https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a60608517/overcome-earth-gravity/
This new propulsion system could rewrite the rules of spaceflight—not to mention completely defy conventional physics.
they’ve created a drive powered by a “New Force” outside our current known laws of physics, giving the propellant-less drive enough boost to overcome gravity.
Right......
It's true. Here's a copy of their research paper:
Sure, here's what your research paper could look like:
Title: Unveiling a Novel Force: Propelling Beyond Gravitational Constraints
Abstract: This paper investigates a newly hypothesized force that enables propellant-less drives to defy gravity. Examining experimental anomalies and theoretical speculations, it explores potential mechanisms and applications, signaling a transformative leap in space exploration and transportation technology.
But as an AI model, I don't know shit and come up with bullshit out of my synthetic ass.
Ikr? It already comes in four different flavours! (Five if you count the Star Wars Edition, but that was just a marketing gimmick.)
Obviously Buhler’s claims are pretty “woah, if true,” but the history of propellant-less drives is filled with seemingly positive results that are eventually dashed upon the rocks of scientific reality.
"Big if true"
Produces 1g thrust but requires hard-vacuum
enough boost to overcome gravity
Make it make sense
Gravity and vacuum are not mutually exclusive - you always have to deal with gravity forces, although they become negligible pretty quickly when you get into and then leave orbits.
As to the specific claim, I suspect that the experiments they are currently doing (in vacuum chambers on earth) have gotten to the point that they are measuring the propulsion system producing more thrust than it's own weight (T/W >1), which would technically be enough thrust to overcome gravity. Even if it wasn't practically useful for actually getting to orbit, that amount of thrust on a reactionless motor would be incredible, and would totally unlock the solar system for us.
they become negligible pretty quickly when you get into and then leave orbits.
You're not wrong, but it's worth noting that in low earth orbit (e.g. typical ISS orbiting altitude) earth's gravity is still 90% as strong as at sea level. Astronauts on the ISS are weightless not because they escaped earth's gravity, but because they're continuously falling.
If I remember right that is the slang term for a device used to simulated high force situations astronauts are expected to experience. So named for the frequent effect
It's so much more interesting than the parent comment makes it out to be, though. In case you didn't already read anything about it, it's an ordinary (on the outside) jet that flies in parabolic arcs which at a certain point lets the passengers experience microgravity and float around the modified cabin for a minute or so at a time. Anyone can go for a ride last I checked... if you have several thousand dollars laying around, anyway.
So in theory if you built a vacuum tube from the earths surface to "space" and sealed it at both ends you could have a frictionless elevator
I mean... sure. But you could do the same from the surface of Earth to the height of the Eiffel tower. Or my uncle Bob's third floor apartment.
Ex NASA employees also gave us Depth Dwellers so that doesn't hold much weight with me.
Counterpoint: Another ex NASA employee invented Super Soaker, so there’s some weight in this
Much of the same could be said of the EmDrive. This is one of those extraordinary claims which requires extraordinary evidence, especially given the recent history of the topic.
I do wonder why we never ask why they are former NASA / Blue Origin / SpaceX whatever. Did they try to bring up some crazy idea and let go? Did they just lose it?
Im always hopeful for new breakthroughs but always sceptical
It'd sure be nice if some break through like this was realized. But when you have a company to greatly benefit from this "impossible discovery", hard to stay optimistic it isn't some grift.
After reading the article, and doing a little digging on this I can confidently say this article is utter garbage. You can look up the patent application on this, it's something to do with electrostatic forces which is a well known area of physics. Nothing magical about it.
For anyone curious, someone was kind enough to post the summary of the patent in this thread https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60131.0
The article author claimed it was some undiscovered force in physics, so kinda yeah. It's completely misrepresenting what it is.
But an undiscovered force is not magic either. However, I understand what you're saying now.
Why would anyone want to kill him if this were true? It would be a dream for NASA and everybody else working in space flight.
FWIW I'd bet almost anything this will be as useful as the EmDrive.
If someone already quietly had similar tech maneuvering their satellites, and wanted to remain the only actor with eyes in the sky that can't be shot down or eventually chased down due to lack of fuel.