The SpaceDrive project - Thrust balance development and new measurements of the Mach-Effect and EMDrive Thrusters

Kößling, Matthias; Monette, Maxime; Weikert, Marcel

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.05.020

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Indeed, if we rely on White's claimed efficiency, 1.2 mN/kW [1], and considering that we have a maximum RF power of 200 W, we should expect an EMDrive force of 0.24 mN. This level of force seems high enough to be measurable with a commercial precision balance which has short response time as opposed to that of the torsion pendulum [1,2]. This type of measuring instrument has already been used to detect an EMDrive force [3,7], and it allows us to develop an accurate-enough, handy, and low-cost measuring setup.…”

Section: Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In this section we will present the solutions developed by White, Kößling, and McDonald who are the authors of the most reliable papers [1,2,6]. The aim here is to summarize the work they carried out by presenting the methods of measurement, the estimated magnitudes of the effects involved as well as the advantages and drawbacks which emerge from their works.…”

Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This contentious atmosphere prompted other research teams around the world to publish their own studies on this topic, both on an experimental level [1][2][3] and on a theoretical one [4,5]. In 2016, in the first one of the few peer-reviewed papers, White et al, from Eagleworks Laboratories (NASA Johnson Space Center), stated that their cavity type, named QVPT (quantum vacuum plasma thruster), produced a force with a thrust to power ratio of 1.2 ± 0.1 mN/kW [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In parallel, since 2015 [3], Tajmar and Fiedler from TU Dresden have published several interesting papers about original thrusters. In the last one [2] about the EMDrive topic, Kößling et al presented the tests carried out in 2018. Their measuring setup seems identical to White's one (same cavity geometry and same main measuring element: the torsion pendulum).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, all the previous works have helped us to identify the difficulties related to the design of this type of measuring setup. We will begin by presenting how White [1], Kößling [2], and McDonald [6] solved these problems before detailing our approach in order to propose an alternative experimental setup, more affordable and accurate enough to measure an EMDrive force (Section 2). We will then describe our measurement setup (Section 3) and its use (Section 4).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Proposal of a Handy Setup for Discriminating Parasitic Effects for the Measurement of Impulsive Thrust From a Microwave Cavity

Sokoloff¹,

Pascal²,

Pigaglio³

et al. 2020

PIER C

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This paper details the work of the LAPLACE Electromagnetism Research Group to develop an original measuring setup dedicated to the detection of an EMDrive like force. Recent peer-reviewed experimental results [1, 2] were obtained using similar setups based on a torsion pendulum combined with an optical sensor. These very accurate measurement setups are appropriate for measuring such an extremely weak force. They also appear costly, which may discourage other research teams from working on this topic. Our main goal is then to provide an alternative configuration, based on a commercial precision balance, in order to build a measuring setup more affordable, handy, and accurate enough to measure an EMDrive like force. Our experimental system is capable of feeding a truncated cone shaped 2.45 GHz resonant cavity with power up to 140 W. To calibrate the EMDrive force and avoid false positive thrusts, an original setup has been proposed and evaluated. It allows us to really consider that the parasitic effects do not alter the hypothetical force measurement by the use of force direction switching during the measurement.

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Section: Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Previous Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Proposal of a Handy Setup for Discriminating Parasitic Effects for the Measurement of Impulsive Thrust From a Microwave Cavity

Sokoloff¹,

Pascal²,

Pigaglio³

et al. 2020

PIER C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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High-accuracy thrust measurements of the EMDrive and elimination of false-positive effects

Neunzig

Weikert

2021

CEAS Space J

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The EMDrive is a proposed propellantless propulsion concept claiming to be many orders of magnitude more efficient than classical radiation pressure forces. It is based on microwaves, which are injected into a closed tapered cavity, producing a unidirectional thrust with values of at least 1 mN/kW. This was met with high scepticism going against basic conservation laws and classical mechanics. However, several tests and theories appeared in the literature supporting this concept. Measuring a thruster with a significant thermal and mechanical load as well as high electric currents, such as those required to operate a microwave amplifier, can create numerous artefacts that produce false-positive thrust values. After many iterations, we developed an inverted counterbalanced double pendulum thrust balance, where the thruster can be mounted on a bearing below its suspension point to eliminate most thermal drift effects. In addition, the EMDrive was self-powered by a battery-pack to remove undesired interactions due to feedthroughs. We found no thrust values within a wide frequency band including several resonance frequencies and different modes. Our data limit any anomalous thrust to below the force equivalent from classical radiation for a given amount of power. This provides strong limits to all proposed theories and rules out previous test results by at least two orders of magnitude.

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Experimental investigation of Mach-Effect thrusters on torsion balances

Monette

Kößling

2021

Acta Astronautica

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The SpaceDrive project - Thrust balance development and new measurements of the Mach-Effect and EMDrive Thrusters

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Proposal of a Handy Setup for Discriminating Parasitic Effects for the Measurement of Impulsive Thrust From a Microwave Cavity

Proposal of a Handy Setup for Discriminating Parasitic Effects for the Measurement of Impulsive Thrust From a Microwave Cavity

High-accuracy thrust measurements of the EMDrive and elimination of false-positive effects

Experimental investigation of Mach-Effect thrusters on torsion balances

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