Mars in 70 days.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: An unprecedentedly fast propulsion drive that was developed 15 years ago but ridiculed for being unfeasible actually works, reported The Telegraph. If implemented, the electromagnetic propulsion drive — developed by British inventor Roger Shawyer — would be powerful enough to get to the moon in four hours.
It generates thrust by using solar power to generate multiple microwaves that move back and forth in an enclosed chamber. This means that until something fails or wears down, theoretically the engine could keep running forever without the need for rocket fuel.
The drive has left scientists befuddled because its seems to defy one of the fundamental concepts of physics – the conservation of momentum – which states that if something is propelled forward, something must be pushed in the opposite direction. Ergo, the forces inside the drive chamber should cancel each other out.
However, just this week Martin Tajmar, a professor and chair for Space Systems at Dresden University of Technology in Germany demonstrated that it does indeed produce thrust, reported The Telegraph.
The drive is capable of producing thrust several thousand times greater than a standard photon rocket and could get to Mars within 70 days or Pluto within 18 months, reported The Telegraph. Alpha Centauri — which would take tens of thousands of years to reach with our current spaceflight technology — could be reached in just 100 years.
“Our measurements reveal thrusts as expected from previous claims after carefully studying thermal and electromagnetic interferences,” said Professor Tajmar. “”If true, this could certainly revolutionise space travel.”
Meanwhile, a NASA-funded study released on Monday found that by partnering with private rocket companies the space agency could both return to the moon and go to Mars for substantially less money than NASA’s existing Mars-only plans, according to Popular Science.
Returning to the moon could cost 90 percent less than expected, bringing estimated costs down from $100 billion to $10 billion, which is a sum that NASA could afford on its current deep space human spaceflight budget.
4 Comments
This is a confused report: it is not “no fuel” but rather “no reaction mass.” Nothing is (apparently) being pushed out the back. But a source of energy is definitely needed, to produce the microwaves.
If indeed it works, it might be by accelerating or braking near-light-speed particles that pass through the cavity. In that case, the universe is providing the reaction mass. But there are several other explanations of the phenomenon, not all compatible with practical use as a drive.
Cunt site.
Inventors are usually trod on in the UK. You have to beg on Dragons Den to get a small piece of profit from your concepts. There are literally thousands of inventions that never get patented; because some of us cant even afford that.
And you never know what possibly untrustworthy types work at the Patent Offices *as Germany allegedly once discovered.
Inventors are usually trod on in the UK. You have to beg on Dragons Den to get a small piece of profit from your concepts. There are literally thousands of inventions that never get patented; because some of us cant even afford that (AND SOME HAVE MILITARY APPLICATIONS)
And you never know what possibly untrustworthy types work at the Patent Offices *as Germany allegedly once discovered.