Examining the EmDrive: The Controversial Propellantless Propulsion System
By
Darren Orf
1d ago· 5 min readenNews
97/100
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Summary
The article discusses the EmDrive, a propulsion concept introduced by British engineer Roger Shawyer in 2001 that claims to produce thrust without propellant, potentially violating the conservation of momentum. The article examines the scientific controversy surrounding this "impossible drive" and its implications for physics and spaceflight.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledIn 2001, British Electrical Engineer Roger Shawyer first introduced the 'impossible drive,' known as the EmDrive.
It earned that nickname because Shawyer claimed it could produce thrust without propellant.
That's direct problem for the conservation of momentum, which just so happens to be one of the load-bearing rules of physics.
This new propulsion system could rewrite the rules of spaceflight—not to mention completely defy conventional physics.
