Impossible Rocket Drive Works - Could Get to Moon in Four Hours

[Monroe]

Super fast Star Trek speeds ... "However scientists still have no idea how it actually works. Nasa suggested that it could have something to do with the technology manipulating subatomic particles which constantly pop in and out of existence in empty space."

 

 

'Impossible' Rocket Drive Works and Could Get to Moon in Four Hours

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/11769030/Impossible-rocket-drive-works-and-could-get-to-Moon-in-four-hours.html

 

The British designed EM Drive actually works and would dramatically speed up space travel, scientists have confirmed.

 

By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

 

28 Jul 2015

 

Interplanetary travel could be a step closer after scientists confirmed that an electromagnetic propulsion drive, which is fast enough to get to the Moon in four hours, actually works.

 

The EM Drive was developed by the British inventor Roger Shawyer nearly 15 years ago but was ridiculed at the time as being scientifically impossible.

 

It produces 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, which has been likened to Star Trek’s Impulse Drive, has left scientists scratching their heads because it defies 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. So the forces inside the chamber should cancel each other out.

 

 However in recent years Nasa has confirmed that they believe it works and this week Martin Tajmar, a professor and chair for Space Systems at Dresden University of Technology in Germany also showed that it produces thrust.

 

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. A trip to Alpha Centauri, which would take tens of thousands of years to reach right now, could be reached in just 100 years.

 

"Our test campaign cannot confirm or refute the claims of the EM Drive but intends to independently assess possible side-effects in the measurements methods used so far," said Prof Tajmar in anew

 

"Nevertheless, we do observe thrust close to the actual predictions after eliminating many possible error sources that should warrant further investigation into the phenomena."

 

 "Our measurements reveal thrusts as expected from previous claims after carefully studying thermal and electromagnetic interferences.

 

"If true, this could certainly revolutionise space travel."

 

Shawyer also claims that he is just a few months away from publishing new results confirming that his drive works in a peer reviewed journal.

 

However scientists still have no idea how it actually works. Nasa suggested that it could have something to do with the technology manipulating subatomic particles which constantly pop in and out of existence in empty space.

...

[Tripredacus]

It reminds me of the flight super-power argument. Having flight as a power would be great, but you'd have to make sure you survive learning how to use it in order for it to be effective. A thing these website articles don't really bring up is... how do we stop?

[Monroe]

Hey ... that's a good question ... How do you stop ???

 

Some might say ... Well, that's what the Moon is for ... I guess slowly cutting it all back.

 

I have always wondered when something is going that fast ... what about space debris from comets or asteroids or anything in general floating around in deep space ... wouldn't have to be very large to cause a catastrophe at those speeds.

...

[bellycat]

not to mention the G-Force would turn you to liquid

[NoelC]

Um, turn around and accelerate in the opposite direction.

 

Concern over impacts...

 

The USS Enterprise has that big deflector dish in the front to protect from space debris.  Convenient solution.

 

While we don't have field technology that can push projectiles aside, I see no reason a hyperspeed spacecraft couldn't conceivably have a long, strong protective nose cone.  The flight path might be deflected to the side by a micro impact, but it could potentially be a survivable impact, and the deflection could be compensated for by the guidance system.

 

For more important and infrequent encounters with larger stuff... Assuming a big, long-term power source is available, detect debris in the flight path via radar and fire up a high powered laser when needed.  Hell, we have stuff like that on ships today already.  This of course will become less viable when interstellar space becomes crowded with these ships.

 

-Noel

Edited August 6, 2015 by NoelC

[OldSchool38]

If this thing works it would be a great boost for space flight, as for speed issues-maybe they could go incrementally faster than current rockets to keep the thing controllable, at least until the technology improves.  Now all we need is some shielding for radiation issues and a little artificial gravity!

[jaclaz]

For more important and infrequent encounters with larger stuff... Assuming a big, long-term power source is available, detect debris in the flight path via radar and fire up a high powered laser when needed.

Naaah lasers (or phasers) simply don't have the needed power, one will need photonic torpedoes :

http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Photonic_torpedo

jaclaz

[NoelC]

You haven't been watching enough YouTube, jaclaz. 

 

Assuming the laser doesn't need to be run very often, a bank of ultracapacitors and something like what the US Navy Directed Energy Weapons Program builds ought to be able to do some damage at a helluva distance in space, maybe vaporize enough of a larger object to move it off to the side...

 

-Noel