Charles Buehler, former NASA engineer and co-founder of Exodus Propulsion Technologies, has introduced an innovative electrostatic motor that not only has the potential to revolutionize the way spacecraft reach space, but also challenges the laws of physics as we know them, by generating sustained thrust. . Without the need to expel the mass.
The scientist, who has a distinguished career in the field of static electricity, I achieved this achievement after working for the past ten years with a team of specialists Built-in By former members of the US space agency, as well as engineers and scientists from renowned organizations such as Blue Origin and Air Force.
According to statements made by The Debrief website, the innovative engine is Able to generate sufficient thrust to counter the force of Earth's gravityusing exclusively the interaction of electrostatic fields.
The results of the tests conducted between early 2022 and November 2023 were revealing, because The electrostatic motor achieved a rapid thrust climbstarting from a thousandth of gravity to reaching full Earth gravity.
According to Buhler, This achievement confirms “the existence of a fundamental new force.”, based on the ability of electric fields to generate a sustained force on the body. The expert added, “The most important message that must be conveyed to the public is that a great discovery has been made,” stressing that this new force could be the basis for propelling things over the next thousand years.
Let's remember that Conventional propulsion in space exploration relies on chemical ignitionIt is a process that propels ships into space by expelling mass.
Instead, the system developed by Bühler and his team at Exodus is based on “Generating a sustained force on an object“This allows its center of mass to be translated without the need to expel the material,” the expert explained.
This project was presented at the Alternative Propulsion Energy Conference, where it generated great interest because… The new engine opens up a horizon of unprecedented possibilities To explore and colonize space in the future.
Methods used to achieve these results included Build a specialized vacuum chamber This made it possible to accurately measure the thrust generated by the propulsion devices under development.
While the technology used is based on principles where “systems that contain an asymmetry in electrostatic pressure or in some type of varying electrostatic field It can give a system with a center of mass a non-zero force component“Buehler said.
The importance of this discovery lies not only in its ability to revolutionize the field of space propulsion, but Eliminate dependence on traditional fuels It reduces the costs and risks associated with spaceflight, and also challenges the established laws of physics.
Currently, Buehler and his team, who have an extensive resume that includes participation in high-profile programs such as NASA's Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and the Hubble Telescope, continue to lead this paradigm shift. “There are rules that involve energy conservation, but if done correctly, Forces can be generated in a way humanity has never done before“Buhler warned, whowho else I urge other companies interested in this field to cooperate, emphasizing that the specialized knowledge required to develop these technologies is broad and complex, and I state: “The number of experts in the field of static electricity is very limited.”.