NASA EM Drive Tests Successful But Downplayed; Moon, Mars Travel Time Shorter with Fuel-free Spacecraft Propulsion?

By Staff Writer

May 25, 2015 08:08 AM EDT

Recent NASA EM Drive tests were reportedly successful enough to once again excite the world with possibilities of shorter travel time to outer space.

Results of tests on a prototype engine system conducted by a NASA Johnson Space Center team indicate a small amount of thrust based on the EM Drive. The EM Drive is an invention by the British that is said to "create thrust without propellant by bouncing microwaves around inside a chamber."

The success of the NASA test has fuelled talk of the agency finally creating a warp drive to propel spacecraft into outer space without the use of fuel with less transit period.

Speculations on the application of the test cover enabling transit vehicles to travel from Earth to the moon with four hours.

More ambitious speculations have space transports going to Mars and other planets.

NASA, however, downplayed the results saying it has not yet created a new fuel-free, faster than light propulsion system.

Space agency officials issued a statement saying, "While conceptual research into novel propulsion methods by a team at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston has created headlines, this is a small effort that has not yet shown any tangible results." "NASA is not working on 'warp drive' technology," the officials added.

NASA officials did admit though they will develop ways to send humans further into space.

According to the statement, "The agency does fund very fundamental research as part of our advanced concepts and innovative investments that push the frontiers of science and engineering. This is part of what NASA does in exploring the unknown, and the agency is committed to and focused on the priorities and investments identified by the NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan. Through these investments, NASA will develop the capabilities necessary to send humans further into space than ever before."

NASA EM Drive development is believed to be the mission of the NASA Eagleworks team.

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