microwave cone thurster vacuum chamber modification experimental idea? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2015, 05:24:21 am
content: So I am sure all of you have heard about the microwave cone-drive (no, not THAT kind of cone)https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/34cq1b/the_facts_as_we_currently_know_them_about_the/http://science.slashdot.org/story/15/05/01/1929200/new-test-supports-nasas-controversial-em-drivethey should make a asymetrical testing chamber in order to rule out interaction between the chamber and the device,I assume that it is a Cone in the center of the cylindrical vacuum chamber. What if they put the cone propulsion unit inside of a cone/mangled/crumpled/fat guy sat on it vacuum chamber, that way if they reverse direction and thrust is different, one can begin to assume that is some kind of interaction with the test chamber.in the current model, if its rotated 180 degrees in the middle of what I assume is a symmetrical vacuum chamber, the interaction would be the same.If one end of the vacuum chamber has a strong taper or dent etc, then if the effect is caused by chamber/thruster interaction, the positional relationship between the cone thruster and the vacuum chamber is easily revealed. Granted, the effect can be real and some kind of weird version of near field effects and reflections could somehow look like chamber/thruster interactions are responsible for the net force, and not less net force), so an actual space test might still be required, but it is a start.thoughts?I kinda wanna go drive down to nasa and attack their vacuum chamber with a sledge hammer for a whileI always knew that watching zoolander many times (mac scene) would get me somewhere in lifeor just build a pyramid of beer cans on one side of the test chamber?and maybe a ceramic/glass vacuum chamber? I'm surprised thats not the first thing they did.......I wish I could see the cone plugged into a impedance analyzer/antenna analyzer too so we can know about reflections, emissions and thermal loses @ particular frequencies

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2015, 05:53:37 am
content: NASA did test this couple years ago. Theyre short answer was: curious, it should not work at all..I´m sure they will test it more, since electric propulsion is sort of holy grail of keeping satellites in obit without refueling then.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2015, 06:08:30 am
content: With those levels of thrust and power I would expect thermal effects to be a good part of that. They probably should try again with a really good large chamber with it in the middle, and see if there is less thrust. NASA at least has a vacuum chamber big enough for this to do the test at high power, they use it to test engine performance in a vacuum.

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2015, 07:34:35 am
content: As long as the apparatus is touching something connected to the ground, I'm going to be suspicious.They have vacuum drop-towers. If they can make a compact power supply that can supply the necessary x kilowatts for a second or two,drop it and see if it lands early, then I might start getting excited. Obviously upside-down and landing late would be acceptable too.I can't imagine this actually works, but if it did, it would change everything. Electric spaceships!I wonder who might have a launcher company that also has access to batteries and solar cell technology?

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2015, 05:30:21 am
content: im surprised this forum does not have a massive thread about this