I haven't run the numbers, but a quick look at typical delta-V budgets [1] (which calculate atmospheric losses as 1.5 to 2 km/s of delta-v), if one could accelerate something fast enough that it escapes most of Earth's atmosphere (and only then burn for orbital velocity), you'd be saving ~17 to 20% on the delta-v requirements. Due to the nature of the Tsiolkovsky equation, that could be a very substantial saving.
That said, I'm also wondering why a centrifuge would be better than say, some kind of low pressure tube / rail, but I'm sure these guys have done their maths and believe in it.
We can build electronic components that are rated for 100000 g's. I think craft that can withstand 10's of g's are within our capability to build. Why not make the circle the size of the LHC? Why not larger?
That's ~1000mph less delta-v needed to reach orbit. But note that the air is also moving in the same rotating frame, so there is no difference in air resistance upon exit from the launcher whether you are going east or west.
If you can do that, and design a booster to round out the orbit that can withstand the acceleration you're golden. You have a system for cheaply delivering raw materials to LEO. Does a block of aluminum have sufficient tensile strength to be spun up to the required energy at reasonable diameter?
you get a degree of wind resistance reduction there.
Reminds me of the calculation that shows Santa Claus and his reindeer, if they ever existed would have vaporized instantly at the beginning of first Christmas delivery:
...353,000 tons traveling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance — this will heat the reindeer up in the same fashion as spacecraft reentering Earth’s atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer will absorb 14.3 QUINTILLION joules of energy. Per second. Each. In short, they will burst into flame almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them, and create deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire reindeer team will be vaporized within 4.26 thousandths of a second. Santa, meanwhile, will be subjected to centrifugal forces 17,500 times greater than gravity. A 250-pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of his sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force. In conclusion — If Santa ever DID deliver presents on Christmas Eve, he’s dead now.