[Hard Times] Pre-Gravitic engines and engine wash

[parmasson]

So I think that Earth is going to be a bit cut off (unless it'll have a 'beanstalk') from the interplanetary community once Luna and the Astroid Belt get industrialized and colonized enough: big gravity well + big atmosphere = VERY expensive launch.

Yes and no. With billions of people it is still going to be the biggest market for both finished goods and raw materials. You might just have more going down that up. Food might or might not be an issue too.

 

[Ptah]

Emploee 2-4601

So I think that Earth is going to be a bit cut off (unless it'll have a 'beanstalk') from the interplanetary community once Luna and the Astroid Belt get industrialized and colonized enough: big gravity well + big atmosphere = VERY expensive launch.

And a ship using an ultra-hot exaust engine (i.e. plasma or fusion) would probably have secondary engines (scramjet/rocket hybrids for atmospheres, downright chem-rockets for bodies without). But once a planet gets a 'beanstalk', ofcourse, landing would be rarely done by a ship anymore on it.

On a slightly different take. I'd agree that gravity well operations are going to be expensive but far-less expensive than currently. Although fusion etc. dirves are needed for interplanetary distances, cheap chemical or ion drive motors (more on these later) can be used to boost payloads into orbit. Depending how you view TL advancement a factor of 2 to 10 cheaper at TL9 than TL8.
Landing a starship in a gravity well is the big problem at these tech levels, so much so I'd think it wouldn't be done, because most worlds wouldn't want a superheated plasma or a radiation spewing drive in their atmosphere. This would tend to promote IMHO specialized streamlined ships for orbital entry (shuttles). Depending on up-port facilities they might even be shipped up to orbit in parts (instead of strapped on a rocket) assembled and then glide down with cargo.

Regarding ion drives (xenon ions I believe are the current choice), I have no idea if these exist in canon, but they are a real-world drive type that are believed to be able to get cargo in orbit much more cost effectively than chemical rockets. Just not human cargo as the way the thrust develops for these engines (currently) would result in humans spending too much time in the radiation belts.

 

[Ptah]

Emploee 2-4601

So I think that Earth is going to be a bit cut off (unless it'll have a 'beanstalk') from the interplanetary community once Luna and the Astroid Belt get industrialized and colonized enough: big gravity well + big atmosphere = VERY expensive launch.

And a ship using an ultra-hot exaust engine (i.e. plasma or fusion) would probably have secondary engines (scramjet/rocket hybrids for atmospheres, downright chem-rockets for bodies without). But once a planet gets a 'beanstalk', ofcourse, landing would be rarely done by a ship anymore on it.

On a slightly different take. I'd agree that gravity well operations are going to be expensive but far-less expensive than currently. Although fusion etc. dirves are needed for interplanetary distances, cheap chemical or ion drive motors (more on these later) can be used to boost payloads into orbit. Depending how you view TL advancement a factor of 2 to 10 cheaper at TL9 than TL8.
Landing a starship in a gravity well is the big problem at these tech levels, so much so I'd think it wouldn't be done, because most worlds wouldn't want a superheated plasma or a radiation spewing drive in their atmosphere. This would tend to promote IMHO specialized streamlined ships for orbital entry (shuttles). Depending on up-port facilities they might even be shipped up to orbit in parts (instead of strapped on a rocket) assembled and then glide down with cargo.

Regarding ion drives (xenon ions I believe are the current choice), I have no idea if these exist in canon, but they are a real-world drive type that are believed to be able to get cargo in orbit much more cost effectively than chemical rockets. Just not human cargo as the way the thrust develops for these engines (currently) would result in humans spending too much time in the radiation belts.

 

[Ptah]

Emploee 2-4601

So I think that Earth is going to be a bit cut off (unless it'll have a 'beanstalk') from the interplanetary community once Luna and the Astroid Belt get industrialized and colonized enough: big gravity well + big atmosphere = VERY expensive launch.

And a ship using an ultra-hot exaust engine (i.e. plasma or fusion) would probably have secondary engines (scramjet/rocket hybrids for atmospheres, downright chem-rockets for bodies without). But once a planet gets a 'beanstalk', ofcourse, landing would be rarely done by a ship anymore on it.

On a slightly different take. I'd agree that gravity well operations are going to be expensive but far-less expensive than currently. Although fusion etc. dirves are needed for interplanetary distances, cheap chemical or ion drive motors (more on these later) can be used to boost payloads into orbit. Depending how you view TL advancement a factor of 2 to 10 cheaper at TL9 than TL8.
Landing a starship in a gravity well is the big problem at these tech levels, so much so I'd think it wouldn't be done, because most worlds wouldn't want a superheated plasma or a radiation spewing drive in their atmosphere. This would tend to promote IMHO specialized streamlined ships for orbital entry (shuttles). Depending on up-port facilities they might even be shipped up to orbit in parts (instead of strapped on a rocket) assembled and then glide down with cargo.

Regarding ion drives (xenon ions I believe are the current choice), I have no idea if these exist in canon, but they are a real-world drive type that are believed to be able to get cargo in orbit much more cost effectively than chemical rockets. Just not human cargo as the way the thrust develops for these engines (currently) would result in humans spending too much time in the radiation belts.

 

[TheEngineer]

Hi !

Take a look at the Hard Times Appendix. HT covers some rules for pregravitic spacecraft (achieving orbit etc..)
There You will find a variaty of alternative propulsion system, from solid rocket over ion drive up to fusion rockets

Regards,

Mert

 

[TheEngineer]

Hi !

Take a look at the Hard Times Appendix. HT covers some rules for pregravitic spacecraft (achieving orbit etc..)
There You will find a variaty of alternative propulsion system, from solid rocket over ion drive up to fusion rockets

Regards,

Mert

 

[TheEngineer]

Hi !

Take a look at the Hard Times Appendix. HT covers some rules for pregravitic spacecraft (achieving orbit etc..)
There You will find a variaty of alternative propulsion system, from solid rocket over ion drive up to fusion rockets

Regards,

Mert