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Thread: EMDrive

  1. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by calikid View Post
    You are getting a little ahead of the curve, Wally.
    They have produced a small "proof of concept" device that has produced measurable positive results.

    The idea is that somebody sitting in the front seat of their car, can beat on the dashboard with a hammer to generate enough force to propel it forward.
    Speaking of which, from what I have seen/read, researchers do not currently possess a device large enough to power even a car, let alone a space craft.
    To answer your question I'd guesstimate, if all goes well, something on the order of decades before we see any spacecraft propulsion applications.
    That's too bad, I was wondering how it would compare to an ion drive in propelling a micro probe, like something less than 10 pounds. While the acceleration may be small give enough time it can really add up.
    My inner Mulder wants to believe, but my inner Scully remains skeptical.

  2. #12
    A paper has been leaked with early testing results, and more new regarding the launch of a test vehicle in the near future. I noted that someone pointed out that after ~1000 days of continuous operation this drive would be propelling a 1KG mass at 0.35C (~1/3 the speed of light.) This places interstellar exploration of nearby star systems well within reach, and within a rough time-frame comparable to current long-distance probes.

    See here for a summary and link to the given paper: http://www.sciencealert.com/leaked-n...ally-does-work

  3. #13
    Lead Moderator calikid's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pontificator View Post
    A paper has been leaked with early testing results, and more new regarding the launch of a test vehicle in the near future. I noted that someone pointed out that after ~1000 days of continuous operation this drive would be propelling a 1KG mass at 0.35C (~1/3 the speed of light.) This places interstellar exploration of nearby star systems well within reach, and within a rough time-frame comparable to current long-distance probes.

    See here for a summary and link to the given paper: http://www.sciencealert.com/leaked-n...ally-does-work
    So a few hopeful researchers are resorting to CUBESAT, a private company that launces shoebox sized payloads for anyone that can pay. That suggests the EM Drive to be tested will be very small. But with luck able to prove proof of concept in a zero G environment.

    I think it is Earthman, a member here at TOP Forum, that has a UFO spotter device as payload scheduled with the Same company in 2017?

    Anyway, too bad NASA, or some large academic entity with the financial resources is not involved to make a more concerted effort at legitimizing the project.

    While it does sound promising, guess it is still considered fringe science until a few peer reviews are published (the one in this article appears to be among the first, hopefully many more positive reviews to come) eliminating more mundane explanations for the results.
    The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but
    progress. -- Joseph Joubert
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  4. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by pontificator View Post
    A paper has been leaked with early testing results, and more new regarding the launch of a test vehicle in the near future. I noted that someone pointed out that after ~1000 days of continuous operation this drive would be propelling a 1KG mass at 0.35C (~1/3 the speed of light.) This places interstellar exploration of nearby star systems well within reach, and within a rough time-frame comparable to current long-distance probes.

    See here for a summary and link to the given paper: http://www.sciencealert.com/leaked-n...ally-does-work
    That sounds quite promising. At 1/3 the speed of light we could conceivably get a probe to Proxima Centauri B in less than two decades. Or examine any new planets in our own solar system should we find them. Now the tricky part is building a probe that 's under 5 KG.
    My inner Mulder wants to believe, but my inner Scully remains skeptical.

  5. #15
    Lead Moderator calikid's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wally View Post
    That sounds quite promising. At 1/3 the speed of light we could conceivably get a probe to Proxima Centauri B in less than two decades. Or examine any new planets in our own solar system should we find them. Now the tricky part is building a probe that 's under 5 KG.
    Why a probe under 5Kg Wally?
    Not to tangent to far off the EM Drive itself but
    I'm thinking enough shielding to prevent a grain of sand (in a collision) from ripping open the probe at those speeds will be considerably more than 5Kg.
    The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but
    progress. -- Joseph Joubert
    Attachment 1008

  6. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by calikid View Post
    Why a probe under 5Kg Wally?
    Not to tangent to far off the EM Drive itself but
    I'm thinking enough shielding to prevent a grain of sand (in a collision) from ripping open the probe at those speeds will be considerably more than 5Kg.
    A lighter probe would require less energy to propel, but unfortunately would also have less equipment. 5 Kg was just a rough estimate on my part, to propel a 25 Kg probe I'm guessing would require 5 times the needed energy so sending a probe weighing a ton or more like some of the others we have sent out may be too much mass to accelerate quickly.
    My inner Mulder wants to believe, but my inner Scully remains skeptical.

  7. #17
    My inner Mulder wants to believe, but my inner Scully remains skeptical.

  8. #18
    The Chinese are currently testing their own version of the EM Drive, including on their space station, and have apparently been successful:
    Original article: http://digitalpaper.stdaily.com/http...004.htm?div=-1
    Interpretation in English from Popular science: http://www.popsci.com/emdrive-engine...-china-success

    No pictures from the Chinese, unfortunately, but it does suggest that a race to a practical implementation is underway; despite others in the scientific community suggesting it is impossible.

  9. #19
    The EMDrive is now being developed for a third generation version, further details are available here: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/emdrive-des...vealed-1634322
    Current progress is getting more exciting now.

  10. #20
    from space.com
    'Impossible' EmDrive Space Thruster May Really Be Impossible
    It would be a shame if they are unable to get it to work.
    My inner Mulder wants to believe, but my inner Scully remains skeptical.

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