NASA’s mysterious ‘Warp Drive’ engine is working in tests, leaked paper shows
NASA’s much-hyped EM Drive – often described as a ‘Warp Drive’ – is actually working in tests at the space agency, according to a leaked paper.
The engine works by bouncing microwaves around inside an enclosed container – and seems to defy the laws of physics.
But if it works, it could revolutionise space travel – allowing spaceships to reach Mars in weeks.
The engine has no exhaust, and would outperform any current booster used in space.
A NASA team led by Harold White said, ‘The test campaign included a null thrust test effort to identify any mundane sources of impulsive thrust, however none were identified.
‘Thrust data from forward, reverse, and null suggests that the system is consistently performing with a thrust to power ratio of 1.2 ± 0.1 millinewtons per kilowatt.’
The concept of the EM Drive was considered implausible – and scientists suggested that it broke the laws of physics.
If true, it could revolutionise space travel.
The proposed engine works by bouncing microwaves around inside an enclosed container, and the idea was first mooted by British researcher Roger Shawyer.
But many researchers said it was impossible.
Steven Thomson of the University of St Andrews wrote, ‘The EMDrive is designed to be a closed system that doesn’t emit any particles or radiation. It cannot possibly generate any thrust without breaking some seriously fundamental laws of physics. To put it bluntly, it’s like trying to pull yourself up by your shoelaces and hoping you’ll levitate.’
