Following earlier speculations about antigravity machines and works on the relativistic dynamics of constant and variable rest mass point particles, a mass tensor is found in connection with the closed system consisting of the rocket driven spaceship and its propellant mass, provided a “solidification” point other than the system center of mass is considered. Therefore, the mass tensor form depends on whether the system is open or closed, and upon where the “solidification” point is located. An alternative propulsion principle is subsequently derived from the tensor mass approach. The new principle, the covariant equivalent of Newton’s Third Law for the physical interpretation of the relativistic rocket motion, reads: A spaceship undergoes a propulsion effect when the whole system mass 4-ellipsoid warps.


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    Title :

    A propulsion–mass tensor coupling in relativistic rocket motion


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Space technology and applications international forum - 1998 ; 1998 ; Albuquerque,New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 420 , 1 ; 1509-1515


    Publication date :

    1998-01-15


    Size :

    7 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    A Propulsion-Mass Tensor Coupling in Relativistic Rocket Motion

    Brito, H. H. / University of New Mexico; School of Engineering; Institute for Space and Nuclear Power Studies | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998


    A mass tensor in relativistic spacecraft motion

    Elaskar, Sergio A. / Brito, Héctor H. | AIAA | 2006



    Rocket propulsion

    Dunning, J.E.P. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1961


    Rocket propulsion

    Dunn, L.G. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1947