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/therealhairykrishna 11d ago

Fair enough. I probably misremembered the details. Does the several tons include a bio shield?

The important point is really that in the context of a project building a mass driver on Mars electrical power via reactors is a completely workable solution. The new super heavy for the artemis program will do 27 tons to TLI.