The foundation of Space Technology and Application is driven by Engineering. However, Engineers can only use the physics that is laid before them. Of all the physical properties available to engineers, the physics of energy-momentum transfer or propulsion is the limiting factor in what can be accomplished in space. Current propulsion systems are based on 300 year old Newtonian Physics. This drives most earth-to-orbit space transfer systems to discard 80% to 90% (or more) of its mass. This mass, mainly the propulsion system and its related subsystems, together with the ground support of these systems drive the bulk of the $$ spent to get to space. Therefore one would think that finding new physical properties within our current understanding or through new insights into the physics related to energy-momentum transfer would be of main interest to the space engineering community.  Generally (with some limited exceptions), this has not been the case over the history of space exploration.

The Problem:

 

Around 100 year ago, Einstein and Quantum physics was derived. However, with the exception of Nuclear Propulsion (a safe but perceived public danger) and photon rockets (too low a thrust to be practical), no new physics of energy momentum-transfer have arisen from Einstein and Quantum physics capable of use by the space engineering communities. The easy explanation for why, is that Einstein and Quantum physics were developed about the same time and took separate paths. Einstein physics has become the physics of the large scale (Cosmology and Astrophysics) while Quantum physics has become the physics of the very small (Electronics, Superconductivity, and High Energy Particle Physics). Betweens these two are found (for the most part) the applied engineering fields that drive our technology developments. That is, a separation of the physics communities exist; between which may reside new physics of energy momentum-transfer.  However, this arena is dominated by engineering not science.

 

Engineering program managers rely on the science community to determine where to focus their limited funding in the basic research areas toward technology development. However, this separation of the science communities has resulted in basic propulsion research to be non existence in the space engineering communities and practically non existence in the science communities, what is, is most often viewed as junk science.

 

We acknowledge that exceptions to this maybe in black box programs that are unknown to us or the public and will most cases likely never be known. For example read: Embracing junk science: Imaginary Weapons: A Journey Through the Pentagon's Scientific Underworld, by Sharon Weinberger.

The Coming Change:

 

Our knowledge of physics changes with time. For example, ten years ago (in 1998), the concept of dark matter and dark energy was proven by the Cosmological community to be drivers in the acceleration of the universe and is now an accepted science of study in Cosmology, Astrophysics and High Energy Particle physics. Further string theory and its siblings are arising to explain such new phenomena giving more evidence to the changing science communities. Therefore, Einstein and Quantum physics are beginning to merge toward a more unified theory of physics. However, this may take many more decades before a clear understanding is accomplished.

 Integration:

 

Progress toward a real solution for new physics of energy-momentum transfer and new propulsion models requires an integration of the sciences. The above shows that space sciences from Einstein and Quantum physics to String and other theories are developing new theories and concepts toward our understanding of the physical Universe. These new theories and concepts provide the basis for basic research in space propulsion.

 

Further, the development of concepts for basic propulsion research also suffers from a lack of integration into the energy community, with some limited exception in nuclear (fission & fusion) and Magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), programs that come and go with no real progress toward a new solution. The energy community is flooded with new and modified energy concepts. Can these be integrated into viable energy-momentum transfer systems or into other space applications?  Probably, but without direct knowledge and support of the space engineering community, it will take decades before such concepts find their way into space applications.

 

For mankind to advance the physics of energy-momentum transfer or propulsion, the science and engineering communities must be integrated to some degree that allows for the rapid transfer of knowledge. Just because theories and concepts fall on deaf ears in one field of science does not mean it is useless in another. Such idealisms that place the burden of knowledge holder on a given science or engineering fields forbids process in other fields unless such is researched in all or has been acceptably done so in one. Under such practices, it could be more than 100 yrs before the engineering communities steps up to acknowledge the current developing theories and concepts.

 

The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Space, Propulsion and Energy Sciences wishes to be the foundation of this integration.