Reactionless drive ships orbital flight in 3rd ed physics?

[doctorevilbrain]

Why reactionless?

[dcarson]

Originally Posted by doctorevilbrain

Why reactionless?

Because it needs to fly for a lot longer than any fuel could last.

[evilDictatorInTraining]

Originally Posted by dcarson

Because it needs to fly for a lot longer than any fuel could last.

The distinction between deep space ship and planetary body launch capable is useful for a reason.
I would suggest either one ship have multiple types of engines (one engine with high thrust for lifting off planetary bodies and another with high/unlimited efficiency for long range space travel).
Or more realistically splitting those into two ships.
A shuttle to take you into orbit and a pure space craft (powered by your reactionless drive) to take you quickly to other planets.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by evilDictatorInTraining

The distinction between deep space ship and planetary body launch capable is useful for a reason.
I would suggest either one ship have multiple types of engines (one engine with high thrust for lifting off planetary bodies and another with high/unlimited efficiency for long range space travel).
Or more realistically splitting those into two ships.
A shuttle to take you into orbit and a pure space craft (powered by your reactionless drive) to take you quickly to other planets.

If available superscience isn't useful for getting into orbit there may not be that much up there even if there is a low-thrust reactionless drive available once you're there.