Germany will experience the most controversial space engine
Intergalactic flights and trips to other solar systems remain the prerogative of science fiction film directors, writers and ... scientists who are trying to prove the operability of the "mythical" EmDrive engine, first described 20 years ago.
The essence of the apparatus is that for movement in outer space it uses microwaves directed through a conical chamber, obtained by converting electricity. In theory, electromagnetic radiation, which puts pressure on the walls of the chamber, can create sufficient traction for the spacecraft to move. However, the EmDrive unit is still a laboratory model, causing a lot of controversy in the scientific community.
Once and for all, scientists from the Dresden University of Technology decided to put an end to the debate about the reality of using such an engine in practice. The project, led by physicist Martin Taymar, was called SpaceDrive and provides for the creation of a high-precision device that could capture the signs of traction (if any) generated by EmDrive.
To conduct the experiments, the researchers used a torsion balance, which is a pendulum type balance and allows you to measure the amount of torque applied to the pendulum. The whole complexity of this approach lies in the fact that scientists must be able to shield the device by completely isolating it from the effects of seismic vibrations, the Earth’s magnetic field and the thermal expansion of the engine itself.
Alas, the first 55 experiments recorded 3,4 mN forces, which are more characteristic of thermal expansion. However, physicists do not lose hope and intend to continue research using two additional types of scales designed specifically for this experiment.
According to Martin Taymara, scientists plan to get a final verdict about the "viability" of the EmDrive engine by the end of this year.
The essence of the apparatus is that for movement in outer space it uses microwaves directed through a conical chamber, obtained by converting electricity. In theory, electromagnetic radiation, which puts pressure on the walls of the chamber, can create sufficient traction for the spacecraft to move. However, the EmDrive unit is still a laboratory model, causing a lot of controversy in the scientific community.
Once and for all, scientists from the Dresden University of Technology decided to put an end to the debate about the reality of using such an engine in practice. The project, led by physicist Martin Taymar, was called SpaceDrive and provides for the creation of a high-precision device that could capture the signs of traction (if any) generated by EmDrive.
To conduct the experiments, the researchers used a torsion balance, which is a pendulum type balance and allows you to measure the amount of torque applied to the pendulum. The whole complexity of this approach lies in the fact that scientists must be able to shield the device by completely isolating it from the effects of seismic vibrations, the Earth’s magnetic field and the thermal expansion of the engine itself.
Alas, the first 55 experiments recorded 3,4 mN forces, which are more characteristic of thermal expansion. However, physicists do not lose hope and intend to continue research using two additional types of scales designed specifically for this experiment.
According to Martin Taymara, scientists plan to get a final verdict about the "viability" of the EmDrive engine by the end of this year.
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