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California Startup Aims to Disrupt Rocket Launches with Supersonic 'Space Cannon'

A California startup is developing a novel solution to launch satellites into orbit - a powerful "space cannon" that could potentially challenge the dominance of traditional rocket-based launch systems.

Longshot Space, based in Oakland, has raised $6.5 million to date as it works on a prototype of its ambitious technology. The company claims its cannon-based launcher could accelerate small satellites to speeds of over 4.2 times the speed of sound before firing them into space.

If successful, the system could undercut the cost and complexity of rocket launches, which have seen significant improvements in recent years thanks to innovations from companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX. Longshot is betting that its radical approach can further drive down the barriers to accessing space.

"This is not just a paper concept - we have a working prototype in our lab," said Longshot's founder, who asked not to be named. "We believe our technology has the potential to be a real game-changer for the satellite launch market."

The startup's space cannon works by using a powerful magnetic system to rapidly accelerate a small payload capsule containing a satellite up to hypersonic speeds. The capsule is then released at the optimal moment to continue its trajectory into orbit.

According to the company, its current prototype is capable of accelerating a 16cm-long payload to Mach 4.2, or over 5,000 km/h. By comparison, the latest SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets can deliver payloads to low-Earth orbit at speeds around Mach 25.

While rocket technology has steadily improved, launch costs remain a major barrier, especially for smaller commercial and academic satellites. Longshot believes its cannon-based approach could slash those costs and make space more accessible.

"The ability to directly launch payloads into orbit without the need for multi-stage rockets or complex launch infrastructure is a really intriguing concept," said Morgan Stanley space analyst Adam Jonas. "If Longshot can demonstrate the technology works at scale, it could potentially disrupt the traditional rocket launch market."

However, experts caution that Longshot's ambitious plans remain unproven. Developing a functional large-scale "space cannon" capable of reliably and safely delivering satellites to orbit will require overcoming significant technical hurdles around materials, propulsion, and guidance systems.

Regulatory approval for such an unconventional launch system may also pose challenges, given safety concerns around high-speed projectiles being fired into space.

Nonetheless, Longshot's progress has attracted attention in the burgeoning commercial space industry, where companies and investors are eager to back innovative new launch technologies. The startup's next steps will be critical in demonstrating the viability of its space cannon concept.