"Illustration of an imaginative artwork depicting satellites piled up like a stack of pancakes. Image generated by AI." (Sustainability-times, Unstoppable Satellite Barrage: US Firm’s Hypersonic Cannon Fires Pancake Probes Into Space, Prompting Urgent Chinese Response)
Space rockets are tested and good systems for launching satellites into orbiters. But there is one problem with rockets. They are so noisy. And they need lots of space around them. There are a couple of alternatives. Researchers are trying to develop to replace those noisy systems. The easiest to make are the blimps, high-altitude unmanned airships that rise small Pegasus-type rockets to the edge of space.
Those rockets will launch into orbit from the 40-kilometer altitude. The unmanned robot airships can use hydrogen for hovering, and explosions will not be dangerous to humans on board. Those systems are quieter than the regular rockets.
The other version is the hypersonic aircraft that makes the ballistic jump. The satellite will release at the top point of the trajectory. Or the aircraft can pull that satellite behind it in the hypersonic glider. And when that aircraft makes the ballistic movement the satellite follows it. And then the ballistic movement acts like a sling to that satellite.
Centrifugal launchers or spin launchers are tools that can replace rockets. In those systems, the spinning plate accelerates the satellite at a very high speed. The spinning plate should be very large so that it stands for the spinning speed. If there is some kind of error the centripetal force destroys the plate. There is a possibility of connecting the spin launchers with magnetic accelerators, which can be connected to the stratospheric tube.
The tube itself can be connected with quadcopters. And it can have a telescopic structure. That means the system can push the stratospheric together. When the system is in use those quadcopters and electric motors pull that tower in full length. When the spin plate accelerates at full speed the system will open a hatch.
At the top of that thing. Then it opens a ventilator that brings air behind the satellite. The magnetic track and pressure along with the magnetic system pull the satellite through the tube. Those satellites will not be very large. They can be about 1-2 kg microsatellites. Those satellites are packed in the aerodynamic shield.
There are many variants of spin launchers. The laser system. That shoots below the satellite. Can give extra thrust. The system needs four lasers around the exit tube that give a stable push for the satellite capsule.
There are models where the system throws the satellite to the ballistic, or suborbital trajectory. Then the small space shuttle, or space hook. That is connected to the space station or heavier satellite pulls that satellite upward. The orbital system catches the satellite. And pulls it upwards.
In some models, the robot airships can carry extremely long whips. The spin launcher is like the Kevlar or spider silk rope. The rope will spin at a high speed. The length of that whip can be even kilometers. In some plans, there is a space station between Earth and the moon. There the whip length is enormous. 100 or even 1000 kilometers throw the small probes around the solar system.
The thing is that the centrifugal canons that are connected with magnetic accelerators can be used in long-range artillery. Those systems can launch ammunition over long distances. When we think about the orbital spin launchers those systems can look like helicopter rotors. They can pull themselves into a small size. Then the origami-style system puts its structure into the full size. The magnetic accelerators can be put in the tubes. That is in the middle of solar panels. Those "space windmills" can send metal ammunition against targets at a very high speed.
https://www.sustainability-times.com/energy/unstoppable-satellite-barrage-us-firms-hypersonic-cannon-fires-pancake-probes-into-space-prompting-urgent-chinese-response/