China launches its own EM drive into orbit

The world of science was awestruck when last month NASA had published the first much awaited peer-reviewed paper on the impossible EM drive, which seemingly defies the laws of physics by creating thrust without a propellant.

The verdict at the time was that it seemed to work, albeit owing to the doubts of a lot of physicists the general consensus is that the results are flawed. However, researchers now in China just announced that they already have began testing the controversial EM drive in low-earth orbit and are interested in powering their satellites by EM drive at the earliest.

The source of this information as of now is a press conference announcement and a story from a government-sponsored Chinese newspaper. So until a peer-reviewed paper is produced, it cannot be verified whether the researchers are even testing the drive in space.

Nonetheless, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) team also has corresponded with the boisterous EM drive claims. According to their statements, China has already an EM drive on board their rendition of the ISS, the space lab Tiangong-2.

In case you somehow missed it, the EM Drive is a propulsion system that can supposedly produce thrust just by bouncing microwaves back and forth within its cavity. That means no heavy propellants (such as rocket fuel) need to be carried on board.