Ion thruster upgrade modules.

Hi hello!

I'm here to propose the addition of upgrade modules for ion thrusters - these thrusters are by far the weakest and the most expensive, but also the easiest to work with on account of their smaller form factor compared to atmospheric thrusters, and not needing a conveyor connection (and fuel) unlike hydrogen thrusters.

So why add upgrade modules for them if they seem reasonably well balanced?

Well, they're weak. Extremely weak. You have to plaster your ships in ion thrusters to make them achieve anything even remotely resembling acceleration within the frame of a human lifetime. These upgrade modules would dramatically increase their thrust output whilst increasing their power usage by a somewhat smaller margin. You no longer need to have walls of thrusters, only the space behind them for the modules!

This would, I feel, stay balanced, as the increase in power draw and larger form factor would discourage heavy usage, and having fewer thrusters kicking out the same amount of force would mean you're more at risk if you're parked in planetary gravity -- less bullets have to be expended to kill your stationkeeping ability.

Thank you!

Edit: Additionally, adding upgrade modules to Ion Thrusters would also better follow the progression/tech "tiers" of the Survival Kit > Basic Assembler/Refinery > Full Assembler/Refinery, wherein the final tier has access to upgrade modules. Similarly, for most players, thruster progression will be Atmospheric Thrusters > Hydrogen Thrusters > Ion Thrusters.