, plus the kind of reliability commercial operations crave.
Satellite operators want lower costs and more frequent launches. Launch loops answer the call by making payload launches way cheaper.
A single launch loop could put hundreds of small satellites in orbit every day. That shrinks deployment timelines from years to just months. SpaceX charges about $2,500 per kilogram to low Earth orbit, but launch loops could drop that below $50.
The system shines for CubeSats and microsatellites under 1,000 kilograms. These small payloads are the fastest-growing part of the satellite market. With launch loops, you don’t have to wait for rocket slots or share rides.
Geosynchronous missions need more speed than the loop can give directly. But you can send satellites to low Earth orbit, then use ion thrusters to climb higher. It’s still a big cost saver.
Space tourism companies could use launch loops to make civilian spaceflight way more affordable. Right now, suborbital flights cost $450,000 per person—definitely not for everyone.
With launch loops, orbital tourism could cost about the same as current suborbital flights. Passengers would get days in space, not just a few minutes. The gentle acceleration makes it possible for older adults or people with minor health issues to go.
Space hotels start to make sense when you can launch stuff for under $100 per kilogram. Launch loops can deliver supplies, building materials, and people at those prices. Daily flights mean crews and tourists can come and go regularly.
You could even do lunar tourism by sending spacecraft to Earth orbit, then refueling them for the trip to the Moon. This two-step approach keeps things safe and manageable for regular folks.
Big-time space colonization means moving millions of tons of gear and lots of people off Earth. Rockets just can’t do that affordably, or fast enough.
Launch loops are perfect for sending bulk materials needed for space exploration. You could launch construction supplies, life support, and food non-stop, instead of in tiny batches. One facility could handle the equivalent of 100 Falcon Heavy launches a day.
Mars colonization gets a boost too. Launch loops let you build big ships in orbit, carrying hundreds of colonists and loads of cargo. You can keep those settlements supplied with regular launches.
The Moon becomes a handy base for deeper missions. Launch loops can deliver habitats, mining gear, and science tools to set up lunar outposts. Those outposts then support missions to asteroids and the outer planets.
When ticket prices drop to airline levels, people can actually afford to move to space colonies. Suddenly, colonization isn’t just for governments—it’s open to anyone willing to make the leap.
Launch loops need careful placement near the equator for best results. Safety systems have to handle the huge energy stored in the spinning cables. These factors directly affect success rates and passenger safety for commercial flights.
Launch loops work best when built near the equator. Earth’s rotation gives you a free velocity boost—about 460 meters per second less energy needed to reach low Earth orbit.
Equatorial orbits let you go straight to geostationary positions without wasting fuel on plane changes. Space tourism companies love this, since passengers get to orbit with less effort.
Great launch loop locations include:
Ocean-based loops keep people out of harm’s way. At 80 kilometers up, the structure stays below the main debris belt, and any junk gets cleared out by atmospheric drag in months.
Gravity assists are easier from the equator. Spacecraft can use Earth’s spin and lunar or planetary alignments to reach deep space without burning extra fuel.
The launch loop holds 1.5 petajoules of kinetic energy in its cables. That’s about 350 kilotons of TNT, so you need multiple backup safety systems to avoid disaster.
Magnetic levitation controls run on triple-redundant electronics. If sensors spot trouble, the system dumps energy at safe spots—usually over deserts or the ocean. Parachutes can lower sections safely from high up.
Passenger vehicles have emergency options:
Ground teams watch thousands of sensors all the time. They track vibrations, magnetic fields, and stress on the structure to catch problems early.
The loop’s huge size actually helps with safety. Energy spreads out over hundreds of kilometers, so most failures only affect a small part of the system.
Weather systems monitor the whole route. Unlike rockets, launch loops can keep running through most weather, since they’re above the storms.
Launch loops rely on orbital mechanics and demand some pretty precise calculations around velocity and energy transfer. The whole system needs to push payloads to just the right speed while handling the tricky physics of getting into orbit or even escaping Earth’s gravity.
To reach orbital velocity, launch loops have to accelerate payloads based on the target altitude. For low Earth orbit (LEO) at about 500 km, you’re looking at around 7.8 km/s.
The delta-v (that’s the total velocity change needed) for traditional rockets sits at about 10 km/s for LEO, thanks to drag and gravity losses. Launch loops, though, cut that way down—just 120 m/s for LEO circularization.
At 80 km up, the launch track puts payloads above most of the atmosphere. That almost wipes out drag losses you’d get with rockets.
The electromagnetic acceleration system delivers a steady 3g force along a 2,000 km track. That’s a long, fast ride.
Key velocity numbers:
Launch loops can send payloads straight into escape orbits—no need for extra propulsion systems. The high-altitude track lets you hit trajectories above Earth’s escape velocity (11.2 km/s).
For circular orbits, you’ll still need a small rocket motor to tweak the path at apogee. The initial launch sends payloads on an elliptical path with perigee at 80 km. Without that circularization burn, orbits decay quickly because of drag at the low point.
The system really shines for launching payloads toward escape orbits and interplanetary paths. You can go straight for lunar gravity assists or even Trojan points, skipping a lot of complicated maneuvers.
Payload capacity depends on the mission. LEO missions can carry the full 5-metric-ton design load. For escape velocity missions, you’ll have to balance payload mass and final speed, but even then, launch loops outperform rockets by a wide margin.
Launch loop research has picked up steam, especially at key aerospace conferences. Engineers from different backgrounds have started to pay attention, including space elevator researchers and some well-known folks in the field.
The International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Chicago, 2010, gave launch loop technology a big moment in the spotlight. That presentation boosted public awareness of the idea.
The Space Elevator Conference also hosted launch loop discussions, bringing together engineers and researchers focused on advanced space transportation systems.
These conferences helped put launch loops on the map as a real alternative to rockets. Space industry pros started to see its potential for moving lots of cargo.
Technical discussions at these events let engineers share research and dig into the real-world challenges of making launch loops work.
Dr. John Knapman from Chandler’s Ford, UK, has put serious effort into improving launch loop designs. He’s teamed up with others to tackle atmospheric challenges that also affect space elevators.
Knapman developed ways to handle icing, wind, and lightning—big headaches for any high-altitude structure. These tweaks make launch loops more practical for actual deployment.
His research led to capture rail system designs that work with launch loops. These rails help vehicles reach higher orbits after launch.
Remote laser ablation thrusters have popped up as another cool advancement. These let operators tweak vehicle positions during orbital transfers using ground or space-based lasers.
Launch loops come with some serious risks, especially with energy storage and debris impacts. These gigantic electromagnetic structures need robust fail-safes to keep stored kinetic energy from turning into a disaster.
Launch loops store a jaw-dropping amount of kinetic energy in their moving iron rotors. A typical loop keeps the rotor stream zipping along at over 14 km per second.
The servo control system is the heart of launch loop safety. Redundant servo controllers constantly tweak magnetic fields to keep the rotor’s position and speed in check. If all those systems fail at once, you’ve got a recipe for catastrophe.
Rotor containment failure is the worst-case scenario. If magnetic levitation loses power, the iron stream slams into the tube walls at hypersonic speeds. That triggers explosive decompression and collapse all along the loop.
Power grid failures also pose big problems. Launch loops need a steady gigawatt-level power supply. If the grid goes down or equipment fails, operators have to bring the rotor stream to a stop—safely—over several hours.
The cascading failure mode is especially nasty. One servo glitch can cause rotor oscillations, overloading nearby systems. That domino effect can take out backups before anyone can react.
Space debris is a constant threat for launch loops reaching into the upper atmosphere. Even tiny paint flecks moving at orbital speeds can mess up the magnetic levitation system.
Meteorite impacts are another headache for the elevated sections. Since you can’t dodge, the system needs strong shielding and backup supports.
Debris mitigation systems need active tracking and deflection. Ground radar keeps watch on anything over a centimeter in the loop’s zone. Automated systems can shift magnetic fields to protect vulnerable spots.
Emergency shutdown protocols must have multiple independent triggers. Operators need to slow and contain the rotor stream within minutes if debris hits. Distributed energy absorption systems along the loop help with that.
Geographic isolation is non-negotiable. Launch loops need to stay far from populated areas to keep people safe if things go south.
Launch loops could totally change the game for space access, especially with electric propulsion and megascale engineering. The timeline depends on breakthroughs in maglev cable transport and proving out tether propulsion at smaller scales.
The next ten years will show if launch loops can beat their biggest engineering challenges. Magnetic levitation systems need to get way more efficient and reliable, especially since launch loops operate at 80 km up—not just at ground level.
Space cable materials are another sticking point. Engineers need cables that handle extreme tension but still flex when needed. The moving cable acts like a mass driver, using electromagnetic forces to fling payloads to orbit.
Power use is no joke. Early numbers say launch loops would need gigawatts of electricity to keep running. That means better power generation and transmission tech.
Tether propulsion research helps a lot here. NASA and private companies keep testing electrodynamic tethers, which could inform cable design and how electromagnetic stuff behaves in space.
Commercial space companies are starting to look for options beyond rockets. Launch loops might someday offer way lower costs per kilogram, opening the door to space tourism for regular folks.
The most likely path is to build smaller demo systems first. Test facilities a few kilometers long could prove the core ideas before anyone tries full-scale construction.
International teamwork is going to be crucial. The sheer scale of launch loops is too much for any one country. Shared ownership could split up the cost and reduce worries about security.
We’re still decades away from real launch loops. Most research focuses on the pieces—like cables, power loops, and automated construction—rather than the whole system. It’ll take big leaps in all those areas before launch loops become a real alternative to rockets.
Launch loops offer a radical new way to reach space, totally different from rockets. Here are answers to some of the big questions about the tech, the economics, and what it might mean in practice.
Launch loops have some clear perks over rockets. They provide clean launches—no burning tons of fuel or spewing harmful emissions.
You can launch way more often because the infrastructure is reusable. Rockets need a lot of prep and fixes between flights, but launch loops could, in theory, run almost nonstop.
Safety gets a big boost. You don’t have to strap your payload to a flying bomb. Abort procedures are simpler since you can just slow down and stop the payload inside the loop.
Costs drop dramatically. Once you’ve built the thing, you skip per-flight fuel costs and throwaway parts that make rockets expensive.
A launch loop uses a fast-moving cable inside a sheath. The cable zips along at about 14 km per second through the track.
The track stretches between two ground stations, with the middle hanging up at 80 km altitude. That height keeps you above most of the air but below the worst of the space junk.
Payloads ride on magnetic levitation systems that interact with the cable. The moving cable transfers momentum to the payload, pushing it to orbital speed without any onboard fuel.
The structure stays up thanks to the moving cable itself—not regular supports. That lets engineers use known materials like steel and kevlar, even at those wild altitudes.
Control systems top the list of headaches. Magnetic levitation needs millions of electronic controllers, all working in microseconds, to keep everything stable.
Heat management is a big deal. The rotor can hit 620°C during busy launch schedules. Accelerating vehicles creates eddy currents that heat up the cable as payloads get their boost.
Keeping the whole thing stable is a massive engineering challenge. You’re dealing with forces equal to 150,000 freight trains’ worth of stored energy. Stabilization cables running to the ground need careful design to handle all that stress.
Weather, debris, and changing atmospheric conditions add even more complexity. Protection systems have to work along the entire length, no matter what’s happening outside.
Launch loops can handle cargo and people, as long as the vehicles are built for it. The system can keep acceleration within human tolerance levels.
For crewed flights, the gentler acceleration is a big plus. You don’t get slammed with high g-forces like you do on a rocket.
Safety systems for people need extra layers. Abort options have to work at any point, so vehicles can slow down and come back if needed.
Cargo is easier—you can push it harder, since machines don’t mind higher g’s. That flexibility lets operators optimize for whatever the mission needs.
Launch loops cut out the fuel costs that drive up traditional rocket prices. Rockets today burn through thousands of dollars per kilogram, mostly because of propellant and expensive hardware.
The real hit comes from building the thing in the first place. You’d need to put up a massive elevated track, set up ground stations, and install all the control systems. It’s a hefty infrastructure project, and you’d have to spread those costs over many years to make it work.
Day-to-day expenses look different. Instead of burning fuel, you’re paying for electricity and keeping everything running smoothly. The system pulls about 100 megawatts, so you’re looking at around $2,000 an hour for power. That’s way less than what rockets eat up per launch.
But does it make sense economically? That depends on how often you launch and whether there’s enough demand. If payload volume stays low, the investment might not really pay off. Right now, global launch demand might not be enough to kickstart such a big leap.
Launch loop technology still sits in the realm of theory and concepts. Nobody’s built a full-scale system yet, and most of the work has just happened on paper or through computer models.
The original designer actually moved on to explore other uses for the core tech. Right now, energy storage systems—called power loops—might help engineers get the hands-on experience they need. These smaller projects could really show whether magnetic levitation and control tech will work for launch loops.
Some of the component technologies have kept moving forward on their own. Materials science, magnetic levitation, and control electronics have all improved, so the idea seems a bit less far-fetched than it did back in 1975.
Diamond-coated surfaces and fiber optics have even made a few tricky design problems easier to handle.
But here’s the catch: the market just isn’t there yet. Launch volumes and pricing don’t give anyone a good reason to pour money into such a massive infrastructure project. Honestly, real development probably won’t start until space commerce takes off in a big way.
