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Re: ICAN (Was RE: starship-design: What is safest?)
>I discussed this somewhat with Kelly. The ICAN concept uses only an initial
>boost phase and then shuts the engines down and coasts the rest of the way
>until it is time to decelerate. This method keeps the engines well within
>current system lifetime capabilities but severely limits velocity. I was
>(am) hoping for a little more than that. If magnetic nozzle technology
>development proves out, it may be possible to extend the design lifetimes
>enough to sustain continuous boost. Personally, I think this will take
>between fifty and one hundred years to perfect, but it will permit cruise
>velocities approaching c within a few tenths of a percent.
Can it really carry enough fuel to boost to and from such a speed? What kind
of fuel ratios or ISP do you think are possible?
>Lee
Kelly