IIRC to get really good ISP you need a -huge- Orion. The Jupiter mission configuration that this addon is based on is trounced in that department by VASMIR (assuming VASMIR can overcome it's hurdles). It can obtain dV ~75km/s *, vs VASMIR's (probable) 100-300km/s
Orion is great in combining good ISP with high thrust...AFAIK it's the -best- way to get massive amounts of stuff into orbit, with the shortest R&D / assembly time...which is why it's the launcher of choice for fictional scenarios of desperation; deep impact, footfall, etc.
Tis a shame about that small radiation issue.
* 60's eta materiel / bomb technology.
Then there's the other pulse drives: Mini-Mag, ACMF, and AIMStar.
Concept: ISP(m/s) / Thrust
(One can probably simulate the performance of these with this addon by editing .cfg)
Orion 20m: 43,000 / 263,000
MiniMag: 210,000 / 625,000
ACMF: 132,300 /100,000
AIM: 598,000/ 55
MPD: 314,000 / 20,000
VASMIR: 294,000 / 40
Figures are from
http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/enginelist.php#The_Drive_Table which seems (reasonably) accurate.
---------- Post added at 05:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:10 AM ----------
(snip)
that large pusher plate could also be used as a radiation shield against solar flares, as well as an aerobraking shield.
(snip)
Ahh I knew I forgot something! There are no aerodynamic settings. Tossing into TODO bucket, suggestions welcome.