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863
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Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 3:38 PM
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Chinese researchers claim they've confirmed the theory behind an "impossible" space drive, and are proceeding to build a demonstration version. If they're right, this might transform the economics of satellites, open up new possibilities for space exploration ?- and give the Chinese a decisive military advantage in space.
To say that the "Emdrive" (short for "electromagnetic drive") concept is controversial would be an understatement. According to Roger Shawyer, the British scientist who developed the concept, the drive converts electrical energy into thrust via microwaves, without violating any laws of physics. Many researchers believe otherwise. An article about the Emdrive in New Scientist magazine drew a massive volley of criticism. Scientists not only argued that Shawyer's work was blatantly impossible, and hat his reasoning was flawed. They also said the article should never have been published.
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/chinese-buildin.html
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Reactions to a new idea 1)'It's crazy - don't waste my time'; 2)'It's possible, but it's not worth doing'; 3)'I always said it was a good idea.'" - Arthur C. Clarke
Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn't necessarily do it in chronological order,though.
- Douglas Adams
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Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 3:59 PM
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Wild stuff,Thanks
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12,575
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Hampton Roads, Virginia
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Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 4:51 PM
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>Scientists not only argued that Shawyer's work was blatantly impossible, and hat his reasoning was flawed.
I seem to recall the scientific community said the same thing about other "wild ideas," things like the world being round and the Earth not being the center of the universe along with a bunch of lessor ideas.
Let them try it. Maybe they can set the scientific and engineering communities on their ears again.
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2008 - Year of the Jackass
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Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 4:58 PM
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words of wisdom -
Reactions to a new idea 1)'It's crazy - don't waste my time'; 2)'It's possible, but it's not worth doing'; 3)'I always said it was a good idea.'" - Arthur C. Clarke
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Reactions to a new idea 1)'It's crazy - don't waste my time'; 2)'It's possible, but it's not worth doing'; 3)'I always said it was a good idea.'" - Arthur C. Clarke
Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn't necessarily do it in chronological order,though.
- Douglas Adams
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Posts:
12,575
From:
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Registered:
1/3/03
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(5 of 7)
Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 5:17 PM
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Sir Arthur was indeed a wise man, one of a kind and a genius to boot.
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"In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress." - John Adams
2008 - Year of the Jackass
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Maryland
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Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 5:27 PM
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dave - would this "emdrive" significantly improve the speed of rockets, satellites and manned spacecraft? I hope the hell the Chinese know what they're doing.
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Posts:
863
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Louisiana
Registered:
5/28/07
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Re: Chinese Say They're Building 'Impossible' Space Drive
Sep 24, 2008 10:27 PM
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From what the article says its thrust is comparable to an ion engine but no propellent is needed, just a source of electricity. Ion engines are not speed demons, they need time to get to whatever speed you want, slow but steady acceleration. NASA had a probe called Deep Space 1 that had an ion engine it was pretty successful. If this works, with research and improvements it might get faster.
http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/ds1/
Hope they know what they are doing too. In concept it almost sounds like the Impulse Engine from Star Trek.
--
Reactions to a new idea 1)'It's crazy - don't waste my time'; 2)'It's possible, but it's not worth doing'; 3)'I always said it was a good idea.'" - Arthur C. Clarke
Anything that happens, happens. Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again. It doesn't necessarily do it in chronological order,though.
- Douglas Adams
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