This engine breaks a law of physics – but a NASA test says it works anyway

EM drive – thrust without exhaust
Credit: NASA

Newton’s third law of motion is popularly expressed as, “For every action, there is an equal & opposite reaction.” Existing rocket engines demonstrate this law – the force expressed as the high velocity ejection of exhaust from the rear, has as its, “equal & opposite reaction”, the forward motion of the rocket engine, plus any attached space vehicle.

Equally, Newton’s third law also implies that a space vehicle without an exhaust can’t produce propulsion. Which is what makes a series of experiments at NASA facilities which began over 2 years ago, remarkable – an experimental EM drive appears to have produced thrust without an exhaust!

National Geographic
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/nasa-impossible-emdrive-physics-peer-review-space-science/

The Age
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/this-rocket-engine-breaks-a-law-of-physics-but-a-nasa-test-says-it-works-anyway-20161122-gsvc0w.html

NASA – “Evaluating NASA’s Futuristic EM Drive”
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/evaluating-nasas-futuristic-em-drive/ / NASA team impossible space engine works the facts scientists published paper controversial EmDrive Em Drive produces thrust defies known laws of physics prototype EmDrive test chamber NASA lab years of speculation maverick research team NASA’s Johnson Space Center team formally published experimental evidence electromagnetic propulsion system power spacecraft without using any kind of propellant team electromagnetic drive EmDrive Em Drive converts electricity into thrust bouncing around microwaves closed cavity theory lightweight engine spacecraft Mars EmDrive defies the laws of classical physics team claims scientists aren’t sure how the thing actually works reports engine skeptic skeptics skepticism physicists EmDrive Em Drive Em-Drive pseudoscience level of scrutiny independent scientists suggests EmDrive really does work revolution space travel impossible spaceship engine British scientist Roger Shawyer developed tested engineers NASA’s Advanced Propulsion Physics Research Laboratory Eagleworks Eagleworks EmDrive generates thrust bouncing around electromagnetic energy microwave photons closed cone-shaped chamber photons collide chamber’s walls propel the device forward nothing is released from the chamber ion drives NASA spacecraft create thrust ionizing propellant xenon gas shooting out beams of charged atoms EmDrive Em Drive Em-Drive scrutiny future vehicles hurtle through space without needing to carry literal tons of propellant space travel staying light crucial for fast and cost-effective trips over long distances /