Imagine launching satellites into orbit without a single rocket—sounds like science fiction, right? But that’s exactly what one bold company is attempting to do with a 40-kilometer cannon. Meet Longshot, the American firm turning this seemingly outrageous idea into a tangible engineering project. And guess what? Test shots have already begun. Here’s the fascinating story behind this game-changing concept.
Why a cannon? The answer lies in cost-cutting. Traditional rocket launches are exorbitantly expensive, averaging around $3,000 per kilogram of payload. Longshot claims its cannon system could slash that cost to a mere $10 per kilo. Sounds too good to be true? While the idea might seem radical, it’s not entirely new. Cannons have been propelling objects across battlefields for centuries, and now engineers are aiming higher—literally, beyond Earth’s atmosphere. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a centuries-old technology really revolutionize space travel, or is this just a long shot?
To achieve this, Longshot’s cannon would need to be colossal—over 10 kilometers long—and powerful enough to fire at Mach 23. The longer the barrel, the gentler the acceleration on the payload, reducing stress and heat. For instance, every time the barrel length doubles, the g-forces are halved, minimizing structural risks. And this is the part most people miss: the concept isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. It echoes Jules Verne’s 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon, where a giant cannon launches explorers toward the lunar surface. Verne’s only mistake? Human bodies couldn’t survive such acceleration. Satellites, however, might just stand a chance.
The idea resurfaced in the 1960s with the High Altitude Research Project (HARP), a Canadian-American military initiative. HARP engineers fused naval gun barrels into a 40-meter tube and fired a 180-kilogram projectile to an altitude of 180 kilometers, crossing the Kármán line—the boundary of space. Yet, it lacked the horizontal velocity needed for orbit. The projectile reached Mach 6, impressive but far from Longshot’s Mach 23 goal. At that speed, air turns to plasma, and temperatures soar to 1,650°C (3,000°F). How do you protect a satellite from that? Longshot’s solution: a specialized protective shell that burns away during ascent, reducing weight while maintaining orbital speed.
The projectile itself resembles a futuristic bullet, with a rounded front for the payload and flattened rear fins for stability. Instead of gunpowder, Longshot uses compressed air for propulsion, with future versions potentially running on hydrogen. To minimize drag, the cannon’s barrel is vacuum-sealed before launch, and compressed air strikes the projectile’s rear fins, propelling it forward in a series of ‘impact thrusts’ that stack velocity.
Longshot has already built an 18-meter prototype with three secondary boosters, launching a 15-centimeter projectile at Mach 4.2. Over 100 successful tests have been conducted so far. The next step? Scaling up to a 36.6-meter version before tackling the ultimate 40-kilometer cannon with a 9-meter barrel diameter. It’s an audacious plan, but Longshot’s CEO is confident it’s achievable.
But is this a giant leap for space exploration or just a pipe dream? Even if it never becomes a practical launch system, the military applications are undeniable. Whether it’s a pathway to cheaper space access or a future defense tool, Longshot’s vision proves that innovation often starts with a bold idea—and sometimes, a bang. What do you think? Is this the future of space travel, or is Longshot aiming too high? Let us know in the comments!
About the Author:
Sylvain Biget, a graduate of the École Supérieure de Journalisme de Paris, is a tech journalist with a passion for aviation and emerging technologies. As a key member of Futura’s editorial team, he explores topics from cybersecurity to space science, blending his expertise as a certified drone operator and private pilot to shed light on the digital world’s impact on society. His fascination with artificial intelligence adds a unique perspective to his reporting, making him a trusted voice in tech journalism.
