--- title: "China Working on Giant Rail Gun to Shoot Astronauts Into Space" description: "Chinese scientists are working on a giant electromagnetic launch track to launch a massive 50-ton space plane into orbit." date: "2024-03-16" modified: "2024-03-16" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-giant-rail-gun-astronauts-space" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "electromagnetic railgun" - "maglev train" - "rail gun" - "the digest" --- # China Working on Giant Rail Gun to Shoot Astronauts Into Space ![Chinese scientists are working on a giant electromagnetic launch track to launch a massive 50-ton space plane into orbit.]() *\Image: CCTV / Futurism\* ## Astronaut Rail Gun Chinese scientists are working on a giant electromagnetic launch track to launch a massive 50-ton spaceplane — longer than a Boeing 737 — into orbit. As the [*South China Morning Post* reports](), the "giant rail gun" system is designed to accelerate a hypersonic aircraft to speeds of up to Mach 1.6. Once it reaches the end of the track, its engine then accelerates it to the edge of space at seven times the speed of sound. If actually built, it could greatly cut down on the amount of fuel such a craft would need to get to space, allowing it to carry bigger payloads — and save a considerable amount of money as well. Needless to say, it's a wildly ambitious plan. But according to the *SCMP*, scientists are already actively working on turning the idea into a reality. ## Electromagnetic Catapult China isn't the first to consider the use of an electromagnetic space launch system. In the 1990s, [NASA started constructing]() a test rail that measured 50 feet long. But due to a lack of funding and plenty of technical hurdles, the project was abandoned. The US military also developed much lower-speed electromagnetic catapults to launch planes from aircraft carriers. However, an early version of the system, installed on the carrier USS Ford, has [been plagued by problems](). According to *SCMP*, the US military has mostly abandoned efforts to develop rail guns in favor of hypersonic missiles. But that hasn't dissuaded China from trying anyway. In tests, scientists found they needed to accelerate the aircraft to blistering speeds to forego the need for a rocket's first stage. Releasing the aircraft at the right moment has also proven particularly difficult thanks to colliding shockwaves. Nonetheless, scientists have determined that the idea is still technically feasible — and safe enough for astronauts to endure. The country's considerable investments in developing maglev technologies could also give it an advantageous position. But whether it'll actually see the light of day — nevermind shoot any astronauts into orbit — remains to be seen. **More on rail guns:** *[A Gun Company Is Now Selling a Handheld Semi-Automatic Railgun]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()