Requirements-Driven Designs for Human Expansion into the Galaxy

J.T. Early (2001), JBIS, 54, 14-18

Refcode: 2001.54.14

Abstract:
Interstellar designs based on long-term expansion requirements rather than the minimization of expenses for initial trips will favour propulsion systems such as fusion which require only mining of new fuel to relaunch the spaceship. Most settlements in new star systems will have to launch only a single starship to continue the human expansion. Fusion based propulsion systems will place the fewest demands upon a new colony for launching this starship and may also offer some advantages during the initial settlement of a star system.