Centrifugal projectile launchers

Centrifugal projectile launchers are proposed as alternatives to both chemical and electromagnetic launchers to provide reliable, efficient, compact systems that can accelerate projectiles to 2-3 km/s with energies of 10⁵-10⁶J. The direct conversion of mechanical energy into mechanical energy offers many systems advantages besides high efficiency. These advantages are discussed, and experimental and demonstration systems utilizing these advantages are scoped. Design choices for the spinning arbor, projectile release system, modes of operation, and subsystems are considered.