VASIMR plasma drive in GURPS...

[Diomedes]

Originally Posted by GoblynByte

I need help from folks who understand this stuff better than I do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variabl...oplasma_rocket

The drive presented here is supposedly capable of impulses up to 30,000 seconds and producing 300 km/s jet velocities. I'm just too dense to figure out the math of it all and how it would translate into GURPS starship construction.

Here is my question: assuming a 'mature' version of this type of engine, how does it compare to 'super science' drives of sci-fi movies? Would this be capable of producing low weight ships with high thrust or does it still run into the problem of massive fuel needs?

In other words, would a fully realized VASIMR drive be be used to create a sci-fi style space fighter?

Probably not; using the numbers at Atomic Rocket and the formula from the Designer's Notes, I calculate only 0.002 G per system. And that's using the "high-thrust" gearing.