Electric Propulsion Study

This document is a final report titled 'Electric Propulsion Study,' prepared by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for the Astronautics Laboratory (AFSC) of the U.S. Air Force. The study, conducted between September 1988 and November 1989, explores the feasibility of using inductive coupling between electromagnetic and gravitational forces for advanced space propulsion. The author, D.L. Cravens, argues that traditional chemical rockets are approaching their theoretical limits and that nonconventional approaches are necessary for future mission advancements. The report reviews various multidimensional theories, specifically focusing on 5-D theories that allow for nonzero coupling between gravity and electrical effects. The theoretical section develops a general relativistic five-dimensional theory, emphasizing modifications to classical Maxwell equations and field vector equations. The report suggests that if such interconversion is possible, the power density available would be ten orders of magnitude beyond nuclear events. The author notes that historical gravitational studies were most fruitful in the 1930s and 1940s, and there is now a slow resurgence in interest. The report evaluates several experimental approaches, including radiation pressure experiments, Biefield-Brown effect studies, conductive submarine experiments, and gravitational rotors. The author recommends the radiation pressure experiment as the most theoretically satisfying and clean approach, while noting that Biefield-Brown effect studies, particularly those by Dr. J. Woodward, are the most direct approach to verifying nonzero coupling. The document also discusses the role of Mach's Principle and vacuum fluctuations in the context of gravity. It concludes that while the theoretical section was complex, the potential for revolutionary propulsion systems justifies further research. The report includes several appendices detailing tensor notation, specific experimental designs, and a review of other theories, including scalar-tensor theories and Finsler geometry. The document is approved for public release with unlimited distribution.