A new means of space propulsion... closed loop pulse propulsion... here's the idea

[mikelewis]

16. Absolutely... this design is an engineering nightmare...

I honestly wouldn't suggest using this as a real means of transport... it would feel awful and tear apart your ship real fast. But you can fire more smaller weights at even higher velocities, as long as the total of the mass being moved at the same time is the same, that's the point. You have to pulse the power... though, you're gonna want to smooth that out so no, travelling with this design would work, you'd just hate it.

I only introduce this design because you won't really understand why the other designs work if you don't get this one. So keep it simple... you can make the weights lower and the railgun count higher and you can smooth out some of these issues. Right now, though, it's important you get the concept not a comfortable ride.