lasersTen times faster lithium ion thrusters will be tested at JPL within 6 months

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
50000 ISP lithium ion thrusters will be tested at JPL within 6 months. NASA NIAC phase 2 study to use lasers to beam 10 megawatts of power to power new ion drives. This will enable a system to go ten …
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mach effectMach Effect Propulsion at 60 millinewtons per kilowatt which is matches Hall ion thruster

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
Refinement of the Mach Effect Propulsion using brass separation from the reaction mass has improved the thrust by about 65 times up to 60 millinewtons per kilowatt. This would be competitive with the best Hall ion thrusters if there is …
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antimatterPositron Antimatter catalyzed fusion propulsion

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
We can produce very little antimatter and what we make is very difficult to store. These have been huge obstacles that have made antimatter propulsion many trillions of times beyond technological capabilities. Positron Dynamics and Ryan Weed get around these …
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laserDiffracted solar sail

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
There is a NASA NIAC study to improved laser pushed sails with advanced diffracted solar sail. Advanced diffractive films may afford advantages over passive reflective surfaces for a variety space missions that use solar or laser in-space propulsion. Three cases …
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nasaCombined photon and particle beam for self-focusing propulsion beam

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
There has been NASA development of laser (photon) beamed propulsion and particle beam propulsion. Both have scattering and focusing issues at long distances. They are looking at optimal cooling and other issues. There is a NIAC study of having particles …
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nasaNew NASA Prize for Venus Rover

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
NASA is continuing its use of prizes and challenges to more rapidly advance technology. They have a new prize to enable a key part of a Venus rover. This will be first of several challenges and prizes for the Venus …
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futureNASA NIAC highlight reel and 2018 symposium livestream started

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
Video highlights of technology that has been explored by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program. The first picture below is not Advanced propulsion. It shows a missile with holes in the front. It can be fired into an asteroid and …
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futureTurbolift could reduce health problems of weightlessness or low gravity

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
A new artificial gravity concept could help astronauts endure long-duration missions in the near-weightless environment of space. NASA 360 takes a look at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) known as Turbolift, a new approach to artificial gravity. This system …
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climate changeEliminating 1.7 billion tons of CO2 per year with electrified steelmaking

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
Boston Metal has developed technology to electrify steelmaking and this could reduce CO2 emissions by 5%. They would use an electrolytic cell instead of a blast furnace. It would use electricity—rather than carbon—to process raw iron ore. In steelmaking today, …
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economyResolving the Trade War via the World Trade Organization and Europe

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September 25, 2018 | brian wang |
 
The trade war is ramping to higher levels. President Trump’s new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods start on Monday, and he has threatened more. China had already retaliated with tariffs of its own. China has canceled high-level …
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