Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program

Last updated

The Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project (BPP) was a research project funded by NASA from 1996-2002 to study various proposals for revolutionary methods of spacecraft propulsion that would require breakthroughs in physics before they could be realized. [1] [2] The project ended in 2002, when the Advanced Space Transportation Program was reorganized and all speculative research (less than Technology readiness level 3) was cancelled. [2] During its six years of operational funding, this program received a total investment of $1.2 million.

Contents

The Breakthrough Propulsion Physics project addressed a selection of “incremental and affordable” research questions towards the overall goal of propellantless propulsion, hyperfast travel, and breakthrough propulsion methods. [3] It selected and funded five external projects, two in-house tasks and one minor grant. [2] At the end of the project, conclusions into fourteen topics, including these funded projects, were summarized by program manager Marc G. Millis. [1] Of these, six research avenues were found to be nonviable, four were identified as opportunities for continued research, and four remain unresolved. [1] [3]

Non-viable approaches

One in-house experiment tested the Schlicher thruster antenna, claimed by Schlicher [4] to generate thrust. No thrust was observed. [2] [5]

Another experiment examined a gravity shielding mechanism claimed by Podkletnov and Nieminen. [2] [6] Experimental investigation on the BPPP [7] and other experiments [8] found no evidence of the effect. [1]

Research on quantum tunneling was sponsored by the BPPP. It was concluded that this is not a mechanism for faster-than-light travel. [1] [2]

Other approaches categorized as non-viable are oscillation thrusters and gyroscopic antigravity, Hooper antigravity coils, and coronal blowers. [1]

Unresolved approaches

A theoretical examination of additional atomic energy levels (deep Dirac levels) was carried out. Some states were ruled out, but the problem remains unsolved. [2]

Experiments tested Woodward’s theory [9] [10] of inducing transient inertia by electromagnetic fields. The small effect could not be confirmed. Woodward continued refining the experiments and theory. Independent experiments [11] also remained inconclusive. [1] [2]

A possible torsion-like effect in the coupling between electromagnetism and spacetime, [12] which may ultimately be useful for propulsion, was sought in experiments. The experiments were insufficient to resolve the question. [2]

Other theories listed in Millis's final assessment as unresolved are Abraham–Minkowski electromagnetic momentum, interpreting inertia and gravity quantum vacuum effects, and the Podkletnov force beam. [1]

Space drives

One of the eight tasks funded by the BPP program was to define a strategy towards space drives. [2]

As a motivation, seven examples of hypothetical space drives were described at the onset of the project. [1] These included the gravity-based pitch drive, bias drive, disjunction drive and diametric drive; the Alcubierre drive; and the vacuum energy based differential sail. [13]

The project then considered the mechanisms behind these drives. At the end of the project, three mechanisms were identified as areas for future research. One considers the possibility of a reaction mass in seemingly empty space, for example in dark matter, dark energy, or zero-point energy. Another approach is to reconsider Mach's principle and Euclidean space. A third research avenue that might ultimately prove useful for spacecraft propulsion is the coupling of fundamental forces on sub-atomic scales. [1]

Quantum vacuum energy experiments

One topic of investigations was the use of the zero-point energy field. As the Heisenberg uncertainty principle implies that there is no such thing as an exact amount of energy in an exact location, vacuum fluctuations are known to lead to discernible effects such as the Casimir effect. The differential sail is a speculative drive, based on the possibility of inducing differences in the pressure of vacuum fluctuations on either side of a sail-like structure — with the pressure being somehow reduced on the forward surface of the sail, but pushing as normal on the raft surface — and thus propel a vehicle forward. [2] [13] [14]

The Casimir effect was investigated experimentally and analytically under the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics project. This included the construction of MicroElectroMechanical (MEM) rectangular Casimir cavities. [3] [15] Theoretical work showed that the effect could be used to create net forces, although the forces would be extremely small. [1] [3] [16] At the conclusion of the project, the Casimir effect was categorized as an avenue for future research. [1]

Tau Zero Foundation

After funding ended, program manager Marc G. Millis was supported by NASA to complete documentation of results. The book Frontiers of Propulsion Science was published by the AIAA in February 2009, [17] providing a deeper explanation of several propulsion methods.

Following program cancellation in 2002, Millis and others founded the Tau Zero Foundation.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casimir effect</span> Force resulting from the quantisation of a field

In quantum field theory, the Casimir effect, also known as the Casimir force, is a physical force acting on the macroscopic boundaries of a confined space which arises from the quantum fluctuations of the field. It is named after the Dutch physicist Hendrik Casimir, who predicted the effect for electromagnetic systems in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faster-than-light</span> Propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light

Faster-than-light travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light. The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero rest mass may travel at the speed of light, and that nothing may travel faster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacecraft propulsion</span> Method used to accelerate spacecraft

Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcubierre drive</span> Hypothetical mode of transportation by warping space

The Alcubierre drive is a speculative warp drive idea according to which a spacecraft could achieve apparent faster-than-light travel by contracting space in front of it and expanding space behind it, under the assumption that a configurable energy-density field lower than that of vacuum could be created. Proposed by theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, the Alcubierre drive is based on a solution of Einstein's field equations. Since those solutions are metric tensors, the Alcubierre drive is also referred to as Alcubierre metric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero-point energy</span> Lowest possible energy of a quantum system or field

Zero-point energy (ZPE) is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical system may have. Unlike in classical mechanics, quantum systems constantly fluctuate in their lowest energy state as described by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Therefore, even at absolute zero, atoms and molecules retain some vibrational motion. Apart from atoms and molecules, the empty space of the vacuum also has these properties. According to quantum field theory, the universe can be thought of not as isolated particles but continuous fluctuating fields: matter fields, whose quanta are fermions, and force fields, whose quanta are bosons. All these fields have zero-point energy. These fluctuating zero-point fields lead to a kind of reintroduction of an aether in physics since some systems can detect the existence of this energy. However, this aether cannot be thought of as a physical medium if it is to be Lorentz invariant such that there is no contradiction with Einstein's theory of special relativity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert L. Forward</span> American physicist and science fiction writer (1932–2002)

Robert Lull Forward was an American physicist and science fiction writer. His literary work was noted for its scientific credibility and use of ideas developed from his career as an aerospace engineer. He also made important contributions to gravitational wave detection research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnetohydrodynamic drive</span> Vehicle propulsion using electromagnetic fields

A magnetohydrodynamic drive or MHD accelerator is a method for propelling vehicles using only electric and magnetic fields with no moving parts, accelerating an electrically conductive propellant with magnetohydrodynamics. The fluid is directed to the rear and as a reaction, the vehicle accelerates forward.

The Biefeld–Brown effect is an electrical phenomenon that produces an ionic wind that transfers its momentum to surrounding neutral particles. It describes a force observed on an asymmetric capacitor when high voltage is applied to the capacitor's electrodes. Once suitably charged up to high DC potentials, a thrust at the negative terminal, pushing it away from the positive terminal, is generated. The effect was named by inventor Thomas Townsend Brown who claimed that he did a series of experiments with professor of astronomy Paul Alfred Biefeld, a former teacher of Brown whom Brown claimed was his mentor and co-experimenter at Denison University in Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-gravity</span> Idea of creating a place or object that is free from the force of gravity

Anti-gravity is a hypothetical phenomenon of creating a place or object that is free from the force of gravity. It does not refer to the lack of weight under gravity experienced in free fall or orbit, or to balancing the force of gravity with some other force, such as electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift. Anti-gravity is a recurring concept in science fiction. Examples are the gravity blocking substance "Cavorite" in H. G. Wells's The First Men in the Moon and the Spindizzy machines in James Blish's Cities in Flight.

An ion-propelled aircraft or ionocraft is an aircraft that uses electrohydrodynamics (EHD) to provide lift or thrust in the air without requiring combustion or moving parts. Current designs do not produce sufficient thrust for manned flight or useful loads.

Eugene Podkletnov is a Russian ceramics engineer known for his claims made in the 1990s of designing and demonstrating gravity shielding devices consisting of rotating discs constructed from ceramic superconducting materials.

Stochastic electrodynamics (SED) is a variant of classical electrodynamics (CED) of theoretical physics. SED consists of a set of controversial theories that posit the existence of a classical Lorentz invariant radiation field having statistical properties similar to that of the electromagnetic zero-point field (ZPF) of quantum electrodynamics (QED).

Electrogravitics is claimed to be an unconventional type of effect or anti-gravity force created by an electric field's effect on a mass. The name was coined in the 1920s by the discoverer of the effect, Thomas Townsend Brown, who spent most of his life trying to develop it and sell it as a propulsion system. Through Brown's promotion of the idea, it was researched for a short while by aerospace companies in the 1950s. Electrogravitics is popular with conspiracy theorists, with claims that it is powering flying saucers and the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

The term gravitational shielding refers to a hypothetical process of shielding an object from the influence of a gravitational field. Such processes, if they existed, would have the effect of reducing the weight of an object. The shape of the shielded region would be similar to a shadow from the gravitational shield. For example, the shape of the shielded region above a disk would be conical. The height of the cone's apex above the disk would vary directly with the height of the shielding disk above the earth. Experimental evidence to date indicates that no such effect exists. Gravitational shielding is considered to be a violation of the equivalence principle and therefore inconsistent with both Newtonian theory and general relativity.

A reactionless drive is a hypothetical device producing motion without the exhaust of a propellant. A propellantless drive is not necessarily reactionless when it constitutes an open system interacting with external fields; but a reactionless drive is a particular case of a propellantless drive that is a closed system, presumably in contradiction with the law of conservation of momentum. Reactionless drives are often considered similar to a perpetual motion machine. The name comes from Newton's third law, often expressed as: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EmDrive</span> Device claimed to be a propellantless spacecraft thruster

The EmDrive is a concept for a thruster for spacecraft, first written about in 2001. It is purported to generate thrust by reflecting microwaves inside the device, in a way that would violate the law of conservation of momentum and other laws of physics. The concept has been referred to at times as a resonant cavity thruster or as the latest Impossible Drive.

Field propulsion is the concept of spacecraft propulsion where no propellant is necessary but instead momentum of the spacecraft is changed by an interaction of the spacecraft with external force fields, such as gravitational and magnetic fields from stars and planets. It is purely speculative and has not yet been demonstrated to be of practical use, or theoretically valid.

James F. Woodward is a professor emeritus of history and an adjunct professor of physics at California State University, Fullerton. He is best known for a physics hypothesis that he proposed in 1990, later expanded, that predicts several physical effects that he refers to as 'Mach effects'. Woodward claims the effect could be used as a reactionless drive for space travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold G. White</span> NASA engineer and physicist

Harold G. "Sonny" White is a mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer, and applied physicist who is known for proposing new Alcubierre drive concepts and promoting advanced propulsion projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvatore Pais</span> Romanian-American physicist, aerospace engineer, and inventor

Salvatore Cezar Pais is an American aerospace engineer and inventor, currently working for the United States Space Force. He formerly worked at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. His patent applications on behalf of his employers have attracted international attention for their potential military and energy-producing applications, but also doubt about their feasibility, and speculation that they may be misinformation intended to mislead the United States' adversaries or a scam.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Millis, Mark G. (Dec 1, 2005). "Assessing Potential Propulsion Breakthroughs" (PDF). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1065: 441–461. Bibcode:2005NYASA1065..441M. doi:10.1196/annals.1370.023. hdl: 2060/20060000022 . PMID   16510425. S2CID   41358855 . Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Davis, Eric W.; Gilster, Paul A. (2009). "Recent History of Breakthrough Propulsion Studies". In Millis, Marc G. (ed.). Frontiers of propulsion science. Reston, Va.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN   9781615830770.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Millis, Mark G. (2004). "Prospects for Breakthrough Propulsion From Physics" (PDF). Retrieved 8 February 2018.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ↑ Schlicher, R; Biggs, A; Tedeschi, W (1995). "Mechanical propulsion from unsymmetrical magnetic induction fields". 31st Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit: 2643. doi:10.2514/6.1995-2643.
  5. ↑ Fralick, Gustave; Niedra, Janis (Nov 1, 2001). "Experimental results of Schlicher's thrusting antenna" (PDF). 37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. doi:10.2514/6.2001-3657. hdl: 2060/20020009088 .
  6. ↑ Podkletnov, E.; Nieminen, R. (December 1992). "A possibility of gravitational force shielding by bulk YBa2Cu3O7−x superconductor". Physica C: Superconductivity. 203 (3–4): 441–444. Bibcode:1992PhyC..203..441P. doi:10.1016/0921-4534(92)90055-H.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Tony; Lichford, Ron; Peters, Randall; Thompson, Byran; Rogers, Stephen L. (Jan 1, 2001). "Exploration of Anomalous Gravity Effects by rf-Pumped Magnetized High-T(c) Superconducting Oxides" (PDF). AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference; 8-11 Jul. 2001; Salt Lake City, UT; United States.
  8. ↑ Hathaway, G; Cleveland, B; Bao, Y (April 2003). "Gravity modification experiment using a rotating superconducting disk and radio frequency fields". Physica C: Superconductivity. 385 (4): 488–500. Bibcode:2003PhyC..385..488H. doi:10.1016/S0921-4534(02)02284-0.
  9. ↑ Woodward, James F. (October 1990). "A new experimental approach to Mach's principle and relativistic graviation". Foundations of Physics Letters. 3 (5): 497–506. Bibcode:1990FoPhL...3..497W. doi:10.1007/BF00665932. S2CID   120603211.
  10. ↑ Woodward, James F. (October 1991). "Measurements of a Machian transient mass fluctuation". Foundations of Physics Letters. 4 (5): 407–423. Bibcode:1991FoPhL...4..407W. doi:10.1007/BF00691187. S2CID   121750654.
  11. ↑ Cramer, John; Cassisi, Damon; Fey, Curran (Oct 1, 2004). "Tests of Mach's Principle with a mechanical oscillator" (PDF). 37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit. doi:10.2514/6.2001-3908. hdl: 2060/20050080680 . S2CID   55948442.
  12. ↑ Ringermacher, Harry I. (1994). "An electrodynamic connection". Classical and Quantum Gravity. 11 (9): 2383–2394. Bibcode:1994CQGra..11.2383R. doi:10.1088/0264-9381/11/9/018. ISSN   0264-9381. S2CID   250763583.
  13. 1 2 Millis, Marc G. (September 1997). "Challenge to Create the Space Drive" (PDF). Journal of Propulsion and Power. 13 (5): 577–582. doi:10.2514/2.5215. hdl: 2060/19980021277 . S2CID   3088306 . Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Maclay, G. Jordan (17 April 2000). "Analysis of zero-point electromagnetic energy and Casimir forces in conducting rectangular cavities". Physical Review A. 61 (5): 052110. Bibcode:2000PhRvA..61e2110M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.61.052110.
  15. ↑ Maclay, G. Jordan; Forward, Robert L. (March 2004). "A Gedanken Spacecraft that Operates Using the Quantum Vacuum (Dynamic Casimir Effect)". Foundations of Physics. 34 (3): 477–500. arXiv: physics/0303108 . Bibcode:2004FoPh...34..477M. doi:10.1023/B:FOOP.0000019624.51662.50. S2CID   118922542.
  16. ↑ M. Millis and E. Davis, Frontiers of Propulsion Science, AIAA, Progress in Astronautics & Aeronautics Vol 227, 2009. ISBN   978-1563479564 ISBN   1563479567
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.