StarTram

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/startram

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How high is StarTram?Proposed to transition to atmosphere at 22 kilometers (72,000 ft)
2. What is the proposed launch system type?Maglev-based evacuated tube transport system for space access
3. What is the estimated annual cargo capacity (generation 1)?Approximately 150,000 tons
4. How does StarTram help send cargo into space?It uses magnetic levitation inside a tube with no air, so it can push cargo very fast and lift huge amounts—about 150,000 tons each year in its first version.
5. Why do StarTram tracks start on a mountain?Starting on a mountain gives a higher spot with thinner air, so the system needs less energy to begin moving up the tube.

Magnetic Levitation (Maglev): A propulsion and suspension system utilizing electromagnetic forces to achieve frictionless movement.
Evacuated Tube Transport: A transportation system operating within a sealed tube from which air has been removed to reduce drag.
G-force: A unit of force equal to the force of gravity on an object; experienced during acceleration and deceleration.
Orbital Mechanics: The study of the motion of objects in orbit around celestial bodies, governed by gravitational forces.