Spaceship Design: What makes sense, and what's nonsense?

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by FenrisLoki

If you have fun things like a reaction less drive, a sphere is probably the best design with the engine at the center of the sphere and mounted on gimbals. You could then thrust in any direction, just dependent on how fast your can rotate the drive unit.

The early Skylarks in E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Skylark series of novels were spherical for this reason, complete with centre-mounted drive.