Field propulsion is a term encompassing several concepts of proposed and theoretical spacecraft propulsion systems that allow spacecraft to move without expelling propellant, but instead momentum and propulsion of the spacecraft is changed by interaction of the craft with external fields, such as magnetic and gravitational fields.[1] In effect, where current modern spacecraft generate motion by forcefully expelling matter, a field propulsion system may instead move the craft by causing external effects to forcefully manipulate the craft. Two methods have been claimed to have achieved successful proof of concept, which are electrohydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics. Other proposed theoretical methods include technologies like the Woodward effect, Alcubierre drives, and quantum vacuum propulsion. Such ideas often stem from theoretical physics and are influenced by concepts in general relativity, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.[2][3][4][5][6]
Choueiri Field Propulsion history Princeton 2012-05-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).NASA Field Resonance Propulsion Concept 1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).NASA beam energy field propulsion concepts 1983 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Minami Acta Astronautica 2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Gelbwaser-Klimovsky et al Field Propulsion April 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Froning Roach Field Propulsion AIAA April 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).