Posted on 07/29/2002 2:47:08 PM PDT by vannrox
*** Funding in jeopardy for Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) ***
This posting is to alert those researchers who were planning to submit a proposal to the Fall 2002 call for BPP proposals, that this solicitation must now be put on hold, pending resolution of future budgets.
The budget for the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project is being cut. Not only are all future years budgets in question, but also 21% of the funds already allocated for this year have been requested to be withdrawn for transfer to the much larger "3rd Generation" Space Transportation Project, managed by Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). It is uncertain if these reductions will be repaired.
- Click here for more budget details -
To see more BPP artwork click on the picture
ABOUT BPP- In 1996, NASA established the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project to seek the ultimate breakthroughs in space transportation: (1) propulsion that requires no propellant mass, (2) propulsion that attains the maximum transit speeds physically possible, and (3) breakthrough methods of energy production to power such devices. Topics of interest include experiments and theories regarding the coupling of gravity and electromagnetism, the quantum vacuum, hyperfast travel, and superluminal quantum effects. Because the propulsion goals are presumably far from fruition, a special emphasis is to identify affordable, near-term, and credible research that could make measurable progress toward these propulsion goals.
This web site describes the methods and activities of the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project. For an introduction about the challenges of interstellar travel and some of the emerging concepts, please visit our "Warp Drive- When?" site.
The Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project is managed by the Glenn Research Center (GRC), and is sponsored by the Advanced Space Transportation Program, managed by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL.
CONTENTS
PROJECT PUBLICATIONS:
The following publications are from the BPP project. In those cases where electronic copies are available, links are indicated. To get paper copies of US Government reports, contact the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) (There is a modest per-page fee associated with copies.) To get copies of AIAA reports, contact the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (There is a fee associated with copies.)
- 37th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Salt Lake City, UT, 2001. (Click here for Paper List)
- El-Genk, M. S., ed. (2000) "Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2000," American Institute of Physics, AIP Conference Proceedings 504. (The papers on BPP topics are in pages 998-1132.)
- 35th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Los Angeles, CA, 1999. (The papers on BPP topics are AIAA 99-2143 through AIAA 99-2147)
- El-Genk, M. S., ed. (1999) "Space Technology and Applications International Forum 1999," American Institute of Physics, AIP Conference Proceedings 458. (The papers on BPP topics are in pages 875-937 and 954-1059.)
- Millis and Williamson, ed., (1999) "NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Workshop Proceedings," NASA/CP-1999-208694, Proceedings of a conference held at and sponsored by NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland Ohio, August 12-14, 1997. (Jan. 99) (456 pg.). NOTE: a short workshop summary, NASA TM-97-206241, is available electronically.
- 34th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Cleveland, OH, 1998. (The papers on BPP topics are AIAA 98-3136 through AIAA 98-3143)
- El-Genk, M. S., ed. (1998) "Space Technology and Applications International Forum 1998," American Institute of Physics, AIP Conference Proceedings 420. (The papers on BPP topics are in pages 1435-1461 and 1502-1534.)
- Li, N., Noever, D., Robertson, T., Koczor, R., and Brantley, W. (1997) "Static Test for a Gravitational Force Coupled to Type II YBCO Superconductors," In Physica C, Vol. 281, pp. 260-267.
PRESS COVERAGE:
DiChristina, Mariette, "Space at WARP Speed", in Popular Science, p 47-51, (May 2001)Millis, Marc G., "The big mystery: Interstellar travel", MSNBC News, 4 pages, (Monday, November 2, 1998) (http://www.msnbc.com/news/207618.asp)
Rogers, Adam, "Department of Warp Drive and Wormholes", in Newsweek, p.12,
(August 31, 1998).Greenwald, Jeff, "To Infinity...and Beyond", in Wired, p 90-97, (July 1998).
Burkey, Martin (Times Aerospace/Science Writer), "Science fiction blends with science as experts discuss NASA studies", in The Huntsville Times, p B4, (Thursday,
February 12, 1998)Kuznik, Frank, "The Need for Speed", in Smithsonian Air & Space, p 15-16,
(December 1997/January 1998)Millis, Marc G., "Breaking Through To The Stars", in Ad Astra, p 36-40,
(January/February 1997)David, Leonard, "Warning: Mind Fields", in Final Frontier, p. 19-23,
(January/February 1997)
In January, 2002, the NASA BPP Project and the Ohio Aeronautical Institute (OAI) signed a formal Cooperative Agreement to establish the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) Consortium. The OAI will handle its implementation, with an anticipated start-up in the 4th Quarter of 2002.OTHER GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIESThis Research Consortium will facilitate easier collaboration with universities and industry and provide the administrative functions to manage the large number of geographically dispersed participants in BPP research. It will find, support and coordinate the best research to make credible progress toward the visionary BPP goals, and to disseminate the results for the benefit of all.
Presently the organization of an Advisory Council for the Consortium is in progress. The Advisory Council will oversee member participation, research solicitations and prioritization of candidate research, and the build up and maintenance of an electronic database of research proposals and results (database implementation is underway). The objective is to include renowned physicists, a liaison of NASA Glenn, representatives from the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and any significant outside sponsors, on this Advisory Council.
The next call for research proposals is currently on hold due to recent budget cuts and uncertain future funding. If and when a formal call is made, it will be issued from this Consortium. The Consortium plans to issue formal research solicitations every other year from that point. All research submissions will be evaluated by a peer review using a two-stage review process similar to the first BPP research solicitation (NRA-99-LeRC-1).
If you have questions regarding the BPP Project or if you have problems reading or browsing this web site, please contact the BPP Project Document Control Specialist, Jean Schuerger of QSS Group, Inc.
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Responsible Official for Content: Marc G. Millis
Curator: Jean Schuerger, QSS Group, Inc.
Last update: July-17- 2002
Both projects should be cancelled. NASA should do more science and start a new program to build a moon base. Same budget.
Several programs are underway right now to check out the lunar polar ice if any. None of these programs are from NASA.
O'Keefe's nuclear initiative seems to have faltered. He put Europa and Pluto missions on hold to get them thinking about using nuclear propulsion, getting there faster and doing more once they get there. Nobody seems to be listening.
And they are all in the >$100 million category. Good luck.
If Dick Gophart is still alive, he will be.
Admiralty Law. Is it considered an extension of US territory? The ship would be if under American flag. The base if owned by America. It gets into an extension of maritime and deep sea law. Lot of extending going on.
Magnetic levitation (Maglev) is an advanced technology in which magnetic forces lift, propel, and guide a vehicle over a guideway. Utilizing state-of-the-art electric power and control systems, this configuration eliminates contact between vehicle and guideway and permits cruising speeds of up to 300 mph, or almost two times the speed of conventional high-speed rail service. Because of its high speed, Maglev offers competitive trip-time savings to auto and aviation modes in the 40- to 600-mile travel marketsan ideal travel option for the 21st century.
Both the Pennsylvania and Baltimore-Washington plans utilize maglev technology developed by Transrapid International. The German design is based on a conventional non-superconductingelectromagnetic/attractive magnetic configuration, and has received extensive testing at a full-scale test track in Emsland, Germany. The latest design represents over 20 years of design evolution and 15 years' testing of full-scale Transrapid prototypes, including safety certification by the German government for passenger-carrying revenue service at speeds of 250 mph or higher.
Highlights of the Transrapid system are:
The Transrapid is suitable for transporting goods as well. For high-speed cargo transport, special cargo sections can be combined with passenger sections or assembled to form dedicated cargo trains (payload up to 18 tons per section). As the propulsion system is in the guideway, neither the length of the vehicle nor the payload affect the acceleration power.
If you would like more information about Maglev, visit the Transrapid International website or Maglev of Pennsylvania or the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project
James F. Woodward: Mach's Principle Weight Reduction = Propellantless Propulsion
If Dick Gophart is still alive, he will be.
Only if he/she votes Democrat.</>
think i've heard this song before, mostly from the medical science community..... or Jerry Lewis.
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