Electromagnetic

• China is developing an unconventional electromagnetic launch system designed to catapult rockets to supersonic speeds using electricity before their engines ignite. • The technology aims to reduce the reliance on massive amounts of chemical propellant typically required to push rockets through the densest part of Earth's atmosphere. • This innovation could significantly alter the economics of space travel by lowering launch costs and increasing the efficiency of reaching orbit.

• SpaceX and other companies are exploring the use of electromagnetic catapults, known as mass drivers, to facilitate a lunar economy. • A new report warns that these launchers could be repurposed as potent first-strike weapons systems due to their ability to launch projectiles from space. • The security concern stems from the fact that such a platform would be virtually undetectable and unassailable, creating a significant strategic imbalance.