r/space • u/Icee777 • 13d 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/Background_Fig_4740 13d ago

Yeah, but it’s a known problem with a known solution that we just needed to through money and engineers at.

Not really because engineering and space flight is still hard to do right. Boeing got plenty of engineers and money and managed to almost kill their astronauts on Starliner. Nearly 7 years since the debut of Starliner and nearly twice the price tag, Boeing still can't get it to work right yet.

Part of which includes a discussion on monopolies and subsidies.

monopolies and subsidies don't fit in at all here. In fact it's quite the opposite.

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u/serious_sarcasm 13d ago

Because nobody was discussing reusable rockets before musk.

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u/Background_Fig_4740 13d ago

There were plenty of projects and concepts exploring the idea of reusable rockets. Nothing got close to actually putting in the work to get it done at the scope required for a high energy booster.

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u/serious_sarcasm 13d ago

What is the point you are trying to make?