Photo: Quantum Dynamics Enterprises

Quantum Dynamics Enterprises earlier this month revealed the first propellantless drive for space flight, the Centrifugal Impulse Drive (CID).  This drive uses a new form of propulsion where electricity is turned directly into thrust, to propel the spacecraft without expelling any mass. CID is a reactionless drive or inertia impulse propulsion engine — a propellantless alternative to the ion drive and hall thruster currently used in satellites.

After four years of research, development, prototypes, and continued testing in the company lab, Quantum Dynamics Enterprises contracted with the Georgia Tech Research Corporation for four years of independent testing. This was done under the sponsorship of the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr. Mitchell Walker has been the faculty sponsor through the testing program. Dr. Walker has extensive design and testing experience with Hall thrusters and ion engines. His current research activities involve both theoretical and experimental work in advanced spacecraft propulsion systems, diagnostics, plasma physics, helicon plasma sources, space debris mitigation, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, and pulsed inductive thrusters. He also serves as a corporate consultant, and has worked with Newell-Rubbermaid, Lockheed Martin, and NASA.