Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory
The Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center, also known as "Eagleworks Laboratories", is a small research group investigating a variety of theories regarding new forms of spacecraft propulsion. Their principal investigator is Dr. Harold G. White.
The group is developing the White–Juday warp-field interferometer in the hope of observing small disturbances of spacetime and testing small prototypes of thrusters that do not use reaction mass. The success of these thrusters, such as the RF resonant cavity thruster ('EM Drive') and quantum vacuum plasma thruster, would be contrary to current physical laws.[1][2]
Purpose
The Advanced Propulsion Physics Laboratory is enabled by section 2.3.7 of the NASA Technology Roadmap TA 2: In Space Propulsion Technologies:[3]
Breakthrough Propulsion: Breakthrough propulsion is an area of technology development that seeks to explore and develop a deeper understanding of the nature of space-time, gravitation, inertial frames, quantum vacuum, and other fundamental physical phenomena, with the overall objective of developing advanced propulsion applications and systems that will revolutionize how NASA explores space.
The lab's purpose is to explore, investigate, and pursue advanced and theoretical propulsion technologies that are intended to allow human exploration of the solar system in the next 50 years with the ultimate goal of interstellar travel by the turn of the century.[2] The 30x40 ft floor of the lab facility floats on large pneumatic piers in order to isolate it from any seismic activity. The pneumatic piers were originally built for the Apollo program and used to perform work involving inertial measurement units (IMU) before being brought out of retirement. [4]
See also
- Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program
- Lockheed Skunk Works, advanced projects division
- Boeing Phantom Works, advanced projects division
- NASA Swamp Works
- JPL
References
- ^ "Evaluating NASA's Futuristic EM Drive". 29 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Eagleworks Laboratories: Advanced Propulsion Physics Research". NASA.
- ^ "NASA Technology Roadmaps TA 2: In-Space Propulsion Technologies" (PDF). NASA. July 2015.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ NASA's Ames Research Center (2014-11-05), Dr. Harold "Sonny" White - Eagleworks Laboratories: Advanced Propulsion, retrieved 2019-02-22
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