mass driver

A mass driver is a large electromagnetic catapult designed to launch material into space. It is essentially an electromagnetic accelerator, potentially miles long, that uses pulsed magnetic fields to accelerate payloads to orbital or near-orbital velocities.12

Unlike rockets, the accelerating device and its energy source remain on Earth for reuse. This concept was notably explored in the 1970s and 1980s as part of proposals for building large orbital space colonies and has also been considered for launching material from the Moon.2

Particle accelerators, which share principles with mass drivers, use electric fields to accelerate charged particles and magnetic fields to control their paths. These accelerators require a particle source, electric and magnetic fields, and a vacuum environment. The energy gained by particles is determined by the potential difference they travel through.34