HyperV Technologies has developed a spin with which it would fling satellites and other payloads into space in the future. For the construction of the next prototype, it seeks support through crowd funding.
Slingatron is the device to be carried into orbit the small satellite with such an ancient slingshot. This should cost significantly less than to transport them with a rocket.
The Slingatron is a spiral metal strip, which is mounted on a base. The base is placed in a circular movement. The satellite is set into the center of the spiral, the spiral moves through and thereby accelerated so much that he flies up into orbit. It is equipped with a small drive, the lights on the apex of the flight path and brings the satellite into its proper orbit.
The spiral rotates 40 - to 60 times per second. The speed at which the payload is to be accelerated is depending on the diameter of the spiral. To propel a payload, such as a Cubesat in a low earth orbit that is in Low Earth Orbit (Leo), this must be accelerated to about 7.6 kilometers per second. According to a spiral HyperV Technologies this speed can be achieved with a diameter of 200 to 300 meters.
So far, the company has been built two prototypes. Of about one meter wide second prototype manages to accelerate a heavy part just under 230 grams to 100 meters per second.
The next prototype will have a diameter of five meters and be able to throw a 450 gram heavy payload of velocity of a kilometer per second in the air. At this rate it can approximately fly 51 km to high.
To build this device, HyperV Technologies has requested financial help of the Internet community: the company of Chantilly, Virginia has launched a crowd funding campaign on the platform Kickstarter. The company needs at least $ 250,000 so far100 supporters ready to sponsors.
The Slingatrons could in future carry satellites, supplies such as water or fuel and components for space vehicles or stations into space. The payload could be several tons explained by HyperV. However, the world cannot replace spin space rockets, the company say. Because of the immense G-forces in the spiral, not all payloads are suitable for a start on the Slingatron including human.
