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In reply to the discussion: NASA Tests "Impossible" Perpetual Motion Drive; Says it Works [View all]DirkGently
(12,151 posts)8. Mmmm. Not quite. Electricity is not the fuel. Satellites are not the only anticipated application.
Here are a few other articles covering it. None of them characterize electricity as the "fuel" and each points out the potential for long-distance spaceflight.
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/130168-nasa-confirms-microwave-space-drive-is-possible-fuel-free-propulsion-incoming
NASA confirms microwave space drive is possible, fuel-free propulsion incoming
http://rt.com/usa/177204-nasa-space-drive-emdrive/
In short, if the results hold up, humanity can say goodbye to huge energy consumption costs associated with space travel, and say hello to deep-space missions and distant world exploration at a fraction of the cost and at 100 times the speed.
But since its inception, the revolutionary drive had appeared to be impossible because it breaks the laws of the conservation of momentum. Put simply, acceleration in any rocket engine is achieved by a large amount of fuel bursting out of the thrusters and pushing the vessel forward. The drive promises to change this forever by creating its own momentum.
But since its inception, the revolutionary drive had appeared to be impossible because it breaks the laws of the conservation of momentum. Put simply, acceleration in any rocket engine is achieved by a large amount of fuel bursting out of the thrusters and pushing the vessel forward. The drive promises to change this forever by creating its own momentum.
http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=261564761
NASA confirms fuel-free space drive that uses microwaves to fly
NASA said: "Test results indicate that the RF resonant cavity thruster design, which is unique as an electric propulsion device, is producing a force that is not attributable to any classical electromagnetic phenomenon and therefore is potentially demonstrating an interaction with the quantum vacuum virtual plasma."
With artificial leaves shown off this week and now fuel-free drives possible it's starting to look like deep space travel may soon become a reality.
NASA said: "Test results indicate that the RF resonant cavity thruster design, which is unique as an electric propulsion device, is producing a force that is not attributable to any classical electromagnetic phenomenon and therefore is potentially demonstrating an interaction with the quantum vacuum virtual plasma."
With artificial leaves shown off this week and now fuel-free drives possible it's starting to look like deep space travel may soon become a reality.
The article cited is actually one of the few that tries to provide a realistic explanation of what's going on. The inventors of these drives are talking about "bouncing microwaves around inside a closed container to create thrust." But thrust from what? What is being pushed out of the drive to move the vehicle? "Electricity" cannot by itself create thrust.
Wild as it would be, particles spontaneously appearing inside the drive due to quantum phenonemon at least would not shred the conservation of matter / energy.
It would, however, be essentially "perpetual," given the device is neither carrying nor actively collecting fuel.
IF, of course, no is fueling themselves (yukka yukka) about what's going on here.
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I'm thinking that Big Oil will thwart this somehow because of its potential for
kelliekat44
Aug 2014
#55
the term "woo" is such silly BS -- it truly diminishes some important groundbreaking work
nashville_brook
Aug 2014
#2
Mmmm. Not quite. Electricity is not the fuel. Satellites are not the only anticipated application.
DirkGently
Aug 2014
#8
Could it be possible that other "particles" could be used for electricity generation as they're
Uncle Joe
Aug 2014
#77
Fuel in this case is simply propellent, unlike in chemical rocket engines, which are...
Humanist_Activist
Aug 2014
#69
It kind of is if quantum fluctuation particles drive the engine and are created perpetually .
Kablooie
Aug 2014
#14
Yeah, but it still takes energy (electricity) to accelerate the reaction mass..
sir pball
Aug 2014
#74
Correct me if I'm wrong, but these particles are pretty much everywhere in the universe.
backscatter712
Aug 2014
#58
God-fucking-dammit, it is NOT woo coming true, and its not a perpetual motion machine...
Humanist_Activist
Aug 2014
#68
Bullshit, if someone was claiming the quantum consciousness was driving the device...
Humanist_Activist
Aug 2014
#82
Nope. "“Alright!” they said. “We’ll test your stupid drive that won’t work.”
DirkGently
Aug 2014
#83
We've known of this phenomenon for a long time as zero-point energy or the Casimir effect
derby378
Aug 2014
#70
The Casimir effect is not considered woo, but some of the claims associated with it are
derby378
Aug 2014
#90
The only people I've ever heard talk about the Casimir effect are woo-peddlers
Hugabear
Aug 2014
#99
With a flux capacitor, powered by cold fusion, the possibilities are limitless (nt)
Nye Bevan
Aug 2014
#106