A tube transport system for very high vehicle speeds, a specific tube assembly to achieve high vacuum, and method of operating a tube transport system

A method of operating a tube transport system, the tube transport system comprising:

• (a) a tube assembly comprising:
• (a-1) an outer tube;
• (a-2) one or more inner tubes received and held in the outer tube so that annular spaces are formed between adjacent tubes;
• and
• (a-3) a support structure for holding the outer tube;
• wherein the tube assembly has an inner wall surface defining an inner space for receiving and guiding a vehicle along a path extending from a first end to an opposite second end of the tube assembly, wherein the tube assembly has one or more pressure valves or nozzles for releasing gas particles from the inner space;
• and
• (b) a vehicle having an outer wall surface defining an annular gap between the outer wall surface of the vehicle and the inner wall of the tube assembly;
• the method comprising:
• (i) moving the vehicle along the path toward the first end at a velocity above the choking limit of the flow of the gas particles in the annular gap, while releasing gas particles from the inner space of the tube assembly in front of the vehicle;
• and
• (ii) reversing the direction of motion and moving the vehicle along the path toward the second end at a velocity above the choking limit of the flow of the gas particles in the annular gap while releasing gas particles from the inner space of the tube assembly in front of the vehicle.