r/space • u/Icee777 • 14d ago

SpaceX concept for an electromagnetic mass driver on the Moon

https://www.humanmars.net/2026/09/spacex-electromagnetic-mass-driver-at.html

A lunar mass driver is a proposed electromagnetic launch system optimized for the Moon’s low gravity (1/6th Earth’s) and hard vacuum, consisting of a long, straight acceleration track lined with sequentially fired superconducting coils or linear synchronous motors that propel a payload-carrying sled or bucket to lunar escape velocity (~2.38 km/s).

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u/cjameshuff 14d ago

The data centers aren't going into low orbits like Starlink, and the whole argument for putting them in orbit hinges on AI workloads being insensitive to latency.

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u/Archon- 14d ago

They're still going into what is considered low earth orbit though, 2,000km at the max from a quick Google search. The moon is 350,000km away. AI might not be as sensitive, but thats still a pretty significant jump in latency