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Re:WTF Happened in 1971? (2019) by lutorm on Monday November 23, 2020 @03:02PM (#25191059)
I don't think the fact that we don't use railguns to launch things into space is because of energy cost. It's just not technologically feasible.
Re:WTF Happened in 1971? (2019) by yellowapple on Monday November 23, 2020 @04:25PM (#25192126)
From what I understand, the main technological blocker (as opposed to various political and economic blockers) is the need for superconductors to achieve reasonable energy efficiency. With cheap energy, that's less of a pressing need (and further, cheap energy = more energy to throw at cryogenic cooling systems to induce superconductivity in less-exotic materials).
Re:WTF Happened in 1971? (2019) by lumost on Monday November 23, 2020 @11:56PM (#25195399)
Superconductors are also used for thermal reasons. Generating strong magnetic fields through high current in a resistive material will put out a lot of heat.
Re:WTF Happened in 1971? (2019) by yellowapple on Tuesday November 24, 2020 @12:22AM (#25195549)
Cheap energy = more energy to throw at cooling systems, per above.