The testing will help engineers understand maglev vehicle dynamics, the interface between a carrier and its launch vehicle, and how to separate the vehicle from the carrier for launch. Read the previous Explorer's News on Maglev. The Advanced Space Transportation Program at Marshall Space Flight Center is conducting the tests on the track designed and built by Foster-Miller Inc. of Waltham, Massachusetts. The earlier, outdoor track was built by NASA and industry partner PRT Advanced Maglev Systems Inc. of Park Forest, Illinois. How Maglev works Maglev uses the simple technology of magnets to levitate the vehicle so it is not touching anything.
Different poles attract each other while similar poles repel each other.
By using the repulsion of similar poles the vehicle is levitated. By using the attraction of different poles the vehicle is propelled forward. Magnetic Levitation Trains High-speed magnetic levitation trains, called maglevs, have the advantages of being faster, smoother, and quieter than conventional trains. Several countries, including Japan, Germany, and the United States have maglev train development programs.