The Electromagnetic Drive is a device which is capable of sending people to space. It could turn the concept of warp drive into a possibility. Warp drive is the concept of travelling faster than light.
NASA has announced that they have successfully tested the device.
Scientists have tested the EM Drive in hard vacuum at the Johnson Space Center.
The device works by converting electrical energy into thrust without the use of fuel, to power the device solar energy is used.
The principles of the EM Drive violate the law of conservation of momentum in classic physics and this is questioning the validity of the test conducted by NASA.
Law of conservation of momentum states that if there are no external forces acting on the system then the momentum of the system should remain constant.
So traditional rockets depend on propellants in order to launch.
Many experiments have been conducted by the researchers from different countries including United Kingdom and China to find out the possibility of EM Drive, but all their results are controversial, and they couldn’t give any explanation of how the device works.
NASA said that the reason why previous experiments were inconclusive was because the device was not tested in vacuum.
They are many benefits of EM Drive; it can be used for low Earth orbit operations and space missions to planets outside our solar system.
International Space Station can also reap the benefits of EM Drive.
NASA in a statement said, “In terms of the Station, propellant-less propulsion could amount to significant savings by drastically reducing fuel resupply missions to the Station and eliminate the need for visiting-vehicle re-boost maneuvers.”
NASA said that the concept of warp drive remains a dream. The agency will continue to develop ion propulsion that can be used in the missions to deep space. Ion propulsion is an effective and fastest method to travel in space so development in this sector will have many benefits.