Massless Space Propulsion

Space travel may be possible without rocketry in solar system or interstellar space travel.

New theories under development 2008

Abstract: Conventional space travel is based on rocketry using either chemical fuels or high-energy electrical propulsion. This requires huge amounts of “reaction mass” occupying most of the spacecraft’s weight. It has long been realized that solar system human colonization or long distance manned space travel will not be possible without more advanced space propulsion systems. A new theory may solve the problems by replacing conventional rocketry with mass-less space propulsion, which no longer needs to carry reaction mass, but requires a constant supply of power. Inner solar system space travel could collect cheap and constant propulsion power from solar panels as long as sufficient sunlight is still available. Interstellar space travel would require power from nuclear reactors. The solution may come not from larger and larger spacecrafts with more and more energetic rocket engines but from re-examining our propulsion theories both that of Newton and Einstein. Newton’s law that “action equals reaction”, where acceleration “force equals mass times acceleration”, is modified to include “but not necessarily at the same time or place”. Einstein’s “speed of light limit” does not apply for mass-less propulsion systems where travel time is related to distance traveled by a saturating curve. This would allow even very far space trips in relatively short times. There would be constant gravity during the entire space trip. A conception example is like an electrical tidal wave or tsunami, which is generated by a sudden earthquake or rockslide in the ocean, where the thrust is converted into low ocean waves that travel thousands of miles with very little energy loss, until the wave crushes onto a distant shore to recover the thrust generated by the tsunami. Action is still equal to reaction according to Newton’s theory but “action” may be very remote from the “reaction”. The same laws and principles also apply for electromagnetic waves traveling in space. Electromagnetic waves are known to carry energy or communication signals for very long distances in space without loss of energy or signal distortions. However, transporting “force or thrust” through space requires a modification of the basic principles towards asymmetrical microwaves with very high amplitude. There are several methods of generating these asymmetrical thrust waves either in air, water, or space, similar to jellyfish pulses, fish tails, or propeller, in ocean water. Travel in space would use electromagnetic equivalents for an all solid-state, mass-less space propulsion system. These new propulsion systems must first be simulated in a computer and then confirmed by physical experimentations.

Applications: Mass less space propulsion systems could opens the inner solar system for human colonization and eventually interstellar spaceflight. Cheap constant power for inner solar system travel could use solar panels as long as sufficient sunlight is available. Interstellar space travel would require atomic power reactors to provide for only short travel times.

Keywords: Massless space propulsion, Solar system space travel, Interstellar space travel.

Available downloadable documents:

Research paper 2008 -- Massless Space Propulsion – MS Word doc (coming soon)

Website paper 2008 – Massless Space Propulsion -- Webpage htm (coming soon)

Slide show / tutorial 2008 – Massless Space Propulsion -- MS PowerPoint htm