Related papers: Assessing Hypothetical Gravity Control Propulsion
In 2008 a group of NASA scientists reported an anomalous change in the speed of six spacecraft flybys of the Earth. The reported speed change for the NEAR spacecraft flyby is 13.46+-0.01 mm/s. It is known that general relativity theory…
The origin of fuel cell technology has a notable connection to the history of spaceflight, having been used in remarkable programs such as Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle. With the constant growth of the electric propulsion technology…
A new electrostatic ramjet space engine is proposed and analyzed. The upper atmosphere (85 -1000 km) is extremely dense in ions (millions per cubic cm). The interplanetary medium contains positive protons from the solar wind. A charged ball…
Current spacecraft mass are mostly fuel, this is dictated by the lack of fueling stations in space and also by the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation which defines the mass ratio needed to escape earths gravity. The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation…
We present gravitation as a theory in which the coordinates are distances and velocities between galaxies. We show that there are three possibilities for the Universe to expand: decelerating, constant and accelerating, and it is shown that…
We review the state of the art of f(R) theories of gravity (in their various formulations), which have been proposed as an explanation of the cosmic acceleration alternative to dark energy. The successes of f(R) gravity are discussed,…
We consider how the trajectory of an interstellar precursor mission would be affected by the gravity of the Sun in Newtonian and Milgromian dynamics (MOND). The Solar gravity is ${\approx 50\%}$ stronger in MOND beyond a distance of…
Many rocky exoplanets are heavier and larger than the Earth, and have higher surface gravity. This makes space-flight on these worlds very challenging, because the required fuel mass for a given payload is an exponential function of…
To evaluate a potential usually one analyzes trajectories of test particles. For the Galactic Center case astronomers use bright stars or photons, so there are two basic observational techniques to investigate a gravitational potential,…
The Standard Model of particle Physics has been validated to extraordinarily high precision by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Yet it leaves some of the most fundamental questions in Physics unresolved: the nature of dark matter, the…
Space mission design places a premium on cost and operational efficiency. The search for new science and life beyond Earth calls for spacecraft that can deliver scientific payloads to geologically rich yet hazardous landing sites. At the…
Placing satellites in geostationary obital (GEO) is propellant exigeant. It requires large propellant consumption that will take a large part of the total mass. Hence the interest is reduce the mass of propellant loaded both in the rocket…
We calculate ab initio the gravitational potential energy per unit area for a gravitationally coupled multi-component galactic disk of stars and gas, which is given as the integration over vertical density distribution, vertical…
Low-thrust trajectories play a crucial role in optimizing scientific output and cost efficiency in asteroid belt missions. Unlike high-thrust transfers, low-thrust trajectories require solving complex optimal control problems. This…
The power of blazar jets rivals the power that gravity can extract from accreting matter. The mechanism launching and accelerating jets can be considered as the most efficient engine operating in radio--loud sources. It is still a matter of…
Discoveries in the last few years have revolutionized our knowledge of the universe and our ideas of its ultimate fate. Measurements of the expansion of the universe show that it is not slowing down under normal gravity but accelerating due…
The trajectory of a spherical object which falls freely in a gravitational field is fixed by its initial position and velocity. However, an object which can control its shape can also control its motion: Except where forbidden by symmetries…
In this paper we review a part of the approaches that have been considered to explain the extraordinary discovery of the late time acceleration of the Universe. We discuss the arguments that have led physicists and astronomers to accept…
How important are gravitational and relativistic effects for interstellar travel? We consider this question in the context of proposed laser-propelled spacecraft missions to neighboring stellar destinations. Our analysis applies to any…
Estimates on different scales of the power of relativistic bulk motion in extragalactic and galactic jets are presented. The power in the jets and the power produced by the accretion disk are found to be roughly equal. This may suggest an…