SpaceX launches ‘zero fuel’ engine into space
SpaceX has launched a new type of zero-fuel propulsion system into orbit, which its creators claim will revolutionise the space industry. The Quantum Drive engine, built by US startup IVO Ltd, was fitted on a microsatellite that entered orbit aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 9 mission, which lifted off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. IVO claims that its technology is the world’s first commercially viable pure electric propulsion technology that works in space, drawing “limitless power for propulsion from the Sun”. It relies on a controversial theory called Quantized Inertia (QI) that challenges Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion, with some physicists dismissing the technology as impossible. The QI theory was first proposed in 2007 by physicist Mike McCulloch, who drew on the mysterious properties of quantum mechanics to account for a new understanding of inertia as defined by Newton’s First Law of Motion. IVO chief executive Richard Mansell said his company performed 100 hours of vacuum chamber testing before the launch, during which the quantum drive produced a small amount of thrust. “Deploying Quantum Drive into orbit in a Rogue satellite on SpaceX Transporter 9 is a milestone for the future of space propulsion,” Mansell said. “Quantum Drive’s capability allows Rogue to produce new satellite vehicles with unlimited Delta V.” A pair of Quantum Drives are fitted to the BARRY-1 cubesat, which will take around one month to settle into its orbit before the next-generation propulsion system is activated in an effort to raise the satellites orbit by 100 kilometres. If successful, its creators say it will not only rewrite the critical principles of physics, but also form the foundation for a new era of space travel and exploration. “There are many things that have held back space exploration, one of them of course is power and propulsion,” said Mansell. “IVO’s quantum drive eliminates this propulsion problem by eliminating the fuel. By taking away the fuel, then you have essentially unlimited thrust.” Read More ‘It’s becoming like an airport’: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches
2023-11-17 23:25
Pilot suffers minor injuries in small plane crash in southern Maine
Maine State Police say a 62-year-old pilot suffered minor injuries when his plane crashed less than a mile after taking off from an airport
2023-11-17 23:24
Former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve gets married at Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock
Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve married his partner in the Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock on Thursday night (16 November). The official F1 Las Vegas X/Twitter account confirmed the news on 17 November, sharing photos of the couple, with the caption: “Married in Vegas: F1 style.” A few days before the wedding, F1 also released a short clip of the chapel created inside the circuit featuring the slogan “Race to the Altar”. Couples and race fans can now say “I do” at the chapel through a special wedding package. The space is embellished with racing-themed decorations and the couples that do get a chance to get married there will be presented with a bouquet of roses inspired by racing cars. “Love in the fast lane. Introducing the first-ever #F1 wedding chapel.” the caption in the post said. In another post featured on F1 Las Vegas’s Instagram stories, Villeneuve’s partner Giulia is seen dazzling her guests wearing a classic white gown as she walks down the aisle. The short video also shows the happy couple posing for photos with friends and family members. Former Williams engineer, Jock Clear, was reportedly Villeneuve’s best man for the occasion and the newlyweds enjoyed their moment together as an Elvis impersonator sang ‘Here Comes The Bride.’ Villeneuve won the Formula One World Championship with Williams in 1997. According to Planet F1, the champion made his comeback earlier this year - 17 years on from his final race. Speaking to Planet F1 in an exclusive interview back in February, the champion said: “I’ve never been retired!” “So it’s not even semi-retirement. I know a lot of people think that I haven’t been racing. After F1, I moved to North America to focus on that. “Ever since, I’ve been doing just piecemeal races – never full championships. Ice racing in France, V8 Supercars in Australia, Nascar, I did some Formula E, EuroNascar, the Indy 500… so I actually never retired, it was just very complicated to get full-time race seats, mostly because I was busy building up a family,” he added. Villeneuve’s wedding came hours before a chaotic first practice session was abandoned and the second session delayed due to Carlos Sainz striking a manhole cover which destroyed the bottom of his car - and resulted in him getting a ten-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. Detailing what had gone wrong an FIA spokesman said: “Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time – we will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve.” The on-track action eventually resumed two-and-a-half hours late and finished up at 4am local time - after fans had been told to leave at 1:30am in what was an all-round disaster of an opening night. Read More F1 enters new Las Vegas dawn with disaster on opening night Watch: Sparks fly as Sainz’s Ferrari hits drain cover on Las Vegas F1 circuit Empty grandstands at Las Vegas GP as chaotic practice session takes place at 3am Carlos Sainz handed ‘ridiculous’ penalty after drain cover crash at Las Vegas GP Las Vegas GP resumes in front of empty stands as fans sent home at 1:30am Ferrari team boss fumes over damage to Sainz car: ‘Just unacceptable’
2023-11-17 23:23
The harrowing Ukraine war doc '20 Days in Mariupol' is coming to TV. Here's how to watch
The visceral documentary “20 Days in Mariupol” about Russia’s early assault on the Ukrainian city will soon reach its widest audience yet
2023-11-17 23:16
'We won't need bullets': Taser boss says electric gun saves lives
Rick Smith, founder of Taser-maker Axon, pointed one of his company's yellow stun guns at a target and discharged its electric darts to demonstrate its effectiveness...
2023-11-17 23:00
10 Fascinating Facts About Louisa May Alcott
‘Little Women’ author Louisa May Alcott was also an early suffragette who fought against slavery and registered women to vote.
2023-11-17 22:57
Hedge fund Qube makes $835 million bet against HSBC shares
LONDON Hedge fund Qube Research & Technologies has made a 672 million pound ($835.43 million) bet against the
2023-11-17 22:54
US government spending bill extends farm programs, some nutrition aid
By Leah Douglas The stopgap funding bill to keep the U.S. government open signed by President Joe Biden
2023-11-17 22:53
Hong Kong's Roman Catholic cardinal says he dreams of bishops from greater China praying together
Hong Kong’s newly appointed Roman Catholic cardinal says he dreams of having bishops and faithfuls from different parts of greater China pray together one day
2023-11-17 22:49
Braves add reliever in late night trade with White Sox
The Atlanta Braves trade for reliever Aaron Bummer, sending a package of five players back to the Chicago White Sox.
2023-11-17 22:46
More than a million Afghans will go back after Pakistan begins expelling foreigners without papers
About 1.3 million Afghans are expected to return to their country of origin from Pakistan, the U.N. health agency warned, weeks after authorities began expelling foreigners living in the country illegally
2023-11-17 22:30
Dillon Brooks blames everyone but himself for Grizzlies disaster class
Dillon Brooks is in his villain era. He recently went off on his former organization, the Memphis Grizzlies.
2023-11-17 22:28
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