zcfbj00 [email removed] asks:
>I notice that Thruster Plates
>do not require fuel (directly) to operate - they just burn up power plant
>fuel when they draw their operating power. Since they don't themselves
>burn any fuel like HEPlaR does, then does this mean that the concept of
>G-Hours goes out of the proverbial window for Thruster Plates?
to which Anthony "K." Baggaley [email removed] replies:
> The real answer is that G-turns don't apply with Thruster plates at
>all, the amount of time that ship can thrust just depends on how long
>you can keep that power plant running. And yes, that is a year if you
>use a fusion plant.
Sigh. To put the record straight, the term "G-Hours" (or "G-Turns")
has two uses. One of these _always_ applies. Repeat: Always.
Acceleration in TNE space combat is measured in G-Hours. No matter
which thruster technology you decide to use, this is so. Your Maneuver
Drives produce so much thrust, and (for combat purposes) does so in
periods measured in hours or half-hours. One G of thrust for an
hour equals 1 G-Hour. Clear so far?
Most Maneuver Drives require something to spit out the back end of the
ship. This reaction mass is also, for convenience, measured in G-Hours.
That way there is supposedly no confusion about how much fuel the ship
has available. HEPlaR drives use reaction mass, as do Fusion Rockets.
Thruster Plates do NOT use reaction mass. This usage of "G-Hours"
does not apply to Thruster Plates.
So: Yes, a Thruster ship still accelerates using G-Hours of THRUST,
but requires no G-Hours of FUEL to do so (aside from what the power
plant is using).
James Kundert [email removed]
[email removed]
There was a young lady named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster, much faster than Light.
She departed one day in a relative way,
And returned on the previous Night.
--Albert & the Heart of Gold