Torchship
A spacecraft equipped with a torch drive, capable of fast interplanetary or Starweb travel. Unlike slower ships which spin all or part of themselves for rotational pseudogravity, most torchships are laid out like tall buildings with decks perpendicular to the axis of thrust so the crew can walk around when under acceleration. Typical torchship accelerations range from one-tenth to one gee, with more efficient vessels having lighter boost phases followed by a coast period in free-fall. The most advanced torchships, designed for space combat or people otherwise rich on cash but short on time, crank out multiple gees and require occupants to use acceleration couches or even liquid breathing.
Exact appearance varies by class, but common design features include a crew cabin located up at the top of the ship (farthest away from radioactive fusion engine products), with tanks and radiator vanes below, followed by the cone or flat plate of a torch drive heat shield, ringed by its magnetic field loop. When running, the business end of the fusion torch will glow white-hot and the engine flare can be seen across interplanetary distances as a bright star.
Ownership of and access to torchships is usually regulated, since in the hands of a terrorist a fusion engine could be used to slice up a space station or accelerate a large payload into a planet as an impromptu weapon of mass destruction. Torchships must be registered to the appropriate authorities, made subject to regular inspections, and crews vetted to ensure control will remain in sane hands.
by AntimatterNuke
A torchship. The fusion reaction occurs some distance behind the heatshield on the craft's base at right.
Comments