Deep Space Journal No 2. (an interesting conclusion to the second test)
16 Feb 2020Kris Afron
Well now that was interesting and un-anticipated although thinking it through logically makes it understandable (see later).But first the numbers, having arrived at Ross 780 and docked at Aristotle Gateway to measure the fuel consumption.
Journey time 76 minutes (started at 14:25 and finished at 15:41). The distance was further, but I reached a faster peak speed and sustained it all the way here. So there wasn't any turnover or deceleration - that caused an issue which I'll come to later.
The Hauler ran at 1.09 tonnes of fuel per hour and this journey also used 5% of the fuel reserve. Peak speed was definitely 2001c.
What this is telling me is that the Hauler is probably a bit more fuel efficient, but since it carries less fuel it might not go so far.
Adder, 0.21 ly for 5% fuel, so 4.2 ly for 36 tonnes of fuel, 0.116 ly/tonne.
Hauler, 0.23 ly for 5% fuel, so 4.6 ly for 28 tonnes of fuel, 0.164 ly/tonne, so actually it could go further on a full fuelling.
Obviously different ships would give different numbers.
Now to the travel issue I mentioned at the start. Because the FSD has not been used the navigation system thought I was still at IL Aquarii, albeit 0.23 ly away, and there was no turnover or deceleration so I whipped through Ross 780 at 2001c without stopping (and effectively missed it!) - lucky I didn't hit anything, at a relativistic speed of 2001c it would have made a mess of the entire system. The trick here is to use the FSD right at the end of the journey, say at about 50,000 to 100,000 ls out. Then you emerge into the system at the normal entry point near the barycentre. One conclusion to be drawn here is that you can't go direct to Hutton Orbital, you have to enter Alpha Centauri first and then supercruise there.
The other thing that this tells me is that it is possible to achieve my original aim of Sol to Alpha Centauri all the way in supercruise, but I'd do it in the Hauler. That little bit of extra range and the fact that it is a better ride so I'm going to sell the Adder.
My next journey will be Procyon to Luyten's star a distance of 1.16 ly, my estimate is that it will take somewhere between 5 and 6.5 hours. Then I'll start looking for a pair of stars about 2 ly apart before I do the run from Sol to Alpha Centauri (I better take some entertainment with me when i do).
CMDR Kris Afron signing off. Fly safely commanders.