[gurps] [VEHICLE] of the week 759 - OHI Automated Heavy Lift Shuttle

[Zan Lynx]

Onno Meyer wrote:

> There are also per-trip costs for the drop pods (retrieval, for 
> one). I can't give you the exact figure, which probably depends 
> on local conditions, but the order-of-magnitude should give an 
> indication that disposables are not cost-efficient. Say the 
> water for the shuttle is as expensive as the tug for the pod, 
> and the maintenance for each flight is 2.5% of sticker price, 
> and the shuttle pays for itself after 40 flights, not 20. Both
> trivial numbers for a technology that is as mature as jet 
> airliners are today.

All right, so drop pods are a bad idea.
But don't forget to account for the runway repair costs over time as 
well. :D

-- 
Zan Lynx
zlynx at acm.org

"Knowledge is Power.  Power Corrupts.  Study Hard.  Be Evil."