NASA Eagleworks - Advanced Propulsion Physics Research

[Alex_Krycek]

Recently learned of NASA's Eagleworks laboratory which is conducting advanced propulsion research.   A waste of taxpayer money?  Not in my view; we need more of this kind of research.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20110023492

ABSTRACT

NASA/JSC is implementing an advanced propulsion physics laboratory, informally known as "Eagleworks", to pursue propulsion technologies necessary to enable human exploration of the solar system over the next 50 years, and enabling interstellar spaceflight by the end of the century. This work directly supports the "Breakthrough Propulsion" objectives detailed in the NASA OCT TA02 In-space Propulsion Roadmap, and aligns with the #10 Top Technical Challenge identified in the report. Since the work being pursued by this laboratory is applied scientific research in the areas of the quantum vacuum, gravitation, nature of space-time, and other fundamental physical phenomenon, high fidelity testing facilities are needed. The lab will first implement a low-thrust torsion pendulum (<1 uN), and commission the facility with an existing Quantum Vacuum Plasma Thruster. To date, the QVPT line of research has produced data suggesting very high specific impulse coupled with high specific force. If the physics and engineering models can be explored and understood in the lab to allow scaling to power levels pertinent for human spaceflight, 400kW SEP human missions to Mars may become a possibility, and at power levels of 2MW, 1-year transit to Neptune may also be possible. Additionally, the lab is implementing a warp field interferometer that will be able to measure spacetime disturbances down to 150nm. Recent work published by White [1] [2] [3] suggests that it may be possible to engineer spacetime creating conditions similar to what drives the expansion of the cosmos. Although the expected magnitude of the effect would be tiny, it may be a “Chicago pile” moment for this area of physics.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110023492/downloads/20110023492.pdf

Some diagrams from the research paper below:

NASA Eagleworks.pdf

[exchemist]

46 minutes ago, Alex_Krycek said:

Recently learned of NASA's Eagleworks laboratory which is conducting advanced propulsion research.   A waste of taxpayer money?  Not in my view; we need more of this kind of research.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20110023492

ABSTRACT

NASA/JSC is implementing an advanced propulsion physics laboratory, informally known as "Eagleworks", to pursue propulsion technologies necessary to enable human exploration of the solar system over the next 50 years, and enabling interstellar spaceflight by the end of the century. This work directly supports the "Breakthrough Propulsion" objectives detailed in the NASA OCT TA02 In-space Propulsion Roadmap, and aligns with the #10 Top Technical Challenge identified in the report. Since the work being pursued by this laboratory is applied scientific research in the areas of the quantum vacuum, gravitation, nature of space-time, and other fundamental physical phenomenon, high fidelity testing facilities are needed. The lab will first implement a low-thrust torsion pendulum (<1 uN), and commission the facility with an existing Quantum Vacuum Plasma Thruster. To date, the QVPT line of research has produced data suggesting very high specific impulse coupled with high specific force. If the physics and engineering models can be explored and understood in the lab to allow scaling to power levels pertinent for human spaceflight, 400kW SEP human missions to Mars may become a possibility, and at power levels of 2MW, 1-year transit to Neptune may also be possible. Additionally, the lab is implementing a warp field interferometer that will be able to measure spacetime disturbances down to 150nm. Recent work published by White [1] [2] [3] suggests that it may be possible to engineer spacetime creating conditions similar to what drives the expansion of the cosmos. Although the expected magnitude of the effect would be tiny, it may be a “Chicago pile” moment for this area of physics.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110023492/downloads/20110023492.pdf

Some diagrams from the research paper below:

NASA Eagleworks.pdf 836.76 kB · 0 downloads

What is a "low thrust torsion pendulum"? Torsion pendulum I understand, but "thrust"? 

[Alex_Krycek]

47 minutes ago, exchemist said:

What is a "low thrust torsion pendulum"? Torsion pendulum I understand, but "thrust"? 

A Torsion Pendulum designed to produce thrust I suppose:

Anomalous Thrust Production from an RF Test Device Measured on a Low-Thrust Torsion Pendulum

This paper describes the eight-day August 2013 test campaign designed to investigate and demonstrate viability of using classical magnetoplasmadynamics to obtain a propulsive momentum transfer via the quantum vacuum virtual plasma. 

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20140006052

[exchemist]

18 minutes ago, Alex_Krycek said:

A Torsion Pendulum designed to produce thrust I suppose:

Anomalous Thrust Production from an RF Test Device Measured on a Low-Thrust Torsion Pendulum

This paper describes the eight-day August 2013 test campaign designed to investigate and demonstrate viability of using classical magnetoplasmadynamics to obtain a propulsive momentum transfer via the quantum vacuum virtual plasma. 

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20140006052

According to my reading, it seems the torsion pendulum was used to detect the thrust allegedly produced from this RF resonant cavity thingie. 

I recall that torsion pendulums have been used in determinations of big G, so are known to be capable of responding to very small forces.  

So now it makes sense - even if the physics doesn't........ 

 

[swansont]

Beware papers that reference the author a lot, and especially if one of the references is on the Alcubierre Warp Drive. Sonny White has a history of making fanciful claims.

This isn't based on mainstream physics. Moved to speculations.