Centrifugal rocket launch system

A recent SpinLaunch test has proven that satellites can withstand the extreme gravitational forces of their centrifugal launch system that aims to “throw” payloads into space

TEST
CENTRIFUGE

Projectile

Launch
tube

Payload:
Satellite
(up to
200kg)

Centrifuge: Spins
projectile inside vacuum
chamber up to 8,000km/h
before releasing it

Rocket second stage

First stage

Founded in 2014,
SpinLaunch is based in
Long Beach, California,
with test facilities at
Spaceport America in
New Mexico. It has
received more than
$110m in venture capital
from investors including
Airbus and Google

After being hurled into
upper atmosphere,
projectile in finished
system will open up,
freeing small rocket
assembly to fire and
edge satellite into
correct orbit

How
finished
launcher could
look in coastal
location

Finished
launcher will be
three times larger
than test machine

Sources: SpinLaunch, Gizmodo, Space.com
Pictures: SpinLaunch
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