ASIZ/Research/Systems/Propellantless propulsion
Space · ζ Exploratory horizon

Propellantless propulsion

Propellantless propulsion seeks thrust without expelling reaction mass — via solar sails, tethers, or more speculative field-based concepts — so a craft need not carry heavy fuel.

Field
Space
Horizon
ζ Zeta · 2042 →
Lead center
Space Systems
Maturity
Long-horizon — largely theoretical today
Why it matters

Removing the fuel constraint would allow continuous acceleration and open-ended deep-space and interstellar travel.

Where it stands

Solar sails work and have flown; truly reactionless drives remain speculative and unproven.

How ASIZ approaches it

The discovery loop, applied.

Through the Space Systems center, ASIZ aims the discovery loop at propellantless propulsion: frontier models survey the literature and simulate the possibilities, rank the experiments most likely to resolve the open questions, and partner labs run the decisive ones — with results shared openly.