A Low-Cost Launch Assistance System for Orbital Launch Vehicles

Table 1

Previously proposed launch assistance systems.

Method	References
High-altitude free-floating Montgolfier balloon	[2]
Orbital electromagnetic catapult	[3]
Laser ablation drive	[4–6]
Space elevator	[7, 8]
LEO rotovator	[9–11, 13]
Spiral sling (slingatron)	[14–18]
Interplanetary rotating tethers	[19–29]
Rotating, tension supported ring	[30]
Electromagnetic tether for raising orbit	[31–33]
Space fountain	[34]
Ground-based linear accelerator (gun, catapult)	[36–39]
Subsonic launcher aircraft	[40, 94]
Precooled air ramjet launcher aircraft	[42, 43]
Supersonic launcher aircraft in general	[41, 44]