653.Mass Driver.

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A mass driver (also known as an electromagnetic catapult) is a proposed method of non-rocket space launch. It uses a linear motor to accelerate payloads along a track to high speeds using electricity and magnetism—essentially a giant, horizontally-aligned version of a maglev train or a coilgun.As of March 2026, this concept has gained significant attention following a presentation by Elon Musk on March 21, where he spotlighted mass drivers as a core part of SpaceX's lunar roadmap.Why the Moon?

The Moon is considered the "perfect" location for a mass driver becauseow Gravity: Lunar gravity is only 1/6th of Earth's, meaning the "escape velocity" (the speed needed to break free and enter space) is much lower—roughly 2.38 km/s compared to Earth's 11.2 km/s.No Atmosphere: Unlike Earth, the Moon has no air. This eliminates air resistance (drag) and friction, allowing a payload to be accelerated to thousands of miles per hour right at ground level without burning up or losing energy.

How It WorksThe Track: A long electromagnetic track is built on the lunar surface, potentially several kilometers long.The Payload: Cargo (such as oxygen, refined metals, or even satellites) is placed in a "bucket" or carrier.The Launch: Sequential electromagnetic coils along the track fire in a precisely timed "wave," pulling and pushing the carrier faster and faster.Release: Once it reaches the end of the track at escape velocity, the payload is released into space. The carrier then decelerates and is recycled for the next launch.Current "March 2026" ContextElon Musk and physicist David Deutsch have recently discussed the "awesome" potential of this technology.

According to recent reports:SpaceX's Vision: The goal is to use the Starship HLS to deliver over 100 metric tons of cargo to the Moon to build this infrastructure.The "Terafab" Connection: Musk has proposed using mass drivers to launch AI satellites manufactured on the Moon, potentially creating an off-planet industrial and computing hub.Sustainability: Because it is powered by solar or nuclear energy rather than chemical propellant, it could reduce the cost of moving materials from the Moon to space to "dollars per pound."Note: While the physics is sound and the concept has been studied since the 1970s (notably by Gerard O'Neill), no full-scale mass driver has been built on the Moon yet. The engineering challenges—such as lunar dust and precise alignment over kilometers of track—remain significant.