Spaceship blog 5
Space Shuttle
In all of its thousands variants and modifications the humble space shuttle, is perhaps one of the most ubiquitous starships in the galaxy.
All simple models have atmospheric wings, good life support, and a spacious cargo hold. The vessel is capable of hauling one standard cargo container or a small ground vehicle. Most shuttles are fifty meters long and twenty meters wide. Their atmospheric wings fold to conserve space when docking on space stations or big starships.
This craft can be crewed by as few as two and as many as five or even six crewmen. Those can be pilots, engineers, and star troopers, under the command of a proper captain. Yet, in most cases shuttlecraft carry a bunch of unruly colonists off to conquer the surface of a distant planetoid, their shuttle’s cargo hold full to the brim with tools and supplies.
“Beautiful but fragile. Often your shuttle may be one shot away from turning into a heap of scrap.”
Shuttlecraft can be modified to perform almost any task you need them to. From replacing your cargo hold and installing comfortable passenger seats, luxurious life support system and top of the line grav-plating, to butchering the hull, plasma welding on it folding mining drills, the possibilities are nigh endless.
Spacers of the Terran Minarchy are some of the rare few individuals who build their own exploratory shuttlecraft. A true marvel of spaceship engineering, those vessels sacrifice the spacious cargo hold in favor of larger fuel capacity, weapons, and specialized, long-range sensor array. Those are more often than not are built by the youngest daughter of each Spacer family.
The youth begins designing her ship in her early childhood, procuring the funds (or parts) by working part-time for other family members. After completion, the design is tested in outer space – usually in some dangerous environment or even a battle. The now grown up daughter uses this very shuttle to explore Terran space in search of a husband.
“Militarily designed shuttles are always a sight to behold. They are also the first target you lock your cannons on.”
The Terran Minarchy employs military shuttlecraft designed to accompany combat units. Those shuttles are armed with point defense turrets, their hull is covered with armor-plating and more often than not are protected by energy shields. Far from being a combat support vessel like the sturdy dropship, a military shuttle is nevertheless invaluable to any infantry unit, or a starfighter squadron for that matter.
The Terrans equip their combat shuttles with top of the line engines and boosters, ensuring that if their craft faces something they couldn’t handle, the ship could escape. Often employed to ferry groundpounders between their mothership and a planetary surface, military shuttles are considered to be the tough workhorses of a fleet supply unit.
Mainstream civilian models produced by an infinite multitude of manufacturers around the Galaxy, have unsuccessfully tried for thousands of years to corner the most important market of all – recreation. Let us face it, the common shuttlecraft is the equivalent of a caravan, but in space. You have the freedom to visit a not-so-distant solar system, your shuttle’s cargo hold packed full with camping gear. Or better yet, instead of that gear a rugged sports car for alien off-road activities.
Owning even a simple space shuttle could greatly expand the range of activities a galactic denizen partakes. During the centuries of exploring people’s past time activities, companies have developed special models called Leisure-craft.
Imagine fellow fishing enjoyers, reaching some distant planet and by use of your shuttle’s grav-engines, hover above its seas, lakes, fishing.
Peace and quiet.
Perpetual bliss.
It is just you, the hum of your shuttle grav-drive and, of course, the fish swimming in the murky waters below. There is no one in sight and as a matter of fact, there is no one in light years.
Well... perhaps some pirates might pop up accidentally?
Them, or a “friendly” slaver, out to get unsuspecting tourists who wander around in their shuttlecraft in search of peace and quiet.
Please check @Mister_Brushface and his channel. He gives voice to my words and has recorded many of my spaceship blogs:
Scout Fighters Starfighters Strike Craft Interceptors Space Shuttle Escape Pod Modular Ships Escort ships Corvettes
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Twin Suns Of Carrola - Starshatter book 2
Treads Of Vengeance - Starshatter book 3
Von Braun's Gambit - Starshatter book 4
Secrets Of Lothoria - Starshatter book 5
Final Liberation - Starshatter book 6
Princes Of The Stars - Starshatter book 7
A Mandate Of Sword And Railgun - Starshatter story anthology 1
The Blood Of Tyrants - Starshatter story anthology 2
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