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Photo gallery Newest Badgerloop Pod unveiled

April 20, 2018

The UW–Madison Badgerloop team Thursday revealed Badgerloop Pod III — its latest entry into the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Competition, an event designed to spur new ideas about an ultrafast, futuristic form of transportation. Several hundred people attended the public event Thursday in Varsity Hall at Union South.

Designed to achieve a top speed of more than 300 miles per hour, the pod (and team members) will travel to SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, in July to vie for the top prize in the third annual Hyperloop Competition. There, the teams with standout designs can test their prototypes on the mile-long, vacuum-sealed hyperloop test-track in hopes of having the fastest pod. A hyperloop involves a pod moving in a low-pressure tube at hundreds of miles per hour. This year’s competition requires use of an entirely self-propelled pod.

UW-Madison Badgerloop battery team lead Tristan Steiner, left, explains the pod to guests.

UW-Madison Badgerloop battery team lead Tristan Steiner, left, explains the pod to guests. Photo by: Jeff Miller

Future astronaut Madeline Stendel checks out the hardware at the Badgerloop Pod III reveal on Thursday at Varsity Hall in Union South. Badgerloop Pod III — its latest entry into the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Competition, an event designed to spur new ideas about an ultrafast, futuristic form of transportation.

Future astronaut Madeline Stendel checks out the hardware at the Badgerloop Pod III reveal on Thursday at Varsity Hall in Union South. Badgerloop Pod III — its latest entry into the 2018 SpaceX Hyperloop Competition, an event designed to spur new ideas about an ultrafast, futuristic form of transportation. Photo by: Jeff Miller

UW-Madison Badgerloop president Kali Kinziger, a senior majoring in communications, speaks with members of the media at the unveiling.

UW-Madison Badgerloop president Kali Kinziger, a senior majoring in communications, speaks with members of the media at the unveiling. Photo by: Jeff Miller

The carbon-fiber cover of Badgerloop Pod III, shown at the public unveiling. This year's competition requires use of an entirely self-propelled pod.

The carbon-fiber cover of Badgerloop Pod III, shown at the public unveiling. This year's competition requires use of an entirely self-propelled pod. Photo by: Jeff Miller

A UW-Madison Badgerloop team member explains components of track design.

A UW-Madison Badgerloop team member explains components of track design. Photo by: Jeff Miller

From left to right, Tom Stendel and his daughters Hailey and Madeline, 4.5 and dressed as an astronaut, talk with Badgerloop structural team lead Cody Schwartz as the Badgerloop team reveals their group's in-progress design for Badgerloop Pod III at Varsity Hall in Union South.

From left to right, Tom Stendel and his daughters Hailey and Madeline, 4.5 and dressed as an astronaut, talk with Badgerloop structural team lead Cody Schwartz as the Badgerloop team reveals their group's in-progress design for Badgerloop Pod III at Varsity Hall in Union South. Photo by: Jeff Miller

The Badgerloop pod's electronics are shown. A hyperloop involves a pod moving in a low-pressure tube at hundreds of miles per hour.

The Badgerloop pod's electronics are shown. A hyperloop involves a pod moving in a low-pressure tube at hundreds of miles per hour. Photo by: Jeff Miller

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