2.6 Air force involvement in Antimatter Propulsion

As impressive as these findings may seem, they are still theoretical issues that require further analysis and testing.  With the promise antimatter propulsion shows in enabling us to break barriers in space travel, it is necessary to continue doing more research and more importantly, producing real data.  In order for antimatter propulsion to make any leaps and bounds, more emphasis needs to be made on getting actual tests of these propulsion systems outside the theoretical context.  A full working model of a propulsion system needs to be tested in an aircraft [JSL1] to determine whether theoretical values of power and energy hold true in real world situations.  Finding test grounds and a permanent housing for this research is also necessary.  In addition, it is important to provide more funding to the study and development of antimatter propulsion.  In particular, when Penn State was funded properly, they were able to reduce the production costs of antimatter from $60 million/microgram to $5,000 per microgram [13].  For these reasons, the United States Air Force is the primary candidate to undertake this research.

The United States Air Force is a world wide leader and innovator in the aerospace market.  Its mission statement declares that it is a leader because of its ability to “explore both science and technology and operational concepts, identifying those ideas that offer potential for evolutionary or revolutionary increases in capability…and rigorously testing them [15].”  Within the Air Force there are over 30 organizations and hundreds of facilities and bases located all over the world.  Among these organizations is the Air Force Research Laboratory, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.  The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is a full-spectrum laboratory that houses nine directorates which produce basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development.  It is responsible for the planning and execution of the entire Air Force research budget which is approximately $1.4 billion in yearly government issue, plus an additional $1.1 billion in private customer payment [15]. 

One of the nine directorates housed in the AFRL is the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in Arlington, Va.  The AFOSR is a type of exchange program for scientists and engineers that allow research to be conducted all over the world, with large testing to be done at an appropriate Air Force site.  This directorate primarily funds projects that are long-term and broad-based, and 80% of all funded research projects are conducted in academia and industry [15].  Though this may provide a means of funding the current research done on antimatter propulsion systems, it may still leave the problem of housing the project.

Another of the AFRL subdivisions is the Propulsions Directorate at Edwards Air Force Base, California.  The Propulsions Directorate at Edwards AFB has provided technology for nearly every rocket propulsion system in the past 50 years and is home to the National Hoover Test Facility and High Density Laboratory.  This facility is spread over 65 square miles and located 100 miles south of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert.  Its locations keep it far away from any large residential areas, but still close to large aerospace corporations, and it provides an ideal climate for year round launch testing [air force].

The Propulsions Directorate also houses a Physical Science Laboratory that includes 6 explosion resistance labs and large storage facilities.  Nearby is also the Propellant Lab Complex that is able to manufacture small scale amounts of common propellants as well as high energy propellants and test them for hazardous material.  Also in the same sector is the Rocket Component Laboratory Complex.  The complex is primarily made up of high-bay labs with laboratory and offices space for research in advanced propulsion materials and it serves as the Air Force fabrication shop for advanced propulsion materials [15].  The Propulsions Directorate has more than enough adequate testing facilities for antimatter research as well as the means to house the project permanently and fund it.

The above laboratories show that the Air force has the necessary funding and facilities to endorse the necessary research for the development of antimatter propulsion.