The Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project (BPP) was a research project funded by NASA from 1996 to 2002 to study various proposals for revolutionary methods of spacecraft propulsion that would require breakthroughs in physics before they could be realized. The project ended in 2002, when the Advanced Space Transportation Program was reorganized and all speculative research (less than Technology readiness level 3) was cancelled.
Non-viable approaches
One in-house experiment tested the Schlicher thruster antenna, claimed by Schlicher to generate thrust. No thrust was observed.
Another experiment examined a gravity shielding mechanism claimed by Podkletnov and Nieminen. Experimental investigation on the BPPP and other experiments found no evidence of the effect. of inducing transient inertia by electromagnetic fields. The small effect could not be confirmed. Woodward continued refining the experiments and theory. Independent experiments also remained inconclusive. which may ultimately be useful for propulsion, was sought in experiments. The experiments were insufficient to resolve the question.
The Casimir effect was investigated experimentally and analytically under the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics project. This included the construction of MicroElectroMechanical
(MEM) rectangular Casimir cavities. Theoretical work showed that the effect could be used to create net forces, although the forces would be extremely small. At the conclusion of the project, the Casimir effect was categorized as an avenue for future research. providing a deeper explanation of several propulsion methods.
Tau Zero Foundation
Following program cancellation in 2002, program manager Marc G. Millis and others, such as Paul Gilster (aerospace chronist and author of the website and book Centauri Dreams: Imagining and Planning for Interstellar Flight, 2004), founded the Tau Zero Foundation.
See also
- Field propulsion
- Wormhole