The electromagnetic rocket gun - A novel launch concept

A novel propulsion concept is proposed which has the potential to accelerate large masses to high velocities. The novel concept is an electromagnetic gun where the projectile is a rocket. As in a rocket, where the propellant cools and thereby prevents the rocket from burning up, the same happens in the proposed concept where the propellant also cools the projectile and prevents its vaporization. The propellant is resistively heated by the magnetic field to high temperatures and ejected from the projectile with high velocity. The total thrust is the sum of the magnetic and recoil force. The energy to drive the jet is externally supplied, making the specific impulse much larger than for chemical rockets.