Space DogS

The Territories are the planets, planetoids, moons, asteroids, comets and other rocky bodies that make up the inhabited territories.

 

Traditional rocket engines -

Travel is based on thrust from plasma and ion engines. Same as late 20th\early 21st Century solid state rockets but using hotter fuel. The main expense is leaving heavy planets, so alternative travel mechanisms are found.

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Magnetic Rail Launchers.

Use magnetism to accelerate a ship and launch. Humans tend to go squishy in such devices. Humans board the ship AFTER launch which is automated. Also used to launch goods into space.

 

Orbital Lifts.

Use a lift to reach orbit. Slow ! Can then board ship from orbit.

 

Geysers.

Some moons are largely made of water. A body under heat or gravitational stress causes geysers that launch hundreds of kilometers in the air. This can be used as a cheap way to launch ships. (Again people go squishy so need to board later) Also used to launch goods into space.

 

IONISED Pulse engines.

Space does have particles in it. There is a small volume from dust, but also from the solar wind that pushes material and magnetic fields around the place. Large bodies like the giant planets also expend a fair amount of dust. These particles are ionised and can be used to push off against using a magnetic pulse. The pulse has to be quick and repeatable so not to push the dust in the opposite direction too fast. With this in mind the particles are first attracted then repelled using constructive magnetic interference. (Think about sound. When you have two speakers the sound amplifies itself where the sound crosses to either construct and be louder or destruct and cancel each other out.) If you can push against the constructive wave at the correct point, you get more push.) So attract the particles and push against the peaks to send the particles back again to double the thrust lost from the attraction. The thrust is slow in low density areas and higher elsewhere, so is generally used to move away or to slow down near planets \ areas of dust (like nebulae) Needs to be carefully used as pushing the dust too hard turns the engine to an enormous sand blaster. Not popular with rookies and space ports or other nearby ships.

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Comet Riders (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29203284)-

Comets are regular if a little bit sparse. Sometimes used to move goods around the systems. Very fast. May explode if exposed to large shocks. (Hitting an asteroid. They can hit a ship no problem) The comets themselves are a source of minerals, water and exotic material that is sometimes mined whilst moving around the solar system.

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Asteroid Trains -

Asteroids exist around various large planets (Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter) and between Mars and Jupiter. They have been used as regular transport by taking advantage of gravity. Attach an engine and give a gentle push to get going. When you approach your destination, sling shot around a large body and return. As you sling shot eject your goods and prepare for other goods to arrive. You need two bodies to sling-shot around. The engines use the material of the asteroid itself as part of the fuel.