Is there a drive for a spacecraft that produces decent acceleration?
For a science fiction novel I'm currently writing...
The spacecraft in question is based in the asteroid belt and is not designed to approach a planet. The ship has an offensive/defensive capability and would need to be able to manoeuvre effectively in combat.
The timeframe is within the next two hundred years.
Additionally, it would need to be able to refuel easily within the asteroid belt.
With this in mind, I aim to equip the ship with magnetoplasmadynamic ion drives. My understanding is that they can operate using a hydrogen or ammonia fuel, which should be easily replenishable in the asteroid belt, and would be powered by a nuclear power source.
But an MPD ion drive does not produce much acceleration.
My question: What kind of drive might I use to provide rapid acceleration (in combination with an MPD drive) for combat situations, or to evade an enemy?
Ideally using hydrogen as a fuel (or something else obtainable in the asteroid belt without needing much refinement) and powered by electricity.
I know that chemical engines would be able to produce the acceleration, but use lots of fuel. If I need to use them, I will. But an alternative would be very welcome.
I don't have much of a background in science, but would like to accurately portray the drive system of the ship (in broad brush strokes at least).
By all means, comments on MPD drives are welcome too.
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1 answer
A fusion drive would fit your requirements, and produce plenty of thrust.
One of the early designs estimated that the VISTA spacecraft could deliver a 100-tonne payload to Mars orbit and return to Earth in 130 days, which is pretty fast.
The reason this hasn't been pursued much in the last few decades is that we didn't really know how to make controlled fusion very well.
This is something that is beginning to change, and could be a definite possibility in the next 200 years. It would most likely use helium-3 and deuterium as a fuel which is pretty abundant on the moon because of the solar wind.
It's likely that it would be found on asteroids as well.
A side benefit of these is that the fusion torch could be used as a weapon if needed. If aliens ever entered the solar system, we'd have a way to stop them.
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