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[KhazintheDark]

Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1: Gaseous Lithium is ionized and fed into an acceleration chamber, where the magnetic and electrical fields are created using a power source. The particles are then propelled by the Lorentz force resulting from the interaction between the current flowing through the plasma and the magnetic field out through the exhaust chamber. Unlike chemical propulsion, there is no combustion of fuel but there is still an exhaust so the Lithium storage tanks will have to be refilled occasionally. As with other electric propulsion variations, both specific impulse and thrust increase with power input. Power requirements for the thruster require hundreds of kilowatts which our reactor can provide. The level of power and the flow rate of the drive should be adjustable in order to control the level of thrust to ensure maximum acceleration efficiency. It should use standard heavy-duty connections to ensure compatibility in any ship we put the engine on.

Radio Frequency Resonant Cavity Thruster Mk1: A magnetotron pumps microwaves into a hollow frustrum, this causes a larger force to be exerted on the flat side with the larger radius than the flat side with the smaller radius thus producing thrust. The thruster uses only power and has no fuel aside from that of the primary reactor and backup batteries. Thrust increases non-linearly with power input however the starting input 40-80W will only give 40-100 micronewtons. Luckily the thruster scales. Thrust can be made variable by changing the amount of power supplied to the magnetotron which changes the amount of microwaves released into the drive. The thruster provides a lower thrust per watt than the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster but has the advantage of never needing to be refuelled as long as it has power for the magnetotron.

Nanoscale Supercapacitors: Its a graphene based supercapacitor that has been made small enough that its quantum capacitance effectively means that there is a second capacitor in series with it.

The last one is literally pulled out of my arse after looking a supercapacitors, capacitors and quantum capacitance. Hopefully it should get some decent power storage or serve as a stepping stone to a better tech. Expansion and extrapolation appreciated.

[Madman198237]

QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir'
Named for the mythological hammer of Thor, this terrifying device utilizes the immense power of a fusion reactor, combined with the incredible usefulness of our most recently invented superconductors as magnets. Together, they produce immense magnetic fields, capable of propelling a ferromagnetic slug through a series of magnetic "coils", each of which activated as the slug passes it and gives it another boost. The system will be heavily computerized and necessarily complicated to keep the magnets cool, but the expectation is that the 150mm slug will achieve incredible velocities. Part of the system is a series of capacitors, made using the most advanced technologies we can muster.

Leaving this here, please don't run a turn, I need to revise it and include an actual tech for the capacitors tomorrow morning.

Dang, I seem to be saying "I'll do it tomorrow" a lot nowadays...

[Jilladilla]

QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir': (1) Jilladilla
Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1:
Radio Frequency Resonant Cavity Thruster Mk1:
Nanoscale Supercapacitors:

[Thanatos Russ]

Supproting mjollnir

[Talion]

QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir': (3) Jilladilla, Talion, Thanatos Russ
Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1:
Radio Frequency Resonant Cavity Thruster Mk1:
Nanoscale Supercapacitors:

[NUKE9.13]

So, uh, I ain't gonna hold the game up just because one person asked. Sorry.
Cos, you know, these opening turns are meant to go relatively quick.

QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir'
Named for the mythological hammer of Thor, this terrifying device utilizes the immense power of a fusion reactor, combined with the incredible usefulness of our most recently invented superconductors as magnets. Together, they produce immense magnetic fields, capable of propelling a ferromagnetic slug through a series of magnetic "coils", each of which activated as the slug passes it and gives it another boost. The system will be heavily computerized and necessarily complicated to keep the magnets cool, but the expectation is that the 150mm slug will achieve incredible velocities. Part of the system is a series of capacitors, made using the most advanced technologies we can muster.

QS-MAC-97 'Mjolnir' (Normal): (1+4)=5: Average
With our existing powerful magnets and cooling systems, a basic coilgun is not beyond our abilities. The Mjolnir is a power-hungry beast, but our fusion reactor can easily feed it, or we can use banks of flywheels (or both). This does mean the Mjolnir isn't exactly portable, although mounting it on a spaceship shouldn't be a problem. It could also be used on large vehicles (like boats), or installed in fixed defensive installations.
It fires a 150mm slug at a very appreciable velocity, giving it considerable range in-atmosphere, and the potential to deal significant damage to anything it hits. We believe greater velocities (and thus range and damage) can be achieved, but we hadn't the time to truly perfect coilgun tech. The rate of fire is 4 per minute with perfect power supplies (lesser power supplies may take longer to recharge the flywheels)
It is a pricy beast. At the moment our only means of deploying it is as a fixed installation- the parts will take up 2TC, and require at least 50% control of a planet to construct, costing 1GPP for four installations. Such Mjolnir installations are also under construction in strategic locations on Quillus (and won't cost us anything).
We estimate that eight of these would add 1SPP to a spaceship (and require the ship to have at least a fusion reactor)(You are not required to add multiples of 8; you can add 4 at a cost of .5SPP, etc.)


It is now the revision phase of SY97.

[Jilladilla]

Right, next thing on the agenda: Infantry weapon. Let's exploit our metallic 3D-Printer to mass produce assault rifles? (I suppose we could try for a handheld coilgun though. But I don't think we'll be able to get that to be 'Cheap' and it'd require some of our ground production points. That, and miniaturization on that much of a scale... Is probably worthy of a design...)


QS-AS-97 'Pincushion'
The Pincushion Assault Rifle is a recreation of the longstanding main weapon of infantry over the course of many, many years. The weapon itself will be 3D-Printed at the Auto-Forge, as well as any appropriate add-ons like the standard 30-round magazines or carry straps. Overall, this 8x50mm bullet firing weapon is expected to be adequate as the basic primary weapon for our ground troops, even if it isn't expected to be particularly advanced.

[Madman198237]

QS-IRW-97 'Orion'
Basically nothing more than a magazine-fed tube with a low-magnification midrange scope on top, the Infantry Rocket Weapon Weapon 'Orion' uses electrical sparks to ignite rocket-propelled 15mm "bullets", which uses angled nozzles to induce spin like a regular bullet, stabilizing its flight almost as effectively (Slightly uneven burning may introduce unpredictable instabilities)  as rifling with a regular bullet. The projectile itself is shaped roughly like a bullet cartridge, though the 'cartridge' section is no wider than the 'bullet' (To improve aerodynamics) and has a set of four small nozzles at the back, which are angled to induce spin. The 'cartridge' section is filled with solid rocket fuel, and is ignited by a spark from the gun itself.

QS-IRW-97 'Orion': (2) Madman, Nemonole

[NUKE9.13]

QS-IRW-97 'Orion'
Basically nothing more than a magazine-fed tube with a low-magnification midrange scope on top, the Infantry Rocket Weapon Weapon 'Orion' uses electrical sparks to ignite rocket-propelled 15mm "bullets", which uses angled nozzles to induce spin like a regular bullet, stabilizing its flight almost as effectively (Slightly uneven burning may introduce unpredictable instabilities)  as rifling with a regular bullet. The projectile itself is shaped roughly like a bullet cartridge, though the 'cartridge' section is no wider than the 'bullet' (To improve aerodynamics) and has a set of four small nozzles at the back, which are angled to induce spin. The 'cartridge' section is filled with solid rocket fuel, and is ignited by a spark from the gun itself.

QS-IRW-97 'Orion' (Hard): (2+1)-1=2: Utter Failure
Well. At least this will be a short writeup.
What went wrong? Short answer: everything. Even just making the barrel turned out to be trickier than we thought- since the Printed Pistol doesn't really provide much experience in this department. The bullets? No matter what we tried, they explode in the barrel. To be fair, we didn't try that much, since we spent the majority of our time trying to miniaturise the rocket mechanism.
At least we've learnt something about rocket-propelled bullets and basic gunmaking, even if we have nothing to show for it.


Another year over.
Hype continues to build for the D Mission. Concerns are raised that the rollover into a new century might cause problems, but that's silly. A popular oracle predicted that the mission will face a disaster that will lead to the death of millions.
In order to prevent this disaster, weapons research must continue. It is now the design phase of SY98

[Jilladilla]

Right. That failed... Guess we're going to have to ditch either infantry armor or the light vehicle then..

So, thruster is up next.

Well, Khazinthedark's thruster seems good enough, so let's go with that?

Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1: (1) Jilladilla
  -Name it QS-MPDT-98 'Comet Trail': (1) Jilladilla
  -Name it (insert name here)
  -Leave it as is

[Talion]

In the name of providing alternatives, instead of better engines we could rely on armour.

Circulatory Armour System ‘CAS-Steel’
The circulatory armour system is a scaleable printed armour layer with space made for a functional circulatory system. A special semi-solid plastic is pumped around the inside of the armour at a higher pressure than that found outside it. In the event of a breach of the armour down to or past the circulation; the semi-solid will naturally be circulated through the damaged area, where it will expand and solidify due to the lack of pressure, sealing the damage. This armour achieves scalability via an artery system that runs perpendicular to the standard circulation, allowing for variable armour thickness.

[Madman198237]

QS-MHD-98 'Apollo'
Named for the Greek god of the Sun, this upgrade to our thruster capabilities promises to spit plasma, just like the Sun. Using superconductor-aided magnetic fields, some spare heat from our reactor (And a lot of thermodynamics and magnetics and compression, etc.), and a store of materials, this MagnetoHydroDynamic Drive system superheats materials into plasma, and then fires them through the magnetic fields and out of nozzles at the back of the vessel, accelerating it. The heavier the atoms used in the plasma, the more efficient (And expensive) the drive is at fast accelerations. Namely, ships might be provided with small stocks of lead or gold, depending on the heat required to turn them into plasmas, for rapid combat maneuvering. Standard fuel would be produced from water, namely the hydrogen non-deuterium hydrogen (The kind that is not as useful for fusion). The fusion products of our reactors, whatever cannot be reused, will also be used as reaction mass in the thrusters. The oxygen would be retained for breathable air or perhaps use in chemical fuels for missiles and Orion microrockets...whenever the Orion works.

Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1: (1) Jilladilla
  -Name it QS-MPDT-98 'Comet Trail': (1) Jilladilla
  -Name it (insert name here)
  -Leave it as is
QS-MHD-98 'Apollo': (1) Madman

[Jilladilla]

Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1:
  -Name it QS-MPDT-98 'Comet Trail':
  -Name it (insert name here)
  -Leave it as is
QS-MHD-98 'Apollo': (2) Madman, Jilladilla

I'll be honest, I like this more..

[Talion]

Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Mk1:
  -Name it QS-MPDT-98 'Comet Trail':
  -Name it (insert name here)
  -Leave it as is
QS-MHD-98 'Apollo': (3) Madman, Jilladilla, Talion

[NUKE9.13]

QS-MHD-98 'Apollo'
Named for the Greek god of the Sun, this upgrade to our thruster capabilities promises to spit plasma, just like the Sun. Using superconductor-aided magnetic fields, some spare heat from our reactor (And a lot of thermodynamics and magnetics and compression, etc.), and a store of materials, this MagnetoHydroDynamic Drive system superheats materials into plasma, and then fires them through the magnetic fields and out of nozzles at the back of the vessel, accelerating it. The heavier the atoms used in the plasma, the more efficient (And expensive) the drive is at fast accelerations. Namely, ships might be provided with small stocks of lead or gold, depending on the heat required to turn them into plasmas, for rapid combat maneuvering. Standard fuel would be produced from water, namely the hydrogen non-deuterium hydrogen (The kind that is not as useful for fusion). The fusion products of our reactors, whatever cannot be reused, will also be used as reaction mass in the thrusters. The oxygen would be retained for breathable air or perhaps use in chemical fuels for missiles and Orion microrockets...whenever the Orion works.

QS-MHD-98 'Apollo' (Normal): (4+4)=8: Unexpected Boon
Let's see Ertex outrace us now! The Apollo thrusters produce- compared to our previous chemical thrusters- a frankly obscene amount of thrust with ludicrous efficiency. Hydrogen is heated to plasma, then accelerated by powerful magnetic fields to some extremely high speeds. Additionally, the option exists to inject heavier elements into the plasma for a boost in thrust, at the expense of fuel efficiency. I should mention that the numbers we are getting from the test engines are blowing holes in our existing models of magneto-plasma-dynamics; it's more powerful than even the theoretical limits to this tech, let alone the practical ones.
Of course, the Apollo thrusters do need a lot of power. Really, fission generators aren't gonna cut it.
So with some leftover time, we made the Stardust reactor substantially smaller, to the point where it can easily be mounted on a spaceship. We've even sketched out some basic hull designs featuring a Stardust reactor and Apollo thrusters- when we get round to building a ship, it's going to be a piece of cake.


It is now the revision phase of SY98.