Hyperloop One holds successful test of its futuristic propulsion system

In less than a decade, it may be possible for a person to live in San Francisco, commute to work in Los Angeles, and go to lunch in Las Vegas, without having to hop on an airplane or sit in traffic in a car.

Hyperloop One is one of two companies striving to realize Elon Musk's dream of a super fast transportation system using tubes, magnets, and pods, and on Wednesday, Hyperloop One held its first open-air test of its propulsion system in the desert outside of Las Vegas. A metal sled was sent down a short track, going from 0 to 53 miles per hour in one second, CNET reports, and the successful launch was met with cheers.

Hyperloop One's hyperloop network would consist of several tubes that connect major cities to each other. Pods, which would carry cargo or 10 to 30 passengers, would go inside the tubes, depressurized to eliminate most air resistance. Magnets would help the pods reach speeds of up to 700 mph, although engineers say passenger-filled pods would accelerate at the same rate as a private jet, so people could eat, drink, and chat comfortably. The company wants to have the system up and running for cargo as early as 2019, and for passengers by 2021, and will hold a full-scale test at the end of the year. Watch the video below to get a better idea of how you might be traveling not too far down the road. Catherine Garcia

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up