Challenge to Create the Space Drive

Millis, Marc G.

doi:10.2514/2.5215

Cited by 56 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The force is inversely proportional to the 4th power of the distance. Even though this effect can be explained by various theories (Milonni 1994), the idea that the vacuum might create these forces leads to speculations that an asymmetric vacuum effect, if possible, could lead to a propulsive effect (Millis 1997b). There are many unsolved issues regarding these speculations, including whether these phenomena can lead to controllable net-force effects and whether such effects can be created, even in principle, without violating conservation of momentum and energy (Millis 1997b).…”

Section: Toward Goal 1 -Eliminating Propellant Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This coupling is most prominently described by general relativity (Misner 1973). Given this coupling and our technological proficiency for electromagnetics, it has been speculated that it may become possible to use electromagnetic technology to manipulate inertia, gravity, or spacetime to induce propulsive forces (Millis 1997b).…”

Section: Toward Goal 1 -Eliminating Propellant Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Breakthrough propulsion physics workshop preliminary results

Millis¹

1998

AIP Conference Proceedings

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Section: Toward Goal 1 -Eliminating Propellant Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Toward Goal 1 -Eliminating Propellant Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breakthrough propulsion physics workshop preliminary results

Millis¹

1998

AIP Conference Proceedings

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“…In [26] Millis has defined a "spacedrive" as a hypothetical propulsion device able to efficiently transform the potential energy of a source into kinetic energy, without the need of expelling any reaction mass. Fictional examples given by Millis to illustrate this concept include classical systems with components that are admittedly unphysical, like negative real masses or propulsive electric potential gradients generated locally by the spacecraft itself.…”

Section: Magnitude Order Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster

Modanese¹

2014

IJASS

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Abstract:Theory and experiments show that vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity can be abnormally strong, also at the micrometer or nanometer scale, for the following reasons: (1) the Einstein action is not positive-definite; (2) it is the only possible effective gravitational action; (3) quantum mechanics, in the form of the Feynman path integral, must apply to it, because any natural process is the result of all its possible quantum amplitudes; (4) due to (1), there are important non-classical virtual gravitational field configurations which can agree on a common phase. These field configurations can only interact directly with coherent matter, but can emit virtual gravitons which are absorbed by ordinary matter. All this makes possible, in principle, a vacuum thruster much more efficient than those based on the electromagnetic Casimir effect. We give an estimate of its efficiency based on the mentioned microscopic processes and on some parameters observed in experiments on anomalous forces with superconductors. With the observed energy efficiency of the order of 10 -4 and an electric power of 10 W per kilogram of mass to propel, we find that a velocity of 0.1c can be reached in ca. 10 years. Possible improvements and practical limits are outlined. We discuss how the concept of ideal vacuum should be modified in order to allow a consistent description of these phenomena.

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“…In this section, both a rocket and a hypothetical space drive will be compared in terms of energy requirements. A space drive is defined as: "an idealized form of propulsion where the fundamental properties of matter and spacetime are used to create propulsive forces anywhere in space without having to carry and expel a reaction mass" [Millis 1997]. For this exercise it can be thought simply as a device that converts potential energy directly into kinetic energy.…”

Section: Energy Comparisons For Deep Space Travelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To identify the unresolved issues and research paths toward creating a space drive, seven hypothetical space drives were conceived and cursorily addressed [Millis 1997]. The two largest issues facing this ambition are to find a way for a vehicle to induce external net forces on itself, and secondly, to satisfy conservation of momentum in the process.…”

Section: Candidates For Continued Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Potential Propulsion Breakthroughs

Millis

2005

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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: The term, propulsion breakthrough, refers to concepts like propellantless space drives and faster‐than‐light travel, the kind of breakthroughs that would make interstellar exploration practical. Although no such breakthroughs appear imminent, a variety of investigations have begun. During 1996–2002 NASA supported the breakthrough propulsion physics project to examine physics in the context of breakthrough spaceflight. Three facets of these assessments are now reported: (1) predicting benefits, (2) selecting research, and (3) recent technical progress. Predicting benefits is challenging, since the breakthroughs are still only notional concepts, but energy can serve as a basis for comparison. A hypothetical space drive would require many orders of magnitude less energy than a rocket for journeys to our nearest neighboring star. Assessing research options is challenging when the goals are beyond known physics and when the implications of success are profound. To mitigate the challenges, a selection process is described where: (1) research tasks are constrained to only address the immediate unknowns, curious effects, or critical issues; (2) reliability of assertions is more important than their implications; and (3) reviewers judge credibility rather than feasibility. The recent findings of a number of tasks, some selected using this process, are discussed. Of the 14 tasks included, six reached null conclusions, four remain unresolved, and four have opportunities for sequels. A dominant theme with the sequels is research about the properties of space, inertial frames, and the quantum vacuum.

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Challenge to Create the Space Drive

Cited by 56 publications

References 14 publications

Breakthrough propulsion physics workshop preliminary results

Breakthrough propulsion physics workshop preliminary results

Theoretical Limits on the Efficiency of a Quantum Vacuum Thruster

Assessing Potential Propulsion Breakthroughs

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