• slazer2au@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    they’ve created a drive powered by a “New Force” outside our current known laws of physics, giving the propellant-less drive enough boost to overcome gravity.

    Right…

    • warmaster@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      It’s true. Here’s a copy of their research paper:

      Sure, here’s what your research paper could look like:

      Title: Unveiling a Novel Force: Propelling Beyond Gravitational Constraints

      Abstract: This paper investigates a newly hypothesized force that enables propellant-less drives to defy gravity. Examining experimental anomalies and theoretical speculations, it explores potential mechanisms and applications, signaling a transformative leap in space exploration and transportation technology.

      But as an AI model, I don’t know shit and come up with bullshit out of my synthetic ass.

      • Murdoc@sh.itjust.works
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        7 months ago

        Ikr? It already comes in four different flavours! (Five if you count the Star Wars Edition, but that was just a marketing gimmick.)

    • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Obviously Buhler’s claims are pretty “woah, if true,” but the history of propellant-less drives is filled with seemingly positive results that are eventually dashed upon the rocks of scientific reality.

      “Big if true”

      • decerian@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Gravity and vacuum are not mutually exclusive - you always have to deal with gravity forces, although they become negligible pretty quickly when you get into and then leave orbits.

        As to the specific claim, I suspect that the experiments they are currently doing (in vacuum chambers on earth) have gotten to the point that they are measuring the propulsion system producing more thrust than it’s own weight (T/W >1), which would technically be enough thrust to overcome gravity. Even if it wasn’t practically useful for actually getting to orbit, that amount of thrust on a reactionless motor would be incredible, and would totally unlock the solar system for us.

        • sushibowl@feddit.nl
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          7 months ago

          they become negligible pretty quickly when you get into and then leave orbits.

          You’re not wrong, but it’s worth noting that in low earth orbit (e.g. typical ISS orbiting altitude) earth’s gravity is still 90% as strong as at sea level. Astronauts on the ISS are weightless not because they escaped earth’s gravity, but because they’re continuously falling.

        • Dkarma@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          So in theory if you built a vacuum tube from the earths surface to “space” and sealed it at both ends you could have a frictionless elevator

    • davidgro@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Much of the same could be said of the EmDrive. This is one of those extraordinary claims which requires extraordinary evidence, especially given the recent history of the topic.

  • Boozilla@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I just want an Aluminum Falcon.

    I assume I won’t be able to afford the Millennium edition.

  • breadsmasher@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    I do wonder why we never ask why they are former NASA / Blue Origin / SpaceX whatever. Did they try to bring up some crazy idea and let go? Did they just lose it?

    Im always hopeful for new breakthroughs but always sceptical

  • Geek_King@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    It’d sure be nice if some break through like this was realized. But when you have a company to greatly benefit from this “impossible discovery”, hard to stay optimistic it isn’t some grift.

    • exscape@kbin.social
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      7 months ago

      Why would anyone want to kill him if this were true? It would be a dream for NASA and everybody else working in space flight.

      FWIW I’d bet almost anything this will be as useful as the EmDrive.

      • Delta_V@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        If someone already quietly had similar tech maneuvering their satellites, and wanted to remain the only actor with eyes in the sky that can’t be shot down or eventually chased down due to lack of fuel.