Egyptian Teenager Invents New Space Propulsion System Based On Quantum Physics
40 replies, posted
[img]http://www.worldbriefing.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AishaMustafa.jpg[/img]
[quote]
Remember the name, because you might see it again: Aisha Mustafa, a 19-year-old Egyptian physics student, patented a new type of propulsion system for spacecraft that uses cutting edge quantum physics instead of thrusters.
First, a little background: One of the strange quantum facts at work in Mustafa's engine idea is that there's no such thing as a vacuum, devoid of particles, waves, and energy. Instead the universe's supposedly empty spaces are filled with a roiling sea of particles and anti-particles that pop into existence, then annihilate each other in such a short space of time that you can't readily detect them.
Mustafa invented a way of tapping this quantum effect via what's known as the dynamic Casimir effect. This uses a "moving mirror" cavity, where two very reflective very flat plates are held close together, and then moved slightly to interact with the quantum particle sea. It's horribly technical, but the end result is that Mustafa's use of shaped silicon plates similar to those used in solar power cells results in a net force being delivered. A force, of course, means a push or a pull and in space this equates to a drive or engine.
In terms of space propulsion, this is amazing. Most forms of spacecraft rely on the rocket principle to work: Some fuel is made energetic and then thrust out of an engine, pushing the rocket forward. It's tricky stuff to get right, particularly on Earth, which is why we shouldn't be surprised SpaceX's recent launch stopped at the critical moment due to a problem with one of its chemical rocket engines. For in-space maneuvering, many different types of rocket are used, but even exotic ones like ion drives (shown in a NASA image above) need fuel. The only space drive that doesn't involve hauling fuel and complex systems into orbit is a solar sail. And Mustafa's invention can, rudimentarily, be compared to a solar sail...because it doesn't need "fuel" as such, and exerts just the tiniest push compared to the thundery flames of SpaceX's rockets. It's potential is enormous--because of its mechanical simplicity and reliability it could make satellite propulsion lighter, cheaper, and thus indirectly lower the cost of space missions of all sorts.
And if you want proof that the tiniest of pushes can propel a spacecraft, check this out: Two Pioneer space probes, launched in the 1970s, are the farthest manmade objects from Earth...but they're not as far away as they should be. Over the course of a year they deviate by hundreds of kilometers from where all our science says they must be in orbit, and it's been found that it's down to the tiniest of pushes coming from radiators on-board that radiate heat waves out slghtly more in one direction than another.
Aisha's invention is so promising that her university's staff aided with a patent application. She intends to study the design further in the hope of testing it out for real in space, but as the OnIslam.net site points out she notes that there's no funding for a department of space science and this prevents important research being carried out in strife-ridden Egypt.[/quote]
[url]http://www.fastcompany.com/1837966/mustafas-space-drive-an-egyptian-students-quantum-physics-invention[/url]
damn
It seems like it would be better used as a rudder of sorts. I don't see how moving two flat, reflective surfaces can generate enough propulsion to actually launch spacecraft. I can see how the tech could somehow turn the craft while in space, rather than having them waste fuel turning themselves.
[B]Edit:
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I missed these lines earlier, but they kinda prove my point:
[QUOTE]And Mustafa's invention can, rudimentarily, be compared to a solar sail...because it doesn't need "fuel" as such, and exerts just the tiniest push compared to the thundery flames of SpaceX's rockets. It's potential is enormous--because of its mechanical simplicity and reliability it could make satellite propulsion lighter, cheaper, and thus indirectly lower the cost of space missions of all sorts.[/QUOTE]
I don't understand any of this, but it sounds awesome.
Can anybody find anything about what exactly she actually invented?
The most informative thing linked in this seems to be
[quote]On the contrary, Mustafa’s invention powers space vehicles by benefiting from the electric energy formed by Casimir-polder force which occurs between separate surfaces and objects in a vacuum and by the zero-point energy which is considered to be the lowest state of energy. Mustafa added that she used reflective panels for additional force which looks like photovoltaic solar cells. The invention is related to a hypothetical concept of a jet propulsion called “Differential Sail”, which was theoretically created by NASA’s retired professor Marc G. Millis who led NASA breakthrough propulsion physics project.[/quote] and that sounds confused as fuck
It's not an unknown concept, but it's still pretty cool.
[QUOTE=Glorbo;36130167]It's not an unknown concept, but it's still pretty cool.[/QUOTE]
Which sorta irks me. If it's a known concept, why should anybody get to patent it, all out of sudden?
I am still trying to figure out of her implementation is anyhow special.
From what I understood the Casimir effect isn't new, but its application, using it for this kind of drive, is new.
Egg of Columbus more or less.
Too bad this will be probably never heard of again anyways
This thread will turn into a circlejerk of jealous facepunchers dreaming of being in the position of the egyptian is.
Anyway, hopefully this will lead into inter-stellar travel or someshit.
Wow this could overcome a masisve hurdle for current interstellar travel.
Which is the fact that that the ammount of fuel you need is directly proportional for the distance you want to travel.
More fuel means more mass, which means more trust needed, which means more fuel etc etc.
Though its not unique, other propulsion systems like the ion engine rely electric energy which could be collected via solar panels, or from a nuclear source.
She's not a teen, she is an adult.
[QUOTE=DrogenViech;36130271]Too bad this will be probably never heard of again anyways[/QUOTE]
every goddamn thread
[QUOTE=Mr.T;36130314]This thread will turn into a circlejerk of jealous facepunchers dreaming of being in the position of the egyptian is.
Anyway, hopefully this will lead into inter-stellar travel or someshit.[/QUOTE]
Oh go and build your nuclear reactor.
So it's a minor force being applied outwards with minimal/no cost regarding fuel? Which means it could probably be used for correcting orbits slightly, or prevent orbits from going slightly wonky (the probes that are in a different spot because of heat radiation)?
That's my take on it at least.
[QUOTE=Bigtit;36130539]She's not a teen, she is an adult.[/QUOTE]
nine teen, does it really matter? newspapers will always spin things to make them sound more interesting/readable.
This sounds more like an abstract concept rather than something that will actually exist.
I opened two threads at the same time, and thought I went into the tab with this article. First pictures I saw:
[thumb]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/29/article-2151544-135919A6000005DC-556_964x784.jpg[/thumb]
[thumb]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/29/article-2151544-1359199E000005DC-893_964x721.jpg[/thumb]
:v:
I am not a man of science, and reading the article about the Casimir effect on wikipedia makes my brain hurt
But wont the force go in both directions?
[QUOTE=Twistshock;36130934]So it's a minor force being applied outwards with minimal/no cost regarding fuel? Which means it could probably be used for correcting orbits slightly, or prevent orbits from going slightly wonky (the probes that are in a different spot because of heat radiation)?
That's my take on it at least.[/QUOTE]
That is one application for it yes.
Basically how it's going to work is they will launch objects into space with rockets, but instead of carrying onboard fuel for course adjustment, they will just use this system. It can generate thrust for acceleration, but we're talking long term acceleration. You won't be leaving atmosphere with just this engine.
As for the technicalities of how the engine works, I'm no physics major, but it essentially manipulates the gravity between particles to produce a net thrust. She hasn't patented the science behind it (we already knew it), she has patented the actual workings of the engine system. She is looking to build an applied example, implying she (and others) believe it can work.
Egypt has completed: "SS Booster".
I'm disappointed facepunch, I was at least expecting one '[I][B]Mustafa[/B][/I] gander' pun by now.
But seriously I didn't understand much of what was said but this is awesome.
SCIENCE
I hope it isn't one of those concepts that works in theory but doesn't apply to real world situations.
[QUOTE=Phaselancer;36131309]I hope it isn't one of those concepts that works in theory but doesn't apply to real world situations.[/QUOTE]
She didn't invent shit. I read this in a book literally ten years ago, except there it was used for a superweapon, using two plates with tiny micro-organisms to tap into zero point energy via the casimir effect.
Saying this chick invented this shit is like saying Gene Roddenberry invented space travel.
[QUOTE=gnisasas;36130993]I am not a man of science, and reading the article about the Casimir effect on wikipedia makes my brain hurt[/QUOTE]
To put it plainly; all particles emit waves, and as a commonly used as an example - between two metal plates these waves may only exist in certain interger wavelengths, whereas outside they exist in any. The difference between these wavelengths generates pressure.
[IMG]http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/darpa-casimir-effect-research_1.jpg[/IMG]
This is pretty amazing. You could have satellites who's orbits never degrade, and can be repositioned whenever.
But it's an unpractical solution for space exploration in itself. -.-
Damn.
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