Plasma Orb Propulsion
Plasma orb propulsion represents speculative theories describing alleged autonomous craft employing closed-cycle plasma systems for propulsion, most prominently featured in Ashton Forbes' MH370 conspiracy narrative. These theories extrapolate conventional plasma physics to explain alleged capabilities exceeding known engineering.
Forbes' MH370 Plasma Orb Theory
Ashton Forbes describes the alleged plasma orbs encircling MH370 as autonomous craft employing closed-cycle MHD propulsion systems. In his technical elaboration, the orbs: generate plasma sheaths through microwave or RF energy deposition in ambient air; establish toroidal magnetic field geometries confining the plasma; use MHD acceleration to circulate plasma at high velocities creating self-sustaining electromagnetic containment; and achieve air-breathing operation by continuously ionizing ingested atmosphere while exhausting cooled gas.
Claimed Capabilities
Forbes claims this configuration enables hypersonic speeds without conventional propulsion; reduced observability (plasma stealth); electromagnetic effects on surrounding systems (radar jamming, electronic interference); and potentially even 'cold fusion' energy generation within the high-density plasma core. He cites visual characteristics in alleged MH370 footage: spherical luminous forms, lack of visible exhaust or control surfaces, sustained flight without refueling, and coordinated multi-vehicle operation.
Technical Framework
The MHD framework provides technologically-plausible veneer
invoking real physics (plasma confinement, electromagnetic acceleration) while claiming classified breakthroughs achieved practical implementation at aircraft-intercept scales. Forbes positions plasma orbs as bridging conventional plasma physics and exotic capabilities—suggesting classified research achieved closed-loop plasma confinement at scale, enabling compact autonomous vehicles with extreme performance.
Scientific Assessment
Closed-cycle plasma orbs face multiplication of challenges
plasma containment in open atmosphere (no magnetic bottle holds against ambient pressure without continuous energy input); power requirements (sustaining plasma and magnetic fields exceeds any compact power source); thermal management (plasma temperatures would radiatively heat surroundings, not appear as cool luminous spheres); and stability (MHD instabilities—kink modes, sausage instabilities—disrupt plasma confinement, preventing sustained operation).
The energy densities Forbes attributes to plasma orbs (sufficient for intercontinental flight, teleportation field generation, or fusion) vastly exceed any demonstrated MHD system. Fusion requires extreme conditions (millions of Kelvin, high confinement time-density product) unachievable in open-air MHD configurations—even magnetically confined fusion in billion-dollar tokamaks hasn't reached breakeven. The alleged coordination between multiple autonomous orbs and ability to generate wormholes adds further impossible requirements beyond MHD propulsion.
Significance
Plasma orb propulsion exemplifies xenotechnology pattern
real physics terminology providing plausibility facade for extraordinary claims inconsistent with demonstrated engineering and fundamental limits. The framework invokes real phenomena—plasma confinement, electromagnetic acceleration, hypersonic MHD control—while asserting impossible performance (compact, sustained, autonomous, fusion-capable) without evidence.