I'm struggling on ship and logistics designs for two reasons. I can't find enough real science about how to create a fusion type ship ( not rocket lol think mass effects Normandy sr2 in size and capability to land anywhere) I hit on this idea that under the ship could be small magnetic field thrusters to push the ships field using the same charge as the ships shields giving the illusion of repulsive lift.. any idea what kind of shield could dispense heat radiation and small impacts but act as a magnetic pillow? Not reducing mass per say but allowing lift? The second is if you're starting from basically nothing keeping in mind both techs are new and no industry yet exists for mass production and you are forced to strip mine earth? what's the best moveable space dock platform to take advantage of the bad situation? I do think they'd start space sledding as step one and use what conventional craft and fission to place what they could in orbit while to building dedicated ships meant for solar system travel only . The dock/station has to be self sufficient for 50,000 - 250,000 people as the staging area for deep space. I can't decide between a Standford torus/ o cylinder hybrid so it could be assembled in pieces or the space dock and ring type set up?