Thrust throttling using mass flow and exhaust velocity

[corundscale]

Feature request.

Low thrust modes could work by decreasing propellant mass flow while keeping the same power (thus increasing exhaust velocity and delta-v budget at the cost of thrust).

This way low thrust modes could be used for interplanetary transits, while high thrust for some orbital maneuvers, liftoff, landing and combat.

It could help make low thrust modes more relevant to gameplay, make fuel management matter even in combat and would be soundly grounded in actual physics and real life space propulsion research.

Would require autopilot support to work (autopilot would have to use the right thrust setting).

[impaktor]

Would require autopilot support to work (autopilot would have to use the right thrust setting).

Maximum auto pilot thrust can be set using F8, so is this something different? Not #2896 ?

[corundscale]

It is something different.

2896 deals solely with interface. My suggestion deals solely with mechanics (instead of throttling the mass flow at constant exhaust velocity, throttle both mass flow and exhaust velocity so as to keep constant power) to mimic fairly commonsensical way of making an engine capable of both high thrust and high efficiency (though not at the same time) used in actually researched propulsion systems (VASIMR) and to make fuel management more interesting and low thrust modes more relevant to gameplay (not just for fine maneuvering).

Of course #2896 and this idea would work together perfectly.