Yeah, people tend to pretty easily understand how the rocket equation is exponential in the required ∆V, but the way it's inversely exponential in exhaust veloc

Yeah, people tend to pretty easily understand how the rocket equation is exponential in the required ∆V, but the way it's inversely exponential in exhaust velocity is less well understood. Good specific impulse plus good thrust is a combo that requires nuclear-explosion-scale energy, ie Project Orion or Nuclear Salt Water Rockets (an option that is, shockingly, even more insane than Orion).