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Atomic engines use solid pellets of radioactive material, usually [[Wikipedia:Plutonium|plutonium]] or [[Wikipedia:Uranium|uranium]], of a standardized shape and size.<ref>10cm diameter cylinder weighing approximately 5kg (depending on actual composition) and is kept in a secured, lead-lined case; total weight of pellet and case is 10 kg)</ref> Each pellet costs 10,000 [[Credit]]s, and is available for purchase at Class I and II [[Ship Construction Centers|Construction Stations]], but due to their intrinsic value in the interstellar trade, are also found in Class III centers, most major spaceports and at locations where uranium is refined. |
Atomic engines use solid pellets of radioactive material, usually [[Wikipedia:Plutonium|plutonium]] or [[Wikipedia:Uranium|uranium]], of a standardized shape and size.<ref>10cm diameter cylinder weighing approximately 5kg (depending on actual composition) and is kept in a secured, lead-lined case; total weight of pellet and case is 10 kg)</ref> Each pellet costs 10,000 [[Credit]]s, and is available for purchase at Class I and II [[Ship Construction Centers|Construction Stations]], but due to their intrinsic value in the interstellar trade, are also found in Class III centers, most major spaceports and at locations where uranium is refined. |
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| β | Accelerating and decelerating at 1''g'', each engine consumes one pellet, leaving enough power for 1-10 additional days of thrust at 0.5''g'' and twice that powering ship's systems before it is reduced to depleted uranium, which provides no power to ship's systems.<ref>Landing does not appreciably use up the remaining power, but takeoff consumes a day's worth of 1/2 ''g'' acceleration.</ref> |
+ | Accelerating and decelerating at 1 ''g'', each engine consumes one pellet, leaving enough power for 1-10 additional days of thrust at 0.5''g'' and twice that powering ship's systems before it is reduced to depleted uranium, which provides no power to ship's systems.<ref>Landing does not appreciably use up the remaining power, but takeoff consumes a day's worth of 1/2 ''g'' acceleration.</ref> |
If the ship accelerates to void velocity and decelerates at 0.5''g'' or less at the destination, the pellet may provide 1d5 x 20 days of 1/2 ''g'' acceleration (twice that powering ship's systems).<ref>This is a slight modification of the official rule.</ref> These "half-spent" fuel pellets are also traded and sold and are commonly used in shuttles and orbiter/landers equipped with atomic drives instead of [[Chemical Drives|chemical rockets]] and also used to power some types of [[Power Generator#Nuclear|power generators]].<ref>Half-spent pellets may be only obtained in the secondary market; cost is usually 50-100 Cr per day of 1/2''g'' thrust.</ref> |
If the ship accelerates to void velocity and decelerates at 0.5''g'' or less at the destination, the pellet may provide 1d5 x 20 days of 1/2 ''g'' acceleration (twice that powering ship's systems).<ref>This is a slight modification of the official rule.</ref> These "half-spent" fuel pellets are also traded and sold and are commonly used in shuttles and orbiter/landers equipped with atomic drives instead of [[Chemical Drives|chemical rockets]] and also used to power some types of [[Power Generator#Nuclear|power generators]].<ref>Half-spent pellets may be only obtained in the secondary market; cost is usually 50-100 Cr per day of 1/2''g'' thrust.</ref> |
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