Mass driver

A Massdriver, or Electromagnetic Catapult, is a method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds.

All existing and contemplated mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential firing of a row of electromagnets accelerates the payload along a path. After leaving the path, the payload continues to move due to momentum.