Fuels and Energy
| Drive Type | Typical Isp (s) | Typical Fuel | Cost | Infrastructure Dependence | Typical Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methalox Chemical | 350-380 | Methane / LOX | Low | Low | General-purpose launches and orbital transfers |
| Hydrolox Chemical | 430-460 | Hydrogen / LOX | Medium | Low | High-performance launches, landers, and transfer craft |
| AluLOX Chemical | 300-350 | Aluminum / Oxygen | Low (Luna) | Low | Lunar shuttles and surface operations |
| HELL-V | 800-1200* | Laser + Hydrogen | Medium | Very High | Surface-to-orbit launch |
| Nuclear Thermal Rocket (Hydrogen) | 850-950 | Hydrogen | High | Low | Deep-space exploration and fast transport |
| Nuclear Thermal Rocket (Ammonia) | 350-450 | Ammonia | Medium | Low | Cargo transport and bulk freight |
| Laser Thermal | 1000-3000 | Hydrogen, Water, or Ammonia | Low fuel cost | High | Laser Highway traffic |
| Laser Sail | Effectively Unlimited | None | Very Low fuel cost | Very High | Bulk cargo and long-duration transport |