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For SpaceNut ... there did not seem to be an existing topic that matches the achievement of the Chinese, reported at the link below.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science … hout-power
The first work on magnetic levitation for transportation was done in the United States, at MIT by Henry Kolm.
The first work using permanent magnets (that I know about) was a patent for a magnetic levitation warehouse transport system, by John Barber.
The article at the link above reports on the use of permanent magnets to support an entire train, so that NO energy is invested in maintaining a magnetic field for levitation. Energy ** is ** used to move the train, resistance to forward movement is limited to drag from the air, and overcoming momentum to start the movement.
This technology would (probably) be of interest to Mars settlers, if the rare elements needed to make the long lasting and powerful permanent magnets are available on Mars.
However, from my perspective, this technology is ** really ** interesting for solving the problem of management of rotation of counter rotating habitats in the Large Ship design of kbd512.
In contrast with the Unitary Rotation plan for the original Large Ship by RobertDyck, the counter rotating habitats envisioned for the design of kbd512 will have large roller bearings at the centers of the habitats.
In contrast with the design of kbd512, the design I am thinking about would employ magnets to keep the rims of the habitats away from the structure enclosing them, so that loads on the central shaft bearing would be minimal during maneuvers.
China has launched the world’s first suspended maglev line built with permanent magnets that can keep a “sky train” afloat forever – even without a power supply.
The 800-metre (2,600-foot) experimental Red Rail in southern China’s Xingguo county, Jiangxi province, used powerful magnets rich in rare earth elements to produce a constantly repelling force strong enough to lift a train with 88 passengers in the air, according to a report by state broadcaster China Central Television on Tuesday.
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China launches world’s first maglev ‘sky train’ that floats in the air using permanent magnets
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For SpaceNut re #2 ... thanks for reminding me where I first saw that announcement!
Please note that the topic title is:
Index» Planetary transportation» Trains on Mars - Could a rail system provide martian need
That topic title is about every ** possible ** kind of train that might be imagined.
This topic is tightly focused upon the use of permanent magnets to achieve desirable performance of magnet based systems.
For Mars_B4_Moon ... thanks for finding and posting that topic!
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another way of getting to Lunar Orbit?
A Maglev System On The Moon Could Make Lunar Logistics A Breeze
https://www.universetoday.com/162849/a- … -a-breeze/
Maglevs are one of those technologies that still look like magic, even years after they were initially rolled out. While they have long been a workhorse of the transportation systems of some major cities, they don’t often impact the day-to-day lives of people who don’t use them to commute. But, they might be invaluable in another setting – lunar exploration. There’s an ongoing debate about the best way to shuttle stuff around on the Moon’s surface, and a team from JPL and a company called SRI International think they have a solution – deploy a maglev track on the Moon.
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This maglev topic has been quiet for a while. This post is about an ambitious Chinese private company that is at least ** thinking ** about electromagnetic launch for space craft. My guess is this venture will make some progress over the next several years as long as funding continues. The group has set a significant goal for itself! It would like to accelerate the payload carrying second stage to the speed of sound in a vertical direction before the stage ignites and continues the flight. Members of this forum have posted about this idea, from time to time. Substantial advances in materials, energy storage and system control will be required.
https://interestingengineering.com/inno … oup=test_a
I don't think SpaceX has much to worry about from this particular initiative, but it may very well prove valuable in the context of Lunar delivery of materials to LEO. Gerard O'Neill imagined doing exactly that in the 1980's. I've seen the working demonstration accelerator, and read about Chinese success with magnetic levitation. I don't see anything but hard work between this group and success at ** some ** level.
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