Pods go flying at the speed of sound. It seems like a scene from Star Wars, but it's really happening.
The first Hyperloop pod race is set for Saturday and Sunday at the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne.
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The competition is part of an ongoing design challenge to create the best vehicle for the Hyperloop, a revolutionary transportation system that would propel riders through a tube at speeds of 800 mph.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk introduced the Hyperloop concept in 2013 as a response to the California High-Speed Rail, which he criticized for its low speed and high cost. A Hyperloop trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco would take 30 minutes, whereas the rail would take two hours.
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SpaceX isn't developing a commercial Hyperloop, but the company intends to aid prototype development by hosting open competitions. This weekend's race features entrants from universities and independent teams.
A second competition weekend is slated for summer, and it will be judged on only one criterion: top speed.
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Photo Credit: AP
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