Nasa Using LIMs?

I just saw the 10pm news over here in NYC and they where reporting that  Nasa has started to exsperament with Magnetic lauching to launch spaceships,rockets etc into space.And they shows some things that look like L.I.Ms, I was wondering are they going to be using the same launching sytem as Lauched rollercoasters such as; The Chiller,Jokers jinx and flight of fear? I have the designer of those coaster speaking on a coaster dvd i have and he states that Premeir  was working with Nasa?

I'm not sure weather they are or are not but it is a neat idea. Those would have to be some really powerful LIM's though. Hey maybe we'll see some like those on coasters in the future.

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Where has the magic gone in the name Disney?

I know on "America's Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills: The Next Generation" Jim Seay (president of Premier Rides inc.) talks about NASA being interested in the propulsion system of Joker's Jinx, so you probably saw things somewhat like LIMs.
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Skater for life!

*** This post was edited by SFMWManiac87 on 1/12/2002. ***

NASA co designed Superman: The Escape @ SFMM just for that purpose they created the worlds largest rail gun to see if they can find an easier way to shoot payloads into space

Oh and they aren't LIMs they are LSMs there is a diffrence LIMs don't use magnets they use copper wiring and stuff its hard to explain

*** This post was edited by coaster_freak00 on 1/12/2002. ***

I was just watching FOX News, don't ask why...and they had a report that NASA could save on fuel I think it was by launching of what looks like an airplane attached to a something that the plane attaches to the magnets by launching it horizantly. So it looks like a strip of magnets. I'm guessing on this, that when reaches a minimum speed of something it deteaches from the launcher and flies away. I wish I hd a link for you but FOX didn't have it. =( I'll keep looking though.  If you sill done get it think Superman: The Escape take off the vertical tower, and pretened that there is a train/attach thingy and you can only fit one person/plane. Launch it and when you reach 100 mph. you jump out into space. =)
-Neil

*** This post was edited by Neiller919 on 1/13/2002. ***

I think NASA is working on Maglev technology... not sure how it differs from LIMs exactly.  (Rideman?)

At one point NASA's Maglev research was being funded in part by Arrow Dynamics of all people:

http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/news/releases/1998/98-190.html

I guess none of you know this, but:  LIMs were a spinoff from NASA and the Department of Defense.  They were around long before we saw them used on coasters.

Most of the early work on LIMS was done by the space people and the people working on Maglev trains.  As MisterX says, out coasters are really a spin off from that.

Of course, you all must also realize that LIM's have been powering attractions since 1967.  Yep, that's right.

Disney's WEDWay Peoplemover attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World uses LIM's to propel the trains along the track.

Additionally, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad uses LIM's as brakes.

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~~~ M ~~~
Official Driver for the Long Island Regional.

on america's greatest rollercoaster thrills: the next generation (video tape) it says in an interview with a designer or someone of that sort that nasa is interested in joaker's jinx pulpultion system (LIM). 
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"you give me the most gorgeous sleep that i've ever had and when it's really bad i guess it's not that bad" Underneath it all- no doubt

Well if nasna coudl accelrate a craft up to say 700 MPH using th emagnets the electricity to do that would be cheaper than the cost of the fuel to accelerate the craft to that point and then fire the rocket to leave the atmphere and reach escape velocity with thos efirst 700 MPH out of your way you coudl buyld a smaller craft (smaller fuel tanks) that is a lot lighter making those last 800 MPH (escapse velocty is 1500 MPH about right? I am probably WAAAY off ) a lot easier.
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All at once the ghosts come back reeling you in now.

The amount of electricity used to propel spacecraft would be enough to power the half the continent. Frick I heard S:TE had it's own dedicated power supply!

There's no amuesment consortium "think tank" that comes up with new technology soley for theme park rides.  It was a spinoff partly from NASA and the Dept. of Defense.  The idea of using LIMs to launch a spacecraft may be a new idea, but LIM technology was NOT developed by the amuesment industry.

just wanted to add that this was alos feature in a article in Scientific American a couple of months ago. Not that I read that kinda stuff or anything...

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Tolian said:
...(escapse velocty is 1500 MPH about right? I am probably WAAAY off

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Yes, you are way off.  Escape velocity is around 25,000 MPH.

bit0mike: Maglev technology is a completely different story. Maglev is using magnets and inductors to levitate an object (train, car, space shuttle etc.) above a track to reduce friction. It has no implications about the actual propulsion of the object.

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The legend lives!

I read in science today that some scientist say that sometime they might be able to make an elevator to the moon. They'd acclerate the cabin by a system like LIM's or LSM's to a very high speed. I found this very interesting.
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It's his turn to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast.

I knew I had to be waaay off, but the idea woudl still the work the same acelrate a great speed using LIMs?
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All at once the ghosts come back reeling you in now.

NASA is also interested in Superconducters. Someone take a guess at that.
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TiM Schroll
Da Bears!
"It starts with an O, and ends with a C, and in the middle is hicag!" Bill Swerkski's Superfans

*** This post was edited by MFRULES on 1/14/2002. ***

Whatever it is, it will be expensive. ;-)