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Advanced Propulsion Study This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: The Black Vault The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military. Discover the Truth at: http://www.theblackvault.com DTIC Copy AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 Advanced Propulsion Study Eric W. Davis Warp Drive Metrics 4849 San Rafael Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89120 September 2004 Special Report APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA 93524-7048 Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 04-02-2004 Special 01 Mar 2003 – 28 Feb 2004 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER F04611-99-C-0025 Advanced Propulsion Study 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 62500F 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 4847 Eric W. Davis 5e. TASK NUMBER 0159 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 549907 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO. Warp Drive Metrics 4849 San Rafael Ave. Las Vegas NV 89120 9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFMC) XC AFRL/PRSP 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT 10 E. Saturn Blvd. NUMBER(S) Edwards AFB CA 93524-7680 AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Prepared for ERC Purchase Order #RP030157 14. ABSTRACT This study was tasked with the purpose of conducting a thorough literature and program search to carry out and document a technical assessment of the latest concepts in science and engineering that show promise of leading to a major advance in Earth-to-orbit (ETO) propulsion. The study also reviewed and evaluated a select number of credible far-term breakthrough propulsion physics concepts pertaining to R&D work done on or related to gravity/inertia modification, spacetime metric modification, and the extraction of energy from the space vacuum environment. The results of the study are presented and summarized in this report. A combined bibliography of advanced propulsion references was assembled and is presented. The report includes an overview of the recent history and present state-of-the-art of ETO launch vehicle and propulsion concepts. Also included is an outline and summary of the criteria and operative guidelines that the author used to examine, select and recommend advanced propulsion concepts. The author identified and selected five promising advanced propulsion concepts, and provides a detailed technical evaluation of their breakthrough potential for ETO propulsion. 15. SUBJECT TERMS propulsion; earth-to-orbit; ETO; propulsion physics; gravity/inertia modification; spacetime metric; space vacuum; advanced propulsion; launch vehicle 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON Franklin B. Mead, Jr. a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE 19b. TELEPHONE NO A 103 (include area code) Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified (661) 275-5929 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239.18 NOTICE When U.S. Government drawings, specifications, or other data are used for any purpose other than a definitely related Government procurement operation, the fact that the Government may have formulated, furnished, or in any way supplied the said drawings, specifications, or other data, is not to be regarded by implication or otherwise, or in any way licensing the holder or any other person or corporation, or conveying any rights or permission to manufacture, use or sell any patented invention that may be related thereto. FOREWORD This special technical report, entitled “Advanced Propulsion Study,” presents the results of an in-house study performed under JON 48470159 by AFRL/PRSP, Edwards AFB CA. The Principal Investigator/Project Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory was Dr. Frank Mead. This report has been reviewed and is approved for release and distribution in accordance with the distribution statement on the cover and on the SF Form 298. _____/S/_______________________ ________/S/___________________ FRANKLIN B. MEAD, JR. RONALD CHANNELL Project Manager Chief Propellants Branch /S/ /S/ PHILIP A. KESSEL RANNEY G. ADAMS, III Technical Advisor Public Affairs Director Space & Missile Division This Page Intentionally Left Blank Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Present-Day Earth-to-Orbit Transportation – The Facts............................................................... 1 1.2 The Birth and Death ofSolutions ..................................................................................................2 1.3 The Advanced Concepts Philosophy............................................................................................ 6 Chapter 2 – The Classes of Advanced Propulsion Concepts ...................................................................... 10 2.1 Relay Space Transportation............................................................................................................ 10 2.1.1 Aircraft-Rocket Relay....................................................................................................... 10 2.1.2 Projectile-Rocket Relay.................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Gunsling Relay................................................................................................................. 10 2.1.4 Coilgun-Laser Relay ......................................................................................................... 11 2.1.5 Moon-Earth Momentum Exchange................................................................................... 11 2.2 Suborbital Space Transportation .................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Orbital Space Transportation.......................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Orbiting Diamagnetic Particles......................................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Orbital Slings .................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Orbital or Space Elevator.................................................................................................. 13 2.3.4 Orbital Ring ...................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.5 Orbital Coilgun ................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.6 Rotating Orbital Pipe ........................................................................................................ 15 2.3.7 Electrotube........................................................................................................................ 15 2.3.8 Electrowheel ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.9 Orbital Loop...................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.10 Skyhook ............................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.11 Sling on Tower.................................................................................................................. 17 2.4 Terrestrial Space Transportation .................................................................................................... 18 2.4.1 Electrothermal Ramjet ...................................................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Explosive Accelerators. .................................................................................................... 19 2.4.3 One- and Two-Stage Light Gas Guns............................................................................... 19 2.4.4 Vortex Gun ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.5
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