As new theories and data on natural phenomena emerge, the scientific community works to determine their validity and relevance toward answering such major questions as the age of the universe, the mystery of missing matter, or the coupling of the fundamental forces.  Aside from these grand questions, however, there also exists a utilitarian challenge - space flight.  Presently, space flight is constrained by the fundamental limitations of rocket propulsion.  For example, it is presently impossible
to send an interstellar probe to our nearest neighboring star within a human life span.  These limits cannot be overcome with engineering refinements as they are based on the very physics of rocketry.  To revolutionize space flight and enable interstellar voyages, new propulsion physics is required.  NASA created the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics (BPP) project to seek further advancements in physics from which such propulsion breakthroughs can eventually be derived - if physically possible.  Three visionary breakthroughs are sought: (1) propulsion that requires no propellant mass, (2) propulsion that circumvents existing speed limits, and (3) breakthrough methods of energy production to power such devices.  Topics of interest include experiments and theories regarding the coupling of gravity and electromagnetism, vacuum fluctuation energy, warp drives and wormholes, and superluminal quantum effects.  Because these propulsion goals are presumably far from fruition, a special emphasis is to identify and support incremental and credible research that will make measurable progress toward these propulsion goals.  The latest status of the Project is presented, including descriptions of currently supported research.
 

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