T h e B lack Vault The Black Vault is the larges t o n l ine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military. Discover the Truth a t : h t tp://www.theblackvault.com This document is made av a i l a b l e through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 Advanced Propulsion Study Eric W. Davis Warp Drive Metrics 4849 San Rafael Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89120 September 2004 Special Report APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED. AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA 93524-7048 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Advanced Propulsion Study 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER Eric W. Davis 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT Warp Drive Metrics 4849 San Rafael Ave. Las Vegas NV 89120 9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITORS ACRONYM(S) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFMC) 11. SPONSOR/MONITORS REPORT 10 E. Saturn Blvd. Edwards AFB CA 93524-7680 AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2004-0024 12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES Prepared for ERC Purchase Order #RP030157 14. ABSTRACT This study was tasked with the purpose of conducting a thorough literature and program search to carry out and document a technical assessment of the latest concepts in science and engineering that show promise of leading to a major advance in Earth-to-orbit (ETO) propulsion. The study also reviewed and evaluated a select number of credible far-term breakthrough propulsion physics concepts pertaining to R&D work done on or related to gravity/inertia modification, spacetime metric modification, and the extraction of energy from the space vacuum environment. The results of the study are presented and summarized in this report. A combined bibliography of advanced propulsion references was assembled and is presented. The report includes an overview of the recent history and present state-of-the-art of ETO launch vehicle and propulsion concepts. Also included is an outline and summary of the criteria and operative guidelines that the author used to examine, select and recommend advanced propulsion concepts. The author identified and selected five promising advanced propulsion concepts, and provides a detailed technical evaluation of their breakthrough potential for ETO propulsion. 15. SUBJECT TERMS propulsion; earth-to-orbit; ETO; propulsion physics; gravity/inertia modification; spacetime metric; space vacuum; propulsion; launch vehicle 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON Franklin B. Mead, Jr. Unclassified b. ABSTRACT Unclassified c. THIS PAGE Unclassified 19b. TELEPHONE NO (include area code) Standard Form 298 Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239.18 When U.S. Government drawings, specifications, or other data are used for any purpose other than a definitely related Government procurement operation, the fact that the Government may have formulated, furnished, or in any way supplied the said drawings, specifications, or other data, is not to be regarded by implication or otherwise, or in any way licensing the holder or any other person or corporation, or conveying any rights or permission to manufacture, use or sell any patented invention that may be related thereto. This special technical report, entitled Advanced Propulsion Study, presents the results of an in-house study performed under JON 48470159 by AFRL/PRSP, Edwards AFB CA. The Principal Investigator/Project Manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory was Dr. Frank Mead. This report has been reviewed and is approved for release and distribution in accordance with the distribution statement on the cover and on the SF Form 298. FRANKLIN B. MEAD, JR. RONALD CHANNELL Project Manager Chief Propellants Branch PHILIP A. KESSEL RANNEY G. ADAMS, III Technical Advisor Public Affairs Director Space & Missile Division This Page Intentionally Left Blank Table of Contents 3.3 Beamed-Power Propulsion: Laser and Microwave Rockets............................................. 28 4.4 The Walker Aerospace Commission Policy Recommendations....................................... 69 List of Figures Figure No. Page No. Figure 3. The proposed Delta Clipper X-33 Entry (courtesy of P. March, LMCO) .................................. 6 Figure 5. The Blast-Wave Accelerator can launch payloads into space or deliver weapons anywhere on Figure 7. The RF-Powered Lenticular Craft Ascending to Orbit (from www.Space.com)..................... 30 Figure 8. Lightcraft During Launch (from www.Space.com Figure 10. Cross-Sectional View of Laser Lightcraft Model 200-3/4 (Larson et al., 2002) .................... 33 Figure 12. Lightcraft Flight-Test Vehicle used in Horizontal Guide-Wire Flight Tests (from www.Space.com Figure 13. Lightcraft Undergoing Horizontal Guide-Wire Flight Test (From www.Space.Com) .......... 36 Figure 14. Time-Lapse Photo Of A Lightcraft Undergoing An Outdoor Vertical Flight Test Figure 15. Lightcraft Undergoing Indoor Vertical Flight Test (From www.Space.Com Figure 16. Several Lightcraft Flight-Test Vehicles (From www.Space.com Figure 17. The IEC Concept: Ion Acceleration By Electron-Injection-Driven Negative Potential Well Maintained In Polyhedral Magnetic Field (Bussard and Jameson, 1995)................................................ 43 Figure 18. The IEC Fusion Direct Energy Converter Device: Fusion Reaction Ions Are Acceleration By Electron-Injection-Driven Negative Potential Well Maintained In Polyhedral Magnetic Field.............. 44 Figure 20. Experimental IEC Device Operating In The Star Mode at the University of Illinois Fusion Figure 21. Schematic Of A Complete QED/ARC IEC Rocket Engine System....................................... 46 Figure 22. QED/ARC IEC SSTO Reusable Winged Launch Vehicle Or Future Air Force Figure 23. Schematic of the LANTR Concept (from www.islandone.org/APC) .................................... 51 Figure 24. Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter (March, 2001) ....................................... 55 Figure 25. Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter (March, 2001) ....................................... 55 Figure 26. Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter (March, 2001) ....................................... 56 Figure 27. Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter (March, 2001) ....................................... 56 Figure 28. Nuclear DC-X/LANTR SSTO Heavy Cargo Lifter (March, 2001) ....................................... 57 Figure 30. Embedding Diagram For A Traversable Wormhole That Connects Two Figure 31. Realistic Illustration Of A Traversable Wormhole With A Flat Entry/Exit, Which Is Essentially A True Stargate Or Flat Doorway Or Portal Through Spacetime ..................................... 66 Figure 32. Embedding Diagram For A Traversable Wormhole That Connects Figure 33. Generator Of A Dipole Repulsive Gravity (Antigravity) Field (G) Through The Center Of ABM Anti-Ballistic Missile Al Aluminum Am Americium Am-241 Americium-241 Isotope Am-242m Americium-242m Isotope AFB Air Force Base AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory Magnetic Field Strength BMDO Ballistic Missile Defense Organization BPP Breakthrough Propulsion Physics CIPA California Institute for Physics and Astrophysics CONUS Continental United States Carbon Dioxide Cu Curium D Deuterium DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DC Direct Current DC-X Delta Clipper-Experimental DC-XA Delta Clipper-Experimental Adv