Gravity Shielding Still Science Fiction, Boeing Says
By Jim Banke
Senior Producer,
Cape Canaveral Bureau
posted: 02:25 pm ET
31 July 2002
source:www.space.com
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Artificial gravity on spaceships and rockets levitating themselves into orbit will remain the stuff of science fiction for some time to come, despite recent reports in Europe that researchers with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing are working on the concept.
According to a report by Nick Cook of Jane's Defense World (JDW) -- published this week in Europe -- Boeing Phantom Works scientists admitted they were working on experimental anti-gravity projects that could change the way humanity moves around the planet.
More Stories
Twin Spacecraft Launched on Mission to Measure Earth's Gravity
New Study: Quantum Leap in Understanding Gravity
Dark Energy: Astronomers Still 'Clueless' About Mystery Force Pushing Galaxies Apart
Researchers to Use Satellite Duo to Measure Earth's Gravity Field
NASA's Controversial Gravity Shield Experiment Fails to Produce
Jane's quoted from a Boeing document entitled "Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion" (GRASP) it had obtained that said "If gravity modification is real, it will alter the entire aerospace business."
The document also said, according to the report, that Boeing was actively seeking out the collaboration of Evgeny Podkletnov, a Russian scientist well known among gravity researchers who has experimented with the technology in Russia and Finland.
Almost true, Boeing told SPACE.com Wednesday in a prepared statement.
"We are aware of Podkletnov's work on 'anti-gravity' devices and would be interested in seeing further development work being done. However, Boeing is not funding any activities in this area at this time," the statement said.
"The recent report that we are is based on a misinterpretation of information. For instance, GRASP is not a codename for a current project but rather an acronym for a presentation entitled "Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion," in which a Boeing engineer explains Podkletnov's theory and proposes that we should continue to monitor this work and perhaps even conduct some low-cost experiments to further assess its plausibility. No steps have been taken beyond this point by Boeing."
According to Cook's report, the GRASP document made these observations about Podkletnov's work:
* An anti-gravity beam four inches (10 centimeters) wide has been demonstrated in Russia, successfully repelling objects more than a half-mile (1 kilometer) away with negligible power loss.
* Such technology could be engineered into a new weapons system capable of vaporizing objects.
* Objects placed over a rapidly spinning disc of superconducting material lost up to 2 percent of its weight, a feat NASA was unable to replicate during the 1990s but plans to try again soon using hardware built to Podkletnov’s specifications.
The Boeing paper also states that "classified activities in gravity modification may exist" and that Podkletnov is against the military use of this technology, according to the report by Cook.
By Jim Banke
Senior Producer,
Cape Canaveral Bureau
posted: 02:25 pm ET
31 July 2002
source:www.space.com
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Artificial gravity on spaceships and rockets levitating themselves into orbit will remain the stuff of science fiction for some time to come, despite recent reports in Europe that researchers with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing are working on the concept.
According to a report by Nick Cook of Jane's Defense World (JDW) -- published this week in Europe -- Boeing Phantom Works scientists admitted they were working on experimental anti-gravity projects that could change the way humanity moves around the planet.
More Stories
Twin Spacecraft Launched on Mission to Measure Earth's Gravity
New Study: Quantum Leap in Understanding Gravity
Dark Energy: Astronomers Still 'Clueless' About Mystery Force Pushing Galaxies Apart
Researchers to Use Satellite Duo to Measure Earth's Gravity Field
NASA's Controversial Gravity Shield Experiment Fails to Produce
Jane's quoted from a Boeing document entitled "Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion" (GRASP) it had obtained that said "If gravity modification is real, it will alter the entire aerospace business."
The document also said, according to the report, that Boeing was actively seeking out the collaboration of Evgeny Podkletnov, a Russian scientist well known among gravity researchers who has experimented with the technology in Russia and Finland.
Almost true, Boeing told SPACE.com Wednesday in a prepared statement.
"We are aware of Podkletnov's work on 'anti-gravity' devices and would be interested in seeing further development work being done. However, Boeing is not funding any activities in this area at this time," the statement said.
"The recent report that we are is based on a misinterpretation of information. For instance, GRASP is not a codename for a current project but rather an acronym for a presentation entitled "Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion," in which a Boeing engineer explains Podkletnov's theory and proposes that we should continue to monitor this work and perhaps even conduct some low-cost experiments to further assess its plausibility. No steps have been taken beyond this point by Boeing."
According to Cook's report, the GRASP document made these observations about Podkletnov's work:
* An anti-gravity beam four inches (10 centimeters) wide has been demonstrated in Russia, successfully repelling objects more than a half-mile (1 kilometer) away with negligible power loss.
* Such technology could be engineered into a new weapons system capable of vaporizing objects.
* Objects placed over a rapidly spinning disc of superconducting material lost up to 2 percent of its weight, a feat NASA was unable to replicate during the 1990s but plans to try again soon using hardware built to Podkletnov’s specifications.
The Boeing paper also states that "classified activities in gravity modification may exist" and that Podkletnov is against the military use of this technology, according to the report by Cook.