"Michael M. Butler" <butler@comp-lib.org> writes:
> Anders Sandberg wrote:
> > Time can be a rather precious resource too.
> >
> > BTW, any opinions on whether it is useful to use a nuclear Nerva
> > rocket or whether plain oxygen-hydrogen fuel works well?
> >
> > > Of course, if it is just for a roleplaying game... {8-] spike
> > > They are going to be subjected to a lot of
> > > realism... especially of the boredom of staying months in space ;-)
>
> Think big. Go matter-antimatter or muon catralyzed fusion steam.
> Constant one gee. Whee!
They better get somebody to develop the drive for them first.
> Not at the opening date... At the opening date of the game, have them
> use lox-kerosene. :)
Well, one of the characters, the R&D boss, is an old Russian space
engineer. And their motto is "faster, better and now with even more
cut corners!" :-) So I would not be surprised about them using a
lox-kerosene engine.
Apropos drives, could a Nerva nuclear engine be converted into a
stationary reactor for power production?
> And be sure to include space rot for facilities/equipment that stay
> operational long enough. You have probably heard about the space plaque
> (mold+bacteria colonies on Mir's exterior, that eat quartz and
> titanium--not the plaque on Voyager...)? I am wondering if the damage is
> exacerbated by free singlet oxygen (prevalent at those altitudes
> IIRC)...
I have definite plans for introducing the wonders of accidental space
ecology in the game. One of the things they will need to get working
is a small ecosystem to supplement their food and recycle waste. Space
molds might be more dangerous than meteors to the mission.
However, I have not heard anything about any colonies on Mir's
*exterior*. That sounds rather unlikely, especially if they were
eating low-energy stuff like quartz.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension! asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/ GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
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