This redirect does not require a rating on Wikipedia's content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects:

Science Fiction This redirect is within the scope of WikiProject Science Fiction, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of science fiction on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Science FictionWikipedia:WikiProject Science FictionTemplate:WikiProject Science Fictionscience fiction articles

The article incorrectly described the use of the term in Heinlein's fiction, where it referred to a drive that supposedly converted any mass directly into energy. (Heinlein also described nuclear fission powered rockets, but didn't call them torchships in his stories.)

The originator of the term may be Heinlein, but it predates Double Star as it was referenced in Farmer in the Sky (1950). The drive or ships using Mass conversion are also referred to as Ortega Torchships and Ortega was the name of the Chief Engineer aboard the Mayflower, the torchship in Farmer in the Sky. Torchships were also referenced in Heinlein's Time for the Stars (1956). I would change the article to reflect the earlier usage, but I'm not sure if there's a still earlier usage.. Jason P Crowell 00:36, 7 September 2007 (UTC) reply

A Torchship , a converted Torchship is also in Heinlein's Starman Jones (1953), tho there the drive has been replaced with a 'field effect' technology. aajacksoniv ( talk) —Preceding undated comment added 14:01, 6 April 2017 (UTC) reply