...thanks for the kind comments to us all.
Have you consider alternative propulsion systems in your analysis? While NEPs can do the job there are other, possibly cheaper, approaches to sending out "messages in a bottle" at low sub-light speeds - solar and plasma-sails as well as the laser and particle-beam pushed versions of the same. These eliminate the need for rockets and allow a smaller reactor to be used for cruise phase power.
I think, if we're sticking to just 0.001 c (a "milli-cee"?) that the Plasma Magnet design study by John Slough - published at NASA's NIAC - holds the most promise. It can get multi-megawatt thrust power out of mere kilowatts going into the plasma sail - in theory. A 1000-fold enhancement to your analysis!
sincerely
Adam Crowl
Space/Science » in reply to re: I stand corrected, in more ways than one
Hey Chris...