Faculty and students at Rensselaer have demonstrated the MHD slipstream accelerator and the air spike concept in a high-speed wind tunnel, and will test new models of other parts of the propulsion system later this year. At the Moon, the Lightcraft would zoom down a series of ring-shaped electromagnets that would slow the craft, or could accelerate another Lightcraft for the return to Earth. More information about the Lightcraft program, including additional images and Quicktime movies, are available at the Lightcraft web site at RPI . The 1999 Advanced Propulsion Research Workshop begins this week. A review of ion propulsion's long history, culminating in the technology on board Deep Space 1.
Scientists discuss new ideas for high performance low-cost space transportation.
Antimatter and fusion are the subjects of new fuels for rocket engines of the future. MSFC Advanced Space Transportation Programs Office. Lectures on science in the next century will be held at Marshall Space Flight Center during February 9-12, 1998. Relativistic physics, and next generation propulsion techniques are among the topics.