[net.space] Launch Loop

dietz%usc-cse%USC-ECL%SRI-NIC@sri-unix.UUCP (11/14/83)

e parts (magnets and
control) to the inside of the moving metal;  any failure causes the
loop to fragment and fly out tangentially.  Some sort of energy
absorbing material will have to interposed between the loop and the
vacuum chamber wall (gravel? plastic? armor?).  Energy could be dumped
from the loop at one point, again by breaking the loop and feeding the
strip down a pipe into an energy dump.