On Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing researchers from the National University of Defence Technology accelerating a 1.1-ton vehicle to 700 km/h (435 mph) in just two seconds on a 400-meter (1,310-foot) test track.
The vehicle was also brought safely to a stop within a short distance, marking a new global benchmark for superconducting electric maglev systems.
The achievement sets a record for speed and acceleration in this category and signals a major step forward for China’s ultra-high-speed transport research. Officials say the same core technology could eventually support space launch systems and vacuum tube transport concepts.
sksarkpoes3 on
And just for the record, these trains aren’t going to go 0-435 in 2 seconds with passengers. That would turn people into soup, it’s just a proof of concept.
PhotoPhenik on
Ok, who ordered the human pancakes?
I can’t imagine acceleration like that being comfortable for passangers, but maybe cargo.
afleetingmoment on
Ok can someone smart do the math on this? A 1310 ft test track feels pretty damn short. Was it going 435 mph for a millisecond before stopping?
varitok on
Source: China. Their universities have never lied on anything before
ProShortKingAction on
Its for unmanned rocket launches not trains. Chinese companies have been exploring magnetic launch systems for a while now because it prevents damage to the launchpad and helps address fuel concerns.
The research will probably be used for other things too but I cant think of many other use cases?
Not exactly a useful test for a rail gun or an aircraft carriers launch system. Too long of a strip and too large of a vehicle for a rail gun. Seems way overkill for the launch system on an aircraft carrier.
Definitely not passenger rail lol. You’d knock everyone unconscious
LessRespects on
For a second I thought they sent a train at that speed, 😂 it was just a small test unit that wouldn’t house a human.
7 Comments
On Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing researchers from the National University of Defence Technology accelerating a 1.1-ton vehicle to 700 km/h (435 mph) in just two seconds on a 400-meter (1,310-foot) test track.
The vehicle was also brought safely to a stop within a short distance, marking a new global benchmark for superconducting electric maglev systems.
The achievement sets a record for speed and acceleration in this category and signals a major step forward for China’s ultra-high-speed transport research. Officials say the same core technology could eventually support space launch systems and vacuum tube transport concepts.
And just for the record, these trains aren’t going to go 0-435 in 2 seconds with passengers. That would turn people into soup, it’s just a proof of concept.
Ok, who ordered the human pancakes?
I can’t imagine acceleration like that being comfortable for passangers, but maybe cargo.
Ok can someone smart do the math on this? A 1310 ft test track feels pretty damn short. Was it going 435 mph for a millisecond before stopping?
Source: China. Their universities have never lied on anything before
Its for unmanned rocket launches not trains. Chinese companies have been exploring magnetic launch systems for a while now because it prevents damage to the launchpad and helps address fuel concerns.
The research will probably be used for other things too but I cant think of many other use cases?
Not exactly a useful test for a rail gun or an aircraft carriers launch system. Too long of a strip and too large of a vehicle for a rail gun. Seems way overkill for the launch system on an aircraft carrier.
Definitely not passenger rail lol. You’d knock everyone unconscious
For a second I thought they sent a train at that speed, 😂 it was just a small test unit that wouldn’t house a human.