6:09PM BST 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 Treks 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.
The EM Drive
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."
The EM drive has been likened to the Impulse Drive in Star Trek's vessel of choice, the Starship Enterprise
"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.
Prof Tajmer presented his findings to the 2015 American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics' Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition this week.
This is hard to believe, and almost impossible to understand, but utterly amazing if true.
-Sophia D.
To the moon? -Ralph Kramden
Very Cool! I can't believe that this is true. It would change how we look at the universe. Nice find!
It seems that everyone is forced to face this with the uttered phrase "if it's true".
I guess it's just very hard to believe, but..... if it's true, it will change EVERYTHING!
This idea has been around for a while . I don't know if there is enough evidence that it is practical yet :
I thought that was impossible?
I didn't write that material and cannot verify its accuracy . But I do know how to judge the practicality of an engine . There is one particular figure of merit which needs to be measured and expounded upon . That has not been done in either of these articles which makes them both suspect .
You think it may be some kind of elaborate hoax?
Or do you think we got the information from aliens, and don't want to play that card until society is ready to hear it?
Yes..."if true".
If it is actually true, its seems really amazing!
And while it would make the trip to the Moon fairly quick and easy-- imagine the potential for space travel to objects much further out.
It seems impossible-- but there have been so many other amazing scientific inventions that at the time seemed impossible-- yet actually did work!
I think it was Mark Twain who said : "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on his pants" . Or some such words ..
Just found this page with some interesting quotes about things that were "obviously impossible". Here are a few:
Here's another page of fascinating quotes-- some of these are really quite amazing:
Great Article Sophia!
This is awesome!
Let's go to Mars together.
As in "Pass the Magic Dragon"?
I don't like this new Dragon, I am going back to the olde Dragon!
In the era of quantum physics I tend to remain humble ...
I'm still waiting for evidence about the thrust claimed to be produced by this device . I suspect it isn't much ...
Old Blue Eyes comments:
Knowing what we know now-- that is true.
But.
Newton we be quite displeased . Einstein ... maybe not . Heisenberg would be "uncertain" .
Indeed-- he would be uncertain. (After all, for him, uncertainty is a matter of principle!
)
I would ride this rocket ship to every galaxy on the uni
verse were it to escape my country
, I'm affraid here.
"We observed thrusts of +/- 20 micro newtons ."
Thanks for the link Fero . Scratch this idea ...
I just listened to a half hour dissertation over the radio by one of the involved scientists. (car radio) It IS true. yes two microwaves parsed against each other in a chamber outputs thrust. they didn't go into details on how the mechanics are made but it has been confirmed.
Just understand one thing, the amounts of thrust being produced will not push a piece of paper across the desk. Hell they really do not know why it produces thrust yet.
It seems to violate the very specific laws of nature itself. What they are discussing is potential, and everyman's wish and dreams. Ion drive has been around since the '50's and NASA has experimented with it extensively. But it also suffers from the same thing, the amount of thrust produced is minutely small for the energy imparted to make it work.
What they are really crowing about is a new discovery of science that runs completely contrary to the laws of physics. Until they understand exactly what is actually happening, no one is going anywhere with it.
Like the light bending invisibility cloak the Japanese (and DARPA) have been working on for the last 20 years. It works, but consumes so much power that it is infeasible in a useable form at the present.
Many do not have a clue about some of the tech that is right around the corner. Just a clue? Working cell phones are 40 year old tech, Television is almost 80 year old tech, satellite communications is 50 year old tech, the internet is pushing 60, and none of them are the cutting edge of technology.
Science is not absolute. While I'm a great fan of of such scientific concepts as quantum physics/mechanics, string theory, et al, but there are barriers and mysteries we may never explain...which make scientific endeavors so tantalizing.
For all you DUNE kids out there, think; Holtzman effect
Which is why I find the "Higgs Boson" particle (minus the quantum mathematics behind it) so fascinating.
Classic...
LOL
Wow! How neat!
I hope that the guy that came up with the idea is still alive and gets credit for it!
But, to me, they're still a miracle!
I remember listening to Sputnik beep on the radio...
This would be fabulous, if true.
Cold Fusion, anyone?
I'm so glad you joined Heath!
Let's show these Yanks some Canadian spirit!
(just kidding you guys, we love you Yanks!)
How is Pam? Did she get her cast taken off yet?
I miss you guys so much, when are you coming home again?
Hey Sexy!
I have to figure out what I am doing before I can show anybody anything.
Nope, Pam still has her cast. The other day she was going crazy about how bad her leg was itching, so I told her that I read on the Internet that it helps if someone pees into the cast!
She was like "Are you kidding me?" (you know how she says that!)
I thought she was gonna go for it, I was ready.
I think she might get it off in a couple of weeks if they think it's healed.
I might be coming home this weekend, unless I get a shoot scheduled, it's my Aunt Pattie's 60th birthday and mom wants me to be there.
So I'll hit that for about 30 minutes and then blow that joint to go have some fun. Tell Chris to call me, I need a ride home from the airport.
See you soon chickee!
I am very sorry to hear that! Come here, if you can.