SC-32 Gossamer Space Shuttle

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 05/05/2005)

The Gossamer is an unarmed space shuttle. It is designed to transport cargo to Moon Base Luna and Space Station Liberty. Their layout reflects these simple design goals. They were designed for rapid production and as such have a questionable reliability. Like with the old pre-war shuttles, the Gossamer is launched vertically from a platform. The design mounts a cockpit up front, a small cargo bay behind that, closed by a full-length hinged door, and six main engines mounted at the stern. Two delta wings are mounted at the rear, and two tails spring from the corners of the box-like fuselage. The Gossamer uses a liquid fuel tank package attached to the underside to provide sufficient reaction mass for long trips, thus increasing its delta-v by 6 kps. The shuttles require a detachable fuel tank to launch if they are fully loaded, even if a high atmospheric altitude is their destination.

Ship Information:

• Ship Class: Personnel Shuttle
• Year Commissioned: 2022 CE
• Crew: 3, one Pilot, one Copilot, and one Navigator
• Passengers: Up to 120 people with full combat gear can fit in the cargo bay.

Vehicle Complement:

• Mecha Complement:
The ship can accommodate 8 mecha of any type used by the Armies of the Southern Cross.

M.D.C. by location:

• Airlock Access Hatches - 80 each
• Cargo Bay Doors (2) - 150 each
• Wings (2) - 300 each
• Tail Fins (2) - 200 each
• Main Engines (6) - 600 each
• Auxiliary Engines (6) - 400 each
• Detachable Booster Unit - 750
• Hull Regions (4) - 250 each
• Main Body - 1000 *


M.D.C. Armor Rating - Hull Region: 7
M.D.C. Armor Rating - Main Body: 15
Notes:

*

Destroying the main engines will severely impair the ship, forcing it to rely on its auxiliary engine. If both the main and auxiliary engines are put out of commission, the ship will be floating dead in space or will crash if the damage occurs in atmosphere. The loss of the auxiliary engines will not impair the ship in any way. Even if both engine systems are shut down, all other systems will continue to function.

**

Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut down the entire ship, including life support, gravity control, communications, weapons, and engines.

Speed:

• Sublight: Can travel at up to 8 percent of the speed of light (0.08c) and accelerate / decelerate at a rate of 0.15 percent of light (0.0015c) per melee.
• Atmospheric Propulsion: Mach 2.5 (1862.5 mph / 3000 km/h) with a maximum ceiling of 9.3 miles (15 km).
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but onboard supplies for the crew and troops will last for 1 week before the ship needs to be restocked.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 60' (18.3 m)
• Width: 83' (25.3 m)
• Length: 263' (80.2 m)
• Weight: 440.9 tons (400 metric tons)
• Reactor System: Mk-II Protoculture Reactor with a life span of 10 years.
• Propulsion System: Chemical Rocket
• Gravity System: Internal
• Cargo: The rear two-thirds of the shuttle is a large cargo hold capable of carrying up to 8 mecha, 120 troops, or several tons of cargo. In addition, there is a storage space for personal belongings and reasonable luggage for the crew.

Weapon Systems: None

Special Systems:

1. Electronic Warfare System
   The ship is equipped with a standard Southern Cross EW suite.
   • ECM: 1
   • ECCM: 0
   • EWS Abilities: None.

Standard Systems:

1. Life Support System
   The ship has a fully operational life support system that provides fresh atmosphere throughout the ship. The life support system can sustain a maximum of 150 people indefinitely or 250 people for a short period of time in case of an emergency.
2. Communication Systems
   The ship is equipped with three communication systems. The first is a long range laser system with a maximum range of 100,000 miles (160,934 km), the transmissions travel at the speed of light, but they rely on line of sight, so it cannot communicate with a ship that is on the other side of a solid object. The second system is a long range radio system with a maximum range of 6000 miles (9656 km), the transmissions travel at the speed of light, but they are easy to intercept and jam. The third system is a satellite relay system that allows the ship to boost the range of the other communication systems indefinitely by using satellites or other ships to relay the transmission. The ship's communication array can contact with up to 20 ships simultaneously.
3. Sensor Systems
   The ship is equipped with two sensor systems. The first is the Electromagnetic Detection Equipment that detects other sensor systems at twice the maximum range of their transmitter. The second is a powerful array that uses standard radar waves, which are fairly easy to jam, but it is obvious when the radar array is being jammed. The sensor can track tiny targets at a range of up to 3000 miles (4828 km), small targets at a range of up to 30,000 miles (48,280 km), medium targets at a range of up to 60,000 miles (96,561 km), and large targets at a range of up to 90,000 miles (144,841). See Human Ship Systems for more details on sensor systems.
4. Targeting Computer System
   Connecting the ship's sensor systems with the weapon systems is the Targeting Computer System. The system is designed to control all of the weapons currently equipped on the ship. This system can track up to 15 targets simultaneously, providing detailed information about the targets from the ships data files.

Combat Summary:

• ECM: 1
• ECCM: 0
• Combat Actions: 1
• Targeting System: Can track up to 15 targets simultaneously.