>>10910738For those who don't know
>leftOrion drive, also known as nuclear pulse propulsion, uses self contained nuclear explosives to produce thrust, detonations occur at about 1 Hz, usually conceived as using a large pusher-plate and shock absorbing assembly. Specific impulse of around 20,000, can produce immense acceleration. Can also use a much more efficient but less agile tension-based shock absorbing system that in effect would look like a very large parachute strung out towing the spacecraft along, this design can get efficiencies twice as high as the pusher-plate design.
>centerInertial confinement fusion drive, also known as the Daedalus engine, uses high powered lasers to ignite fusion fuel dispensed as small frozen spherical pellets, can be thought of as a more efficient Orion drive using microscopic warheads, except the fuel is inert on its own. Depending on fusion burn-up percentage can get up to 500,000 Isp, or more than ten times the best nuclear pulse propulsion systems. Fuel pellets ignited at a rate between 100 and 10,000 Hz, provides effectively constant acceleration (frequency also corresponds to throttle setting). Much less thrust than Orion, probably cannot achieve TWR of >1, however very good efficiency and common easy to refine fuel a large advantage.
>rightContinuous burn fusion rocket, aka Bussard ram jet, uses a large magnetic scoop to collect interstellar gas which is used as fusion fuel to produce net thrust. In theory does not follow rocket equation and can achieve effectively unlimited delta V once up to speed. Requires very high speed in order to collect enough gas to sustain thrust. Unfortunately fusion fuel only makes up a tiny fraction of available material in interstellar space and the design is therefore not possible. A modified design would carry antimatter fuel and use a much smaller scoop to collect matter to react it with, and is technically feasible, if enough antimatter can be produced.
