Hugh Deasy
Dr. Hugh Deasy is a distinguished theoretical physicist whose academic path was shaped at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the historic Dunsink Observatory. He completed his B.A. in Theoretical Physics in 1981, followed by a M.Sc. in Astrophysics in 1983, and culminated with a Ph.D. in Astrophysics in 1986. His research during this period focused on the lives of variable stars: his M.Sc. thesis, “Period Changes in Magellanic Cepheids”, examined the pulsational variability of these luminous beacons, while his doctoral thesis, “Mass Loss from Classical Cepheids”, explored stellar winds and their profound implications for stellar evolution.
A Career in Aerospace and Space Operations
After academia, Dr. Deasy devoted more than three decades to aerospace, much of it at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) of the European Space Agency (ESA). His career began with Captec in 1987 as an Attitude Control Specialist, before moving into simulation engineering with Spacebel Informatique S.A. in 1992. He later joined SCISYS in 1997, where he spent nearly two decades as a Simulations Officer and Orbit Control Test & Verification Specialist.
At ESOC, Dr. Deasy became an integral part of Europe’s most ambitious space programs. He developed advanced programs for satellite flight dynamics, enabling precise orbit and attitude control during both Launch and Early Orbit Phases (LEOP) and subsequent routine operations. His expertise placed him on the launch teams of numerous landmark missions, including Envisat, XMM-Newton, Integral, several Galileo satellites, GOCE, and Swarm. Each of these missions pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological achievement, and Dr. Deasy’s contributions ensured their success.
Entrepreneurship and Invention
In 2016, Dr. Deasy transitioned into a new role as an entrepreneur by founding Space Exploration Ltd., based in Weihai, Shandong, China. Through this venture, he began focusing on revolutionary propulsion and energy concepts. His recent work explores the frontier of Lorentz force propulsion, inertial propulsion, and novel energy generation technologies. He has also investigated speculative but profound ideas such as faster-than-light (FTL) communications and propulsion systems. While some of these concepts remain tentative, they represent his enduring drive to challenge limits and redefine what is possible in space exploration.
The Deasy-Lorentz System for EM Propulsion
Among his most exciting innovations is the Deasy-Lorentz System for Electromagnetic (EM) Propulsion. This system builds on the well-known Lorentz force, aiming to provide a practical form of propellant-less propulsion. In a presentation on the subject, Dr. Deasy outlined the theory, simulations, and experimental tests that demonstrate how Lorentz propulsion could become a viable technology.
The concept stands as a promising alternative to the Shawyer microwave propulsion system (EMDrive), which NASA once tested and initially confirmed, though later experiments by Martin Tajmar cast doubt on its effectiveness. By contrast, the Lorentz force approach proposed by Dr. Deasy uses conventional copper coils and can achieve an impressive efficiency of about 1 kW per Newton of thrust using room-temperature wire. This not only makes it simpler in terms of design and theory but also more accessible for testing and demonstration.
If proven at scale, the Deasy-Lorentz system could surpass earlier concepts like the Shawyer system in efficiency, theoretical elegance, and ease of validation, potentially marking a significant step forward in the pursuit of propellant-less space propulsion.
Vision and Legacy
Across his career, Dr. Hugh Deasy has seamlessly bridged the worlds of pure science, applied aerospace engineering, and visionary innovation. From unraveling the mysteries of Cepheid variables in the halls of Trinity College Dublin to ensuring the safe flight of satellites in orbit, and finally to pioneering bold new propulsion concepts as an inventor, his journey reflects both intellectual rigor and a deep passion for discovery.
Today, Dr. Deasy continues to inspire colleagues and the next generation of scientists and engineers through his relentless pursuit of breakthroughs that may one day transform humanity’s relationship with space.