Fuels and Energy
Fuel and Energy Sources for Spacecraft
| Drive Type | Typical Isp (s) | Fuel Category | Cost | Infrastructure Dependence | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methalox Chemical | 350-380 | A | Low | Low | General-purpose launches and orbital transfers |
| Hydrolox Chemical | 430-460 | B | Medium | Low | High-performance launches, landers, and transfer craft |
| AluLOX Chemical | 300-350 | C | Low (Luna) | Low | Lunar shuttles and surface operations |
| HELL-V | 800-1200 | B | Medium | Very High | Surface-to-orbit launch |
| Nuclear Thermal Rocket (Hydrogen) | 850-950 | B | High | Low | Deep-space exploration and fast transport |
| Nuclear Thermal Rocket (Ammonia) | 350-450 | D | Medium | Low | Cargo transport and bulk freight |
| Laser Thermal | 1000-3000 | B, C, D | Low fuel cost | High | Laser Highway traffic |
| Laser Sail | — | None | Very Low fuel cost | Very High | Bulk cargo and long-duration transport |
Fuel Station Codes
| Code | Service |
|---|---|
| A | Methalox available |
| B | Hydrolox available |
| C | AluLOX available |
| D | Ammonia available |
| E | Laser Highway beam services available |
| F | Water available in commercial quantities |
For ease, fuel costs relative to Mongoose are one jump = 1 burn; same 500/ton as a base cost.
Water and Space Travel
Water is one of the most important commodities in the Solar System. It can be used directly as reaction mass in some propulsion systems, converted into hydrogen and oxygen for conventional rocket fuels, or employed for life support and radiation shielding.
Unlike most fuels, water does not have a single specific impulse. Its performance depends entirely on the engine and heat source being used. The rise of Laser Highway propulsion has dramatically increased the value of water-rich locations throughout cislunar space and the asteroid belt.
Travel Costs
Travel within the Solar System is usually priced in stages. A passenger leaving Earth buys a launch ticket to orbit, then separate passage aboard an orbital vehicle or Deep Space Vehicle. This is why large stations such as Goddard Transfer Station matter so much: they are not just destinations, but transfer points.
The fares below are typical civilian prices. Corporate contracts, government travel, military transport, cargo charters and emergency passage use their own arrangements.
Earth to Low Earth Orbit
| Route | Regular Fare | Priority Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Quito Spaceport → Goddard Transfer Station | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Earth surface spaceport → Low Earth Orbit | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
Launch prices include atmospheric ascent aboard a reusable launch vehicle or spaceplane, transfer to the destination orbital facility, and standard baggage allowance.
Cislunar Passenger Fares
Cislunar travel is priced more like regional transport than interplanetary passage. Most passengers travel by chemical orbital vehicle, with fares based on the standard local-transfer rate.
| Route | Regular Fare | Priority Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Goddard Transfer Station → L1 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Goddard Transfer Station → L3, L4 or L5 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Goddard Transfer Station → Lunar Orbit | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| L1 → Luna | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| L1 → L4 or L5 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Luna → L4 or L5 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Luna → L2 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
| Luna → L3 | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 |
These fares cover normal scheduled passage. Faster service, private cabins, medical supervision, cargo accompaniment, security escorts and off-schedule departures cost more.
Common Earth-Origin Trips
| Trip | Regular Total | Priority Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Quito → Goddard Transfer Station | Cr5,000 | Cr10,000 | Earth launch only |
| Greater Quito → L1 | Cr10,000 | Cr20,000 | Launch plus cislunar transfer |
| Greater Quito → Luna | Cr10,000 | Cr20,000 | Launch plus transfer to lunar orbit or surface connection |
| Greater Quito → L5 | Cr10,000 | Cr20,000 | Launch plus transfer from Goddard |
Interplanetary Passenger Fares
Interplanetary fares are calculated separately from Earth launch or cislunar transfer costs. These prices cover passage aboard a Deep Space Vehicle.
| Ticket Type | Base Fare | Per Inner Planet Orbit Crossed | Per Outer Planet Orbit Crossed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Class | Cr10,000 | +Cr10,000 | +Cr80,000 |
| First Class | Cr20,000 | +Cr20,000 | +Cr100,000 |
Example: A second-class passenger traveling from Mercury to Mars crosses the orbits of Venus, Earth and Mars, for a total fare of Cr40,000 before any local launch or transfer costs are added.
Fast Nuclear Thermal Rocket vessels with Drive Rating 3 or higher charge an additional 10% × Drive Rating premium.
Cargo Rates
| Cargo | Base Cost | Per Inner Planet Orbit Crossed | Per Outer Planet Orbit Crossed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Freight | Cr2,000 per ton | +Cr2,000 per ton | +Cr15,000 per ton |
Fast NTR freighters with Drive Rating 3 or higher generally charge an additional 10% × Drive Rating premium.
Moon and Local Transfers
Passenger and freight movement within a single planetary system uses the local-transfer rate. In most cases this is half the normal base interplanetary fare. DSVs rarely handle this work unless they are already traveling the route for other reasons.
Typical local transfers include Earth orbit to Luna, Luna to L4/L5, Mars orbit to Phobos or Deimos, and Jovian moon-to-moon service.
Typical Operating Costs
| Expense | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Liquid hydrogen fuel | Cr500 per ton |
| Water reaction mass | Cr100 per ton |
| Berthing fees | Cr1,000 per week |
| Life support | Cr100 per person per week |
Typical Monthly Crew Salaries
| Position | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|
| Commander | Cr10,000 |
| Executive Officer | Cr6,000 |
| Senior Mission Specialist | Cr5,000 |
| Mission Specialist | Cr4,000 |
| Payload Specialist | Cr3,000 |