Richard Graf is a child of the space age and is frustrated that we don't have rocket cars and moon colonies here in 2014. To do his part in solving this problem he built the Starfire Space Cannon and is currently seeking funding through a Kickstarter campaign.
Graf's basic idea is that rockets aren't efficient for launching objects into space because they require fuel, tanks and other equipment for propulsion. An artillery launcher, however, can fire a shell and keep the heavy stuff on the ground while the important stuff is shot into space.
The Starfire gun is an 8 inch bore, 45 foot long multi-chambered artillery cannon. To counter the problem of high g forces during a launch Graf has broken his propellants into incremental ignitions and separate launch sections of the cannon. He tells us that a longer cannon would be even more efficient but the 45 foot length currently used is optimized for mobility.
The testing plan for this ambitious project is incredible. The first phase is a series of launches starting from half power and ramping up to full propellant power. Phase two involves four sub-orbital flights. Richard describes his glide probes as big metal darts with a large cavity inside to hold the payloads.
This Kickstarter campaign isn't big and flashy or compiled by a million dollar marketing firm. It looks like Richard Graf in a field, and maybe a cameraman. Even without polish the project itself is worthy of funding. Richard Graf begins his campaign video with the question "Have you ever wanted to launch something into space?" and hooked me immediately.
The entire undertaking appeals to my inner engineer on a gut level. Everything that is fun about model rockets, toy soldier parachuting and pumpkin launchers is here with the added bonus of a huge "is this fantastic idea really going to work?" added for good measure.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1682852725/the-starfire-space-cannon