NASA Tests Gigantic Slingshot for Hurling Objects into Space

"This payload, known as the Data Acquisition Unit (DAQ), contained two accelerometers, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer, along with sensors to track pressure, temperature, and humidity."

I don't care what the solid-state sensors can survive. It's pointless if it doesn't get into orbit, and you can't do that without putting a rocket engine on it. Rocket engines are mechanical, and very sensitive to deformation. It won't be as bad if you can get mostly beyond the atmosphere first, but applying 10^4 gs to it is going to be damn hard on just about anything macroscopic you apply to it.

Without a rocket motor it's just an expensive alternative to a weather balloon.

I can't help but wonder if this gigantic slingshot could also be used to hurl spaceships with people inside them. I mean, why not? The forces experienced during hurl-off (i.e., takeoff) shouldn't be too different from those experienced by, say, fighter-jet pilots doing crazy-intense maneuvers. Perhaps the people inside the hurled ships could be heavily drugged or put in a state of deep sleep? Or am I completely off-base here?

I think this might work great from a celestial body with no atmosphere, but on Earth this company has bullshit written all over it imo