RE: Re: Re: starship-design: Genuine STR question

["L. Clayton Parker" <lparker@cacaphony.net>]

> > Since these particals are charged conversion of their momentum to
>
> electricity
>
> > is a snap too.  BUT if you convert the exaust energy to electricity and
>
> use
>
> > that electricity to accelerate a smaller mass to a higher
> speed, your not
>
> > geting any more efficency.  Rather your adding a more complex drive
>
> system and
>
> > dumping most of the fusino exaust.
>
>
>
> Not true since only a fraction of the exaust can be used for thrust,=
>
> Not true, all the exaust can be used for thrust if you don't tap
> any of it off
> to power something else like the Liniac.
>

You can't tap the exhaust without robbing thrust. You can, however tap the
inevitable waste heat accumulated in the shielding to provide power. Now you
aren't robbing thrust, you are conserving wasted energy.

Lee Parker