# 45. Spinning Payloads Into Space

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-11-23
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/45-spinning-payloads-into-space-ecK5fhpM

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Farbode discuss two non-rocket launch technologies: SpinLaunch, which uses a giant vacuum-sealed centrifuge to fling satellites into orbit, and StarTram, a maglev-based system designed to accelerate payloads to hypersonic speeds. They analyze the engineering challenges of each, including the thermal and G-force stresses on payloads, the mechanics of plasma windows for StarTram, and the operational speed of SpinLaunch's vacuum resealing. The conversation highlights the potential for these technologies to drastically reduce the cost of access to low Earth orbit compared to traditional rocketry.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space#t=0) Introduction and Space History Context
- [10:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space#t=639) SpinLaunch Centrifuge Concept and Test Results
- [14:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space#t=886) Engineering Concerns: G-Forces and Vacuum Seals
- [19:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space#t=1142) StarTram Maglev and Plasma Window Technology
- [27:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-11-23-45-spinning-payloads-into-space#t=1668) StarTram Generation 2 and Human Spaceflight Potential

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- SpinLaunch (company)
- StarTram (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Falcon Heavy (product)
- Saturn 5 (product)
- Apollo 11 (product)
- Voyager (product)
- GPS (product)
- DART (product)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- MIT (company)
- NASA (company)
- Virgin Galactic (company)
- The Boring Company (company)
- Hyperloop (product)

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- [Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-11-06-space-difficulties-and-lost-heroes-wanzing-workshop-whemmle) (The Amp Hour)
- [Designing Space Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-11-11-designing-space-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep 285: Learning Laser Tricks, Rocket Science, and a Laptop That's Not a Laptop](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-08-23-ep-285-learning-laser-tricks-rocket-science-and-a-laptop-thats-not-a-laptop) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep088: Flywheel Trebuchet, Thieving Magpies, Hero Engines, and Hypermiling](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-10-09-ep088-flywheel-trebuchet-thieving-magpies-hero-engines-and-hypermiling) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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