Space exploration could enter a revolutionary era with a propellant-less propulsion system. Traditionally, propellant-based systems are essential to overcome gravity, but they come with limitations in weight and fuel capacity. The idea of a device that can produce thrust without propellant has long been considered a violation of the conservation of momentum, a fundamental law of physics.
A new design by a former NASA engineer aims to join the roster of propellant-less propulsion concepts. The electrostatic drive, presented by Exodus Propulsion Technologies, is claimed to generate sufficient thrust to counteract Earth’s gravity. Such an assertion, while intriguing, demands independent confirmation and critical scrutiny.
The original “impossible drive,” or EmDrive, introduced by Roger Shawyer in 2001, claimed to be reactionless, and after two decades of testing, it was declared unviable in 2021. Nevertheless, the quest for a propellant-less drive persists.
Charles Buhler, previously at NASA’s Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory, is now championing the new drive with Exodus Propulsion Technologies. According to Buhler, their device operates on a “New Force,” purportedly generating sustainable force via electric fields, thus allowing motion without ejecting mass.
While Buhler has made bold claims about this “New Force,” and has presented his work at the Alternative Propulsion Energy Conference, the scientific community remains cautious. His team, which includes members from NASA, Blue Origin, and the Air Force, has evolved their electrostatic prototypes over years, claiming a breakthrough in 2023 that allegedly allows for overcoming gravitational forces.
The world awaits solid evidence to support or refute the functionality of this “New Force” powered drive. Until then, this development remains an exciting, yet unproven, glimpse into what could potentially be a transformative technology for human space travel.
