'Acceleration without fuel:' superconducting thruster in first orbital test
A new type of superconducting thruster that generates thrust by interacting with Earth's magnetic field — requiring no propellant — has been successfully tested in orbit for the first time. The device, developed by researchers, could offer a fuel-free alternative for satellite propulsion in low-Earth orbit.
Background
A Chinese team has launched to low-Earth orbit the first "superconducting thruster" — a propulsion device that generates thrust by interacting with Earth's magnetic field, requiring no onboard propellant. If it works, it could enable satellites to maneuver indefinitely without carrying fuel, dramatically reducing weight and mission costs. Prior attempts at propellantless thrust (e.g., the "EmDrive") have been met with intense skepticism after lab results couldn't be replicated and violated known physics. This test uses commercially available high-temperature superconductors to amplify the interaction, making it more plausible within established electromagnetic theory. The company behind it says the engine will be tested over several months, with results relayed via radio. Claims of "reactionless" propulsion have a long history of failure, so the physics community is waiting for hard, independently verified data.