The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

A hand grenade for launching BB bullets includes two half shells each including a spiral bullet storage and one half shell further including a discharge opening; a hollow, cylindrical base including a bottom recess, an air passage communicating with one bullet storage, and a valve at an end of the air passage; a steel ball on the recess to block the valve; a pressing assembly including a disc urging against the steel ball, a hollow cylinder extending upward from the disc, a magnet in the hollow cylinder, and a rod partially in the hollow cylinder to engage with the magnet; a hollow, cylindrical member threadedly secured to the cylindrical base; a cup-shaped cap threadedly secured to the cylindrical member and including two opposite projections on an inner surface and a bottom through hole with the rod passing through; and a switch including two opposite protrusions under the projections respectively.

A pneumatic ball launcher includes a tube, a ball pathway unit, a push unit, a holding unit, an airway unit and a pneumatic unit. The ball pathway unit is used for connecting one end of the tube and wrapping part of a ball channel of the tube. The push unit includes a push bar, a slide base, a first driver and a second driver. The holding unit, detachably connected with the push unit, is used for holding the ball pushed by the push bar. The airway unit is connected with the holding unit. The pneumatic unit includes a valve mechanism, a pneumatic cylinder and a gas tank. When the valve mechanism opens to allow the gas tank to discharge into the holding unit via the airway unit, the ball held by the holding unit would be ejected out of the tube.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for accelerating projectiles at high velocity. A barrel may include one or more heaters configured to heat a bore of the barrel prior to launch of a projectile. The barrel bore may be formed in a tungsten sleeve and may be heated to high temperatures. Heat from the barrel bore may be transferred to expanding propellant behind a projectile as it travels through the barrel bore.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for accelerating projectiles at high velocity. A barrel may include one or more heaters configured to heat a bore of the barrel prior to launch of a projectile. The barrel bore may be formed in a tungsten sleeve and may be heated to high temperatures. Heat from the barrel bore may be transferred to expanding propellant behind a projectile as it travels through the barrel bore.

An airgun has a high pressure reservoir for providing a pressurized motive gas to a breech to fire a projectile. A regulator is intermediate the high pressure reservoir and a downstream firing pressure reservoir for providing a consistent regulated pressure of the motive gas in the firing pressure reservoir. The airgun includes a bypass line for selectively connecting the high pressure reservoir to the firing pressure reservoir, independently of the regulator. Thus, an operator can select a firing of the airgun with either a regulated gas pressure in the firing reservoir or the pressure of the high pressure reservoir.

An airgun has a high pressure reservoir for providing a pressurized motive gas to a breech to fire a projectile. A regulator is intermediate the high pressure reservoir and a downstream firing pressure reservoir for providing a consistent regulated pressure of the motive gas in the firing pressure reservoir. The airgun includes a bypass line for selectively connecting the high pressure reservoir to the firing pressure reservoir, independently of the regulator. Thus, an operator can select a firing of the airgun with either a regulated gas pressure in the firing reservoir or the pressure of the high pressure reservoir.

A pneumatic ball launcher includes a tube, a ball pathway unit, a push unit, a holding unit, an airway unit and a pneumatic unit. The ball pathway unit is used for connecting one end of the tube and wrapping part of a ball channel of the tube. The push unit includes a push bar, a slide base, a first driver and a second driver. The holding unit, detachably connected with the push unit, is used for holding the ball pushed by the push bar. The airway unit is connected with the holding unit. The pneumatic unit includes a valve mechanism, a pneumatic cylinder and a gas tank. When the valve mechanism opens to allow the gas tank to discharge into the holding unit via the airway unit, the ball held by the holding unit would be ejected out of the tube.

An airgun has a high pressure reservoir for providing a pressurized motive gas to a breech to fire a projectile. A regulator is intermediate the high pressure reservoir and a downstream firing pressure reservoir for providing a consistent regulated pressure of the motive gas in the firing pressure reservoir. The airgun includes a bypass line for selectively connecting the high pressure reservoir to the firing pressure reservoir, independently of the regulator. Thus, an operator can select a firing of the airgun with either a regulated gas pressure in the firing reservoir or the pressure of the high pressure reservoir.

An airgun has a high pressure reservoir for providing a pressurized motive gas to a breech to fire a projectile. A regulator is intermediate the high pressure reservoir and a downstream firing pressure reservoir for providing a consistent regulated pressure of the motive gas in the firing pressure reservoir. The airgun includes a bypass line for selectively connecting the high pressure reservoir to the firing pressure reservoir, independently of the regulator. Thus, an operator can select a firing of the airgun with either a regulated gas pressure in the firing reservoir or the pressure of the high pressure reservoir.