Summary
The magnetic levitation facility would work on the same principle as the hammer throw in athletics but rotating at increasing speeds before throwing the launch capsule towards Earth.
“The system’s technical readiness is relatively high. Since it consumes only electricity and does not require any propellant, it will be relatively small in scale and straightforward to implement,” the researchers wrote in the journal Aerospace Shanghai.
“The main goal is to extract and return helium-3 to help address Earth’s energy crisis. The project will also boost the development of space mining technologies, heavy launch vehicles, and artificial intelligence.” Note: the AI angle seems to be related to the targeting calculations, not bazinga shit.
The system is designed to last for at least 20 years, but it will weigh around 80 tonnes and will need to wait for China’s super heavy-lift rocket to start operating before it could be taken to the moon.
The team aimed to complete the development of key components by 2030, followed by lunar surface verification and full-scale implementation by 2045, he said.