Burleson Intersystem Drive

[Gorignak]

Just finished listening to the Trader's Tales by Nathan Lowell for the 3rd time. It seems that his method of interstellar transport could be adapted to KSP. Basically, they travel at sub-light speeds (usually solar sails for economy but sometimes chemical engines aka "kickers" for speed) to the edge of the system. When they reach the edge of the gravity well, they activate a "Burleson Drive" which folds space and they appear at the edge of the destination system.

The distance between systems is in BUs (Burleson Units). How far you can jump and how close to the origin and destination systems depends of a formula of local gravity, ship's mass, size of Burleson drive, and how much power you can shove into the drive at a burst (capacitor/battery dump).

I figure the generation of a new system using random numbers and a texture pallet shouldn't be too hard. I wouldn't include multiple biomes in the first couple of versions. In the game you would have to have non-orbiting stationary beacons locked onto the system primary at both systems for navigational alignment. Discovering a new system would be a matter of placing a beacon, sending out probes along that direction. I suggest having a beacon on the probe, so it can return and the probes unmanned in case they just disappear on jump.

Finding the new planets, if any, in the new system would be awesome, but I don't think it's possible with the program the way it is. New types of stars would also be good. I think this mod would be perfect for use with MKS/OKS, Remote-Tech, and TAC Life Support. Let me know suggestions.

[hab136]

Look at Kerbal Warp Drive, and/or any of the faster-than-light drives

[Gorignak]

Those mods only work within the original system. This would add new systems as well. Parameciumkid's Para-Sci Jump Drive and ESLD Jump Beacons are the closest. I was just thinking of quantum entangled communications if remote-tech is installed.