All space projects get into orbit pretty much the same way – by burning lots of rocket fuel, a spaceship powers itself past the sky. NASA and the Army Research Lab have another idea: "Slingatron," a giant, hypervelocity, rapid-fire slingshot. The machine would spin a projectile faster and faster through a spiral-shaped tube, building up increasing amounts of centripetal force along the way – just like a discus-thrower, spinning himself around before a toss, or like a latter-day King David, winding up his weapon before he whacks Goliath.
Forget friggin Ipod's. When stuff like this starts getting built and used, then I'll be satisfied that I'm living in the 21st century!
...And another thing: Where the hell is my flying car?!?!?
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