Electro-magnetic launch systemsand methods using high force magnetic levitation

An electrodynamic launching system comprising:

• a guideway including at least one track of ultra-conducting material and having a lengthwise dimension;
• a vehicle having at least one electrically conductive coil arranged to interact with each electrically conductive track to induce electrical current in each track as the vehicle is moved along the lengthwise dimension of the track, wherein the vehicle is configured to hold a payload;
• at least one drive device configured to drive the vehicle along the lengthwise dimension of the at least one track at one or more first velocities that induce electrical current in the at least one track sufficient to levitate the vehicle and to inhibit collision of the vehicle with the guideway and the at least one track by electrodynamic suspension as the vehicle is moved along the lengthwise dimension of the at least one track, and to drive the vehicle at a launch velocity to launch the vehicle from the guideway, wherein the launch velocity is at least as great as the one or more first velocities;
• a release mechanism configured to release the payload from the vehicle in a controlled manner, to launch the payload from the guideway while the at least one drive device drives the vehicle at a launch velocity.