message 0176

• Speculations on spaceship (esp. Rider) drive and fuel

>Date: Mon, 14 Jun 93 15:12:40 +0200
>From: mst@vexpert.dbai.tuwien.ac.at (Markus Stumptner)
>Subject: cherryhlist

>> I thought the high velocities were gained by pulsing the jump drives.  I
>> noticed that in HB, and somewhere else too.

>There are quotes that show that speed can be gained with jumpdrive pulses,
>but while the braking pulses are almost allways mentioned, acceleration 
>pulses are seldom described. This could be because

>- Arrivals are more interesting than departures, and get longer descriptions

>- The minimum speed to enter jump (if there is such a minimum) is much lower
>  than the speed when exiting hyperspace

>- There is another drive to accelerate in realspace

>I think the first two explanations are the most likely, but I can't be
>sure.

I agree (note that no separate realspace drive is ever mentioned), and would 
tend to favor the first explanation.  In Heavy Time, reference is made to the 
carrier's extremely high acceleration upon *starting* the chase of the 
Shepherd ship (obviously signifying use of the jump drive), which would 
contradict the second explanation.

	Markus