From: root@mauve.demon.co.uk   
      
   Joann Evans  wrote:   
   > Charlie wrote:   
   >   
   >   
   >> The critical factor in this design is the low cost of development,   
   >> when compared to nuclear, laser, or even modern cryogenic rockets.   
   >> The propellants are cheap, fairly safe to handle and store, and the   
   >> exhaust is virtually non-toxic.  Microwave generators of the required   
   >> power are also fairly cheap and off-the-shelf.  Power cutoff in the   
   >> event of an accident can be achieved within microseconds.   
   >   
   >   Even if that's so, how much would the required amount of microwave   
   > grnerators weigh? How much volume would they occupy? Same question of   
   > their power source. And the waste heat radiators. And the support   
   > structure for it all. This matters, if you intend to push a spaceship   
   > with it.   
      
   The idea is I think that the microwave generators are not on the   
   ship, just antennas to focus and transmit it to the chamber from   
   a source on the ground/atmosphere.   
   This is a smaller, though not tiny problem.   
      
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