4 ms·
That's assuming that the thrusters can still output 1G within the atmosphere and that the hull of the ship can withstand the outside pressure and the weather (h
by simias 8y ago
That's assuming that the thrusters can still output 1G within the atmosphere and that the hull of the ship can withstand the outside pressure and the weather (humidity, strong winds etc...). Also a huge ship firing thrusters continuously in the atmosphere might have adverse side effects (for instance radiation, toxic smoke, heat etc... depending on the technology).
Might make sense to optimize large ships for space only and use smaller vehicles to taxi back and forth from the surface of planets.
- clarkmoody 8y agoAnother Vinge goodie is the effect of the "main torch" of a starship on the permafrost of a planet as it hovers around looking for a landing site.
- taneq 8y agoYeah, but if we're allowing thrusters that can generate a 1G acceleration for years at a time without using the entire ship as reaction mass, those are much smaller "gimmes". :)