EM Drive

[mattrick]

NASA has recently been working on a project that allows propulsion with the use of electromagnetic radiation. Instead of using fuel, it converts electricity to electromagnetic waves with can produce a tiny amount of force. I'm not going to get into specifics, but you can read more here.

I think that adding EM Drives of different powers could be useful for long distance space travel and small changes in maneuvers. There is plenty of information and pictures in the article I linked, to help visualize it.

Though this technology is still experimental, it has been proven to produce force multiple times by multiple parties, so I think that it should be added.

Thank you

[Patrick Kerbivan]

I'm familiar with the EM drive and for real-world spaceflight it's a very exciting possibility, but I don't think it would play well in KSP because of the burn lengths that would be involved. Every discussion I've read about applications of the EM drive are talking about how its potential comes from the ability to run it constantly through a mission, propelling towards the destination for the first half then slowing down again for the second. With the mechanics of KSP as they are you'd have to run all your missions in real-time...

[sumghai]

NASA may have conducted a few preliminary experiments, but the results are far too inconclusive to immediately declare them as a viable means of spacecraft propulsion.

I would personally prefer that EM Drives not be included in KSP until they have already seen substantial use in real-life applications.

[Frozen_Heart]

Ok first thing is we don't even know whether it is real of an experiment error. That would need to be validated before being added to KSP.

Second thing is... where is the fun in an engine several times more powerful than the ion engine, less energy intensive, doesn't need fuel, and has infinite dV? Yes in the real world that is cool but in KSP is essentially god mode.

[Nansuchao]

Not less energy intennse, it needs more and more and MOAR energy. we're talking about GW of power...

[Frozen_Heart]

Not less energy intennse, it needs more and more and MOAR energy. we're talking about GW of power...

The current test runs are producing several times more thrust than an ion drive per watt. (I still reckon they're errors though)

[Nansuchao]

Yes, it works on a different principle than the Ion. They only have in common the need of energy, but nothing else. Ion engines arte good just for probes, Quantum Vacuum Thruster, if we'll find a way to feed it with enough energy, will be good for manned missions too.