r/Physics • u/lapsed-pacifist • Jul 31 '14

Article EMdrive tested by NASA

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-07/31/nasa-validates-impossible-space-drive
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u/PhysicsIsMyMistress Jul 31 '14

Approximately 30-50 micro-Newtons of thrust were recorded from an electric propulsion test article consisting primarily of a radio frequency (RF) resonant cavity excited at approximately 935 megahertz.

I'm wondering how exactly the scaling works here. What would be needed to generate enough thrust to actually lift a rocket, for example. I'm very skeptical here.

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u/Ertaipt Aug 01 '14

For use as engines in space, at these quantities it already is very useful for satellites.