Brookhaven National Laboratory Report BNL-6238

A study is made of the technical and economic feasibility of a frictionless magnetic suspension generated by superconductors for transportation. Experiments relating to the suspension are described. A conceptual design is presented where vehicles suspended by magnetic interaction with two small insulated superconducting rails carry passengers and freight in vacuum tunnels at 600-1000 mph or in air at 200-300 mph. Other applications are possible, particularly for spacecraft and aircraft launching. Potential improvements are suggested to reduce the estimated cost of $700,000 per mile, among these is the use of cheap normal conducting sodium rail.