Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!ucbvax!space
From: NNicoll.ES@XEROX.COM
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Joyrides
Message-ID: <860205-122027-3225@Xerox>
Date: Wed, 5-Feb-86 14:05:56 EST
Article-I.D.: Xerox.860205-122027-3225
Posted: Wed Feb  5 14:05:56 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 22:08:24 EST
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 9

How much would you pay for a 'fake' space ride, but one complete with 0
gravity?
Consider a 5km long track or tube suspended in the proper parabolic
curve out in the desert someplace and a surplus steam catapult from the
Navy to launch capsules into it with enough force to let you experience
'liftoff' and leave you with enough speed to experience a minute of 0g
as you coast down the other side of the curve.  The rider would wear a
helmet utilizing NASA's 'full field of view' 3D viewing system and
stereo headphones to complete the illusion.