Breakthrough Propulsion Physics
Introduction
Feature
Breakthrough Propulsion Physics 10.12.2006
Artist's depiction of a hypothetical Wormhole Induction Propelled Spacecraft, based loosely on the 1994 "warp drive" paper of Miguel Alcubierre. Credit: NASA CD-98-76634 by Les Bossinas.
Introduction
The term breakthrough propulsion refers to concepts like space drives and faster-than-light travel, the kind of breakthroughs that would make interstellar travel practical.
For a general explanation of the challenges and approaches of interstellar flight, please visit the companion website: Warp Drive: When? The Warp-When site is written for the general public and uses icons of science fiction to help convey such notions. This website, on the other hand, is intended for scientists and engineers.
This research falls within the realm of physics instead of technology, with the distinction being that physics is about uncovering the laws of nature while technology is about applying that physics to build useful devices. Since existing technology is inadequate for traversing astronomical distances between neighboring stars (even if advanced to the limit of its underlying physics), the only way to circumvent these limits is to discover new propulsion physics. The discovery of new force-production and energy-exchange principles would lead to a whole new class of technologies. This is the motivation of breakthrough propulsion physics research.
Objectively, the desired breakthroughs might turn out to be impossible, but progress is not made by conceding defeat. Reciprocally, breakthroughs have a habit of taking pessimists by surprise, but can equally remain elusive. By proceeding in small, incremental steps that focus on the immediate questions and by emphasizing the reliability of the findings rather than their long-range implications, relevant and dependable knowledge will result. Regardless of whether the breakthroughs are found, this inquiry provides an additional perspective with which to seek answers to the lingering unknowns of our universe.
Status of the NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) Project
NASA sponsored Glenn's BPP Project over 1996-2002, which addressed 8 different research approaches, produced 16 peer-reviewed journal articles and an award-winning website (Warp-When), all for a total investment of less than $1.6M. During this time, the BPP Project also coordinated with related research funded at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. With the implementation of the 2003 Federal Budget (p.325), all advanced propulsion research was deferred, including these research efforts.
Now, with NASA's emphasis on fulfilling the President's Vision for Space Exploration, only in-house work continues with no funding planned for supporting external research solicitations. The Project's leader, Marc G. Millis, continues to monitor and assess a variety of ongoing research with the assistance of an informal network of volunteers scattered across academia, industry, various NASA Centers and other Federal labs.
At present, unless there is a formal invitation for proposals, NASA cannot provide review services to other researchers, but does welcome receiving copies of relevant reports that have been published in the open, peer-reviewed literature (conference papers and websites are not suitable submissions).
Status of Research
No breakthroughs appear imminent. This is a nascent field where a variety of concepts and issues are being explored in the scientific literature, beginning since about the early 1990s. The collective status is still at step 1 and 2 of the scientific method, "defining the problem" and "collecting data," but a small number of approaches are already at step 4, "testing hypotheses;" with experiments underway.
Cautionary note: On a topic this visionary and whose implications are profound, there is a risk of encountering, premature conclusions in the literature, driven by overzealous enthusiasts as well as pedantic pessimists. The most productive path is to seek out and build upon publications that focus on the critical make-break issues and lingering unknowns, both from the innovators' perspective and their skeptical challengers. Avoid works with broad-sweeping and unsubstantiated claims, either supportive or dismissive.
The references below can serve as starting points for deeper inquires. Citations within these reports will take you to other relevant works. The recent survey is also provided a separate web page for your convenience.
Recent Survey
Millis, M. G. (2005) "Assessing Potential Propulsion
Breakthroughs." New
Trends in Astrodynamics and Applications, Edward Belbruno,
(ed.). Annals of the
New York Academy of Sciences, 1065: 441-461.
[Note: Although this is published through a non-NASA venue, the
contents of this government-sponsored work are available without
copyright restrictions in the US.]
+Web Page
+Download
PDF (0.1 MB).
Sample Research
- Quantum Vacuum Energy
- Maclay, G. Jordan, Jay
Hammer, Rod Clark, Michael George, Yeong Kim, and Asit Kir.
(2004) Study of
Vacuum Energy Physics for Breakthrough Propulsion.
NASA/CR–2006-213311
+Abstract +Download PDF (4.4 MB) - Transient Inertia
- Cramer, John G., Curran
W. Fey, and Damon V. Casissi. (2004) Tests of Mach's Principle With a
Mechanical Oscillator. NASA/CR–2004-213310.
+Abstract +Download PDF (1.5 MB) - Lifters, Biefeld-Brown, Asymmetrical Capacitors, etc.
- Canning, Francis X. Cory
Melcher, and Edwin Winet. (2004) Asymmetrical
Capacitors for Propulsion. NASA/CR–2004-213312.
+Abstract +Download PDF (1.0 MB) - Space Drives(Step 1: defining the problem)
- Millis, M. G. (1997)
"Challenge to Create the Space Drive." AIAA Journal of Propulsion and
Power, 13:
577-582.
[Note: Although this is published through a non-NASA venue, the contents of this government-sponsored work are available without copyright restrictions in the US.]
+Download PDF (0.7 MB) - Faster Than Light (general relativity approach)
- Visser, Matt. (1996) Lorentzian Wormholes: From Einstein to Hawking. Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc.
Project Management Methods
Millis, M. G. (2004)
Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project: Project Management Methods
, NASA/TM–2004-213406.
+Abstract
+Download PDF (0.4 MB)
