I've finished (at long long last!!) my modified design sequence for a Solar System near future reaction drive game (using the Core design system).
I've designed a couple of nice out-planet nuclear thermal rockets, but at the moment I'm converting the standard Traveller design concepts into near future rotating habitat type spacecraft, from the 100 ton scout to the 200 free trader and beyond.
Some of the specs barely need changing, I can even use a couple of the same deckplans, in particular the Lab Ship, the X-Boat Tender as a zero-G ship (my iteration is from CT) and perhaps the TYpe R Subsidized Merchant, not as an interplanetary rocket, but as a big fat spaceplane!
I'm considering equipping it with the typical RAMJET/SCRAMJET/CHEMICAL THRUSTER combo instead of jump drive and grav drive to produce a huge spaceplane launched vertically like the shuttle, attached to one of these nuclear lightbulb 'Liberty Ships':
http://nuclearspace.com/Liberty_ship_pg10.aspx
It then flies directly to the L-4, L5, L2 colonies, then returns for direct runway landing. Very fast and economical! BTW, thats a 45m long Type R strapped to a 100m long nuclear rocket (wow!).
OK- a bit loose with physics I suppose, but I love the concept. I'm just not sure the cargo decks would work 'vertically'.... during launch.
Could I get this monster launching horizntally without killing crew and passengers and mangling delicate cargo????
I've designed a couple of nice out-planet nuclear thermal rockets, but at the moment I'm converting the standard Traveller design concepts into near future rotating habitat type spacecraft, from the 100 ton scout to the 200 free trader and beyond.
Some of the specs barely need changing, I can even use a couple of the same deckplans, in particular the Lab Ship, the X-Boat Tender as a zero-G ship (my iteration is from CT) and perhaps the TYpe R Subsidized Merchant, not as an interplanetary rocket, but as a big fat spaceplane!
I'm considering equipping it with the typical RAMJET/SCRAMJET/CHEMICAL THRUSTER combo instead of jump drive and grav drive to produce a huge spaceplane launched vertically like the shuttle, attached to one of these nuclear lightbulb 'Liberty Ships':
http://nuclearspace.com/Liberty_ship_pg10.aspx
It then flies directly to the L-4, L5, L2 colonies, then returns for direct runway landing. Very fast and economical! BTW, thats a 45m long Type R strapped to a 100m long nuclear rocket (wow!).
OK- a bit loose with physics I suppose, but I love the concept. I'm just not sure the cargo decks would work 'vertically'.... during launch.
Could I get this monster launching horizntally without killing crew and passengers and mangling delicate cargo????
