Not really. We already know that you can't go FTL and have experiments to prove it. FTL travel is just impossible in our universe. But that doesn't mean we can't find loopholes. For example: Nothing in space can go faster than light, but you can move space faster than light. So you could essentially make a tsunami out of the fabric of reality to push you faster than light.
Which are one of the cheatsy-doodle methods I was talking about XD. If they're even possible. To create a wormhole you need something called negative mass - essentially something that weighs -10kg which we have no idea how to fucking make or if it's even possible.
So I did some research and this claim is kinda bullshit. This is called an EM drive and so far it is only working in non-peer reviewed areas. The thrust obtained by the current device is miniscule and could literally just be somebody blowing on it. It could also be that the engine is releasing its radiation asymmetrically causing the results to be read wrong. The thrust is very, very small and may not even actually exist. But let's assume it does. As I've said, it is very, very weak. The current thrust would be considered slow compared to a bicycle. Definitely not the 32,500 kilometers per hour it would need to get to mars in seventy days. If it works then it could be revolutionary. We could refine it to a point where it WAS capable of reaching such speeds. That would likely be quite a few years away and onlyif it actually works which it may not.
It's 2 orders of magnitude more than what a solar sail would produce 93 mil miles from the sun, and 1 order of magnitude below an ion drive. NASA has published a few papers on it, and they have pretty much no idea how it works, the best theory right now is quantum pilot waves. They are going to test it in space soon. Also, since it doesn't require any propellant, it can easily be scaled up for space operations. What is also nice is that it should be capable of slowing down, just flip how the microwaves oscillate through it. An ion engine needs 2 engines to be able to slow down.
Firstly we cannot claim FTL is impossible, only improbable beyond pursuit with our current understanding of physics. Secondly, this theory has only existed for a few years and is in early stages of research. Data shows it could be a fluke, external factors acting on the unit. However there is something observable happening and that is what science does. When something happens that defies expectation we observe it until it can be explained. New and exciting science doesn't come when we close the case by saying "It doesn't fit our model, and is probably bullshit." So it is worth review until we can definitively say one way or another. Even if it is total rubish The lessons learned could be used to remove variables in future experiments and prevent chasing false leads. Quantum science requires precise conditions and a large challenge in quantum science is eliminating very small variables which wouldn't effect more traditional experiments in meaningful ways, so I feel this is worth a look.
Under the known laws of physics, FTL travel is impossible. To claim otherwise means you MUST provide evidence that our current laws are wrong. You can go ahead and try - I encourage you to do so - but don't forget that you are trying to do the impossible.
It is, but it isn't. It's confusing because nothing INSIDE of space can go faster than light, but the fabric of space itself can go faster. It's one of the areas of physics where our common sense just doesn't apply.
EM drive and ion propulsion aren't the same thing. An EM drive just bounced microwaves back and forth, it doesn't push anything out the back, that's what makes it so freaking weird.. it uses no propellant.
Not only does it not use any propellant, but by further testing at higher power settings we may reach adequate thrust to travel to mars more often, all because we can put on more solar panels and increase the physical size of the engine in order to increase the thrust provided. However, the EmDrive used by Nasa is going to space and probably being upscaled to assist in testing the equipment without interference such as earth's electromagnetic field to confirm the thrust it produces and whether or not it's practical to use in space exploration (Which is probable if it works)
EM drive- or RF propulsion, is theoretical and hasn't been proven. No one has "trailed and engine" yet, simply conducted experiments to see if it is an actual phenomenon or not. Present research is inconclusive and difficult to repeat success. "Successful tests" still haven't proven the drive is generating propulsion and it isn't an external background force due to the low magnitude of thrust observed. Some are calling it a hoax while others are calling it the future- as usual the true scientists haven't made a definitive statement beyond that it COULD exist and are researching to understand it. Even if it is not a revolutionary form of propulsion, if the observed phenomena in some experiments can be reliably repeated and shown to be independent of external factors, it does represent new scientific discovery, or application of theory which can be applied in other areas or further studied to expand our scientific understanding.
Somewhere amongst these comments you'll find linked articles, a search for "RF drive" should also bring you results. In short the post is optimistic. There is a possible phenomenon being explored which could be a revolutionary propulsion method, or could be an error is measuring the experiment- or something else. No working model exists as of yet. NASA and others are researching it, but the fact something is being researched says little. NASA and other scientists research all sorts of things regularly, many of which do not pan out for decades or at all. In short- there is possibility but not confirmation, further study is needed to even prove there is anything worth considering, but some evidence exists to suggest it is worth while to explore this further.
Well since it wouldn't require traditional fuel and the assorted other hardware one could assume it would result in a lighter ship thus a faster one. But what do I know, I'm no rocket scientist.
I dislike when people downvote and don’t even comment, it really reinforces the “stupidity of the public” image. I upvoted you because I do agree with your overall bent that people don’t generally have a firm grasp on physics- especially more intricate ideas of physics like relativity or quantum theory, and that an EM engine is theoretically possible. IMHO it is a little harsh to say public stupidity makes people think it isn’t, and can understand why someone might feel offended, but it may just be a precision thing. Ignorance of physics may be slightly better to say than general or any kind of stupidity. Of course, I’m sure there are people more knowledgeable on physics than I who might say it is impossible too, so maybe ignorance isn’t it either. When it comes to theory we are all a bit ignorant in a way, that’s why it is theory, because we don’t know or else we would have working examples. Either way, I don’t think you deserved a dv so I upvoted to balance it.
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