TauZero InterstellarPropulsion 2018
Executive Summary
System Metadata
Source ID
DOC-TAUZERO_
Process Date
8/9/2026
Integrity Hash
SHA256-c3q15jod63p...
Indexer Status
COMPLETE
INVESTIGATIVE ANALYSIS
Summary
This report outlines a NASA-funded study to create a standardized system for evaluating the feasibility and cost of different interstellar travel technologies. It establishes a framework to compare current propulsion methods with theoretical breakthroughs to determine which options are most realistic for future space missions.
Origin
The report was prepared by Marc G. Millis, Jeff Greason, and Rhonda Stevenson of the Tau Zero Foundation for NASA Headquarters, specifically the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) and NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC). The digital copy contains watermarks from 'SecretMilitaryTechnology.com'.
Purpose
The research was conducted to develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and an evaluation process for interstellar propulsion and power options, aiming to provide equitable comparisons between disparate technologies based on energy, mass, time, and infrastructure requirements.
Why It Matters
" This document serves as a bridge between mainstream NASA-funded research and the search for unconventional propulsion breakthroughs. It formalizes the study of 'breakthrough' advances within a professional aerospace framework, linking known entities like the Tau Zero Foundation to the broader investigation into advanced aerospace black programs and potential non-traditional physics-based propulsion. "
Key Claims
- › The study was funded under NASA Grant No. NNX17AE81G.
- › The project was overseen by NASA officials Dr. Jay Falker, Jason Derleth, and Dr. Mike LaPointe.
- › The report identifies three specific 'eras of readiness' for missions: precursors, the era of infrastructure, and the era of breakthroughs.
- › Jim Gilland of the Ohio Aerospace Institute and Paul Gilster of the Tau Zero Foundation provided assistance to the study.
Contribution to the Field
This document contributes a formal methodology for converting the performance of wildly different propulsion concepts—ranging from traditional rockets to theoretical breakthroughs—into common 'figures of merit' categorized by three eras of technological readiness.
External Primary Sources (2)
Verified external sources that corroborate the claims in this document.