Ok, figured it out for now (That card reference document is a lifesaver):
Decomission the reactor in the Bernal (Bernal is no longer promoted).
ET produce that reactor into my rocket stack. It’s now a 4/2 rocket with no need of therms.
Net 1WT income op.
Next turn: decommission and ET produce the thruster in the rocket stack, making it a 5/1. And another income op (no event between now and then).
This should cover me for two turns, since I have 5 cards in hand and thus can’t participate in auctions.