Experimental investigation of the traction force for a new space thruster

A long course of experimental investigations of a new non-gauge force used for the traction of a prototype space thruster placed on board an hemispherical ship are reviewed and discussed. The physical nature of the new force is explained by the theory of byuon, a non-gauge theory of the formation of the physical space and the world of ultimate particles from some unobservable objects called "byuons". The definition of these objects contains a new fundamental vector constant, the cosmological vector potential Ag, which direction defines a marginal global anisotropy of the physical space. The experimental results show a remarkable dependence of the force on the period of the year and even on the time of the day, the details of such dependence suggesting astronomical coordinates of the vector Ag which are consistent with previous estimates yet reducing their uncertainty: in the second equatorial coordinates system, the right ascension ?=316°±5° and the declination ?=36°±10° are obtained. The level of the traction force during the experimental period turns out to be in the range 2.5 mN to 51 mN, while the best figure for the power to thrust ratio as derived from previous experiments is 330 W/N, suggestive of its potential competitiveness with state of the art electric propulsion thrusters.