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Rejection Slip

By Diane Rhodes

An entrant to the X-Prize competition got that letter that all creative types dread: the rejection slip. An application to join the crowd vying for the X-Prize turned in a proposal which was too far-out and unproven even for the mavericks offering the prize.

Gravity Control Technologies (GCT) is Budapest, Hungary based aerospace research firm founded in 1999, focusing on “superconductivity and Zero Point Energy Field physics in hopes of achieving 100% propellant-less propulsion technology for flight”.

Their preliminary design is a triple-deck craft equipped with “Hull Wide Propulsion Assembly” technology, to provide seating for over 1004 passengers, with a 3 person crew and 25 flight attendants.

In a letter from the Director of Operations for the X Prize Foundation, GCT were told, “In light of the novel and untried technology you propose, the Committee has a concern of the credibility of this technology. The X Prize Foundation strongly encourages the use of all technologies for the X Prize competition...We will be happy to reconsider your application when provided with evidence of the feasibility of your proposed technology. We strongly encourage GCT to continue with its research and keep us posted as developments warrant our attention.”

GCT's founder and CEO Victor Rozsnyay told SPACE.com he's not surprised by the rejection and return of their $1000 application fee, “Since [GCT] is working on developing propulsion systems capable of controlling gravity for flight - a 180 degree departure from what is currently accepted as feasible - it was likely that our application would not be approved.”

And there's the rub: It may work, but how to utilize something no one has conclusively proved exists yet? After some judicious web-surfing, I found what claims to be an explanation on the GCT website: http://www.gctspace.com/technology/infphysics.html.

Zero Point Energy Field physics has to do with the concept of harnessing a kind of low-energy field (below the threshold of cosmic background radiation) implied in quantum mechanics, which should exist throughout the universe in space. Essentially a gravity drive. Huh? I found myself blinking at this.

I have a challenge for all you physics wonks in OASIS: Explain this quantum mechanical concept so a person who barely escaped high school physics can understand it. Send your replies to: odyssey_editor @ yahoo.com

I find myself so skeptical about this; it sort of reeks of Tesla all over again. Great idea, but how? I think as far as developing space goes, we can't afford to overlook any avenue. I'm hoping we'll find a lot of different flight paths to the High Frontier, however strange. We'll need all of them.