Lunar Electromagnetic Launch System as Primary Stage for Fast Interplanetary Transport

This paper proposes an integrated interplanetary transport system capable of delivering crewed missions from the lunar surface to Mars in approximately 50 days compared to the 89 months of a standard Hohmann transfer without relying on conventional heavy launch vehicles from Earth's surface. The system is based on a subsurface lunar electromagnetic launch rail (railgun) as primary acceleration stage for crewed and cargo missions to Mars. A subsurface tunnel of approximately 50 km excavated in the lunar crust accelerates a 100-tonne payload to 2.9 km/s under a gradual 4.5 g prole, combined with a gravitational assist maneuver around Earth and nuclear thermal propulsion for nal trajectory correction. Infrastructure energy is provided by solar arrays and ywheel batteries using excavated lunar rock as rotating mass, minimizing Earth-sourced materials. Con- struction materials primarily titanium and aluminum are extracted in-situ from lunar regolith via electrolysis and the Kroll process. The complete transit prole lunar railgun, Earth yby, nuclear thermal propul- sion burn, Phobos gravitational assist, propulsive pre-entry braking, and atmo- spheric braking minimizes propellant consumption at every stage by exploiting gravitational mechanics. Approximately 60% of total mission delta-v is obtained without propellant expenditure. Initial infrastructure deployment is estimated at 110150 Starship-class launches over 35 years, after which the system becomes largely self-sustaining through lunar in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).