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     On August 19, Quantum Fields LLC received word from NASA that their proposal
     submitted to the breakthrough propulsion physics program was selected for funding.
     A copy of the press release follows and a link to the summary follows:

      For Release: August 19, 1999

       NASA GLENN ANNOUNCES
       BREAKTHROUGH PROPULSION
       PHYSICS SELECTIONS

       NASA Glenn Research Center announces the selection of six
       proposals for experiments and theoretical work in Breakthrough
       Propulsion Physics -- research that may ultimately lead to methods
       of practical interstellar travel.

       The distances between stars is so great that with existing
       propulsion technology a probe would travel tens of thousands of
       years before reaching our nearest neighboring star. Even with the
       most ambitious new propulsion technology based on known
       physics, it would still be extremely difficult for a probe to reach that
       far within 50 years. To overcome these limitations to practical
       interstellar space travel, new propulsion physics is being sought by
       the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program. These six research
       selections are an early step in this process.

       "Intriguing developments have appeared in recent scientific
       literature that can serve as starting points for this kind of research,"
       said Marc Millis, the project manager for the program at Glenn. The
       Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program is the beginning of
       NASA’s effort to systematically assess these findings and theories.
       "At this stage of research, success is defined as learning more
       about these developments rather than achieving breakthroughs,"
       Millis added.

       The proposals were selected after a two-stage peer review
       process. In the first stage, 50 specialists from academia,
       government and industry scored the 60 proposals received. In the
       second stage, government reviewers selected a variety of
       approaches from the top ranking proposals.

       The proposers will negotiate for grants, contracts or cooperative
       agreements worth a total program value of $430,000. The principal
       investigators and a brief description of the work they proposed
       follow:

       (1) John Cramer (University of Washington, Seattle, WA) proposed
       a test to see if rapidly changing electric fields can affect inertia as
       suggested in 1991 by James Woodward, in the journal
       Foundations of Physics Letters. If there is such an effect, it may be
       exploited to develop a new method of space propulsion. In any
       case, the research will add to the understanding of how inertia is
       tied to the surrounding matter of the universe.

       (2) Jordan Maclay (Quantum Fields LLC, Richland Center, WI) and
       MEMS Optical Inc. (Huntsville, AL) proposed an experimental and
       theoretical study of quantum vacuum energy. The experiments will
       use micro-electromechanical devices to test force and energy
       effects predicted by quantum electrodynamics.

       (3) Harry Ringermacher (General Electric Corporate Research and
       Development, Schenectady, NY) with the collaboration of
       researchers from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, and United
       Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT, proposed a
       magnetic resonance experiment to test a theory linking
       electromagnetism, mass, and time. Ringermacher originally
       published the theory in 1994, in the journal Classical and Quantum
       Gravity.

       (4) Glen Robertson and Ron Litchford (NASA Marshall Space Flight
       Center, Huntsville, AL) proposed an experimental study of possible
       links between superconductors and gravity as recently discussed in
       several scientific journals. They plan to use a torsion balance,
       similar to those used to search for material-dependant gravitational
       effects, to search for superconductor-gravity effects.

       (5) Kevin Malloy (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM) and
       Raymond Chiao (University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA)
       proposed experiments and theoretical work on "superluminal
       quantum tunneling," an effect where light appears to pass through
       barriers faster than it travels through normal space. The proposed
       research will critically examine some of the faster-than-light
       hypotheses associated with this effect.

       (6) Serguei Krasnikov (Altamonte Springs, FL) proposed to
       theoretically assess the necessity of "negative energy" suggested
       in recent scientific literature on hyperfast travel. The possibilities for
       enabling hyperfast travel is more feasible if negative energy is not
       required.

       The Glenn Breakthrough Propulsion Physics program is part of a
       continuing effort to provide the scientific advancements necessary
       for future propulsion technology. It is funded by the Advanced
       Space Transportation Program, managed by NASA Marshall
       Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, and the Advanced Concepts
       Program of the NASA Office of Space Science, Washington, DC.

       Summaries of the proposals are available at:

       http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/PAO/pressrel/99_66addm.htm

       Note: All inquiries about this program or this research solicitation
       should be directed to the Glenn Research Center Media Relations
       contact shown above.

          David M. DeFelice, Community and Media Relations Office
                    e-mail david.defelice@grc.nasa.gov