Extended Duration Survey Pod

BARD PAPER:SARA5043

The Extended Duration Survey Pod is intended to allow the Belladonna to operate away from home for extended periods, gathering scientific data and investigating planetary sites of interest. The pod combines three main functions; cargo, science and planetary research.

Cargo; half the pod is cargo space, allowing stores for extended missions to be carried, extra ballute fuel tanks, artifact recovery or mass transport.

Science; eight labs with two scientists per lab are connected to the Belladonna's main sensor systems although the pod carries four dedicated science computers. These labs will concentrate more on astronomy and orbital surveying, due to the inclusion of the PortaLabs. A hangar bay for a shuttle is also carried, intended mainly to serve as a utility transport craft for the PortaLabs and for atmospheric sample gathering. A small contingent of troops is embarked, intended to provide protection for landing teams in dangerous conditions. There's also a pair of probe launchers.

Planetary Survey; four massive clamshell doors in the belly of the pod conceal four 60dt self-contained deployable bases; the PortaLabs. Each may be hydraulically lowered down to the ground from under the grounded Clipper to act as a remote research base. The PortaLabs are constructed as self-contained spacecraft and can survive more or less any conditions from zero-G vacuum up to 4G (has AG) and corrosive atmosphere. Each contains four labs, sensors and an air-raft hangar, plus five staterooms for the crew of ten and a 6 ton cargo bay. Oh yeah, and a 5Mj 800rof laser turret for self defence. The crews do not live in the units while they are in storage.

The theory runs that the Clipper moves to the most habitable world, puts ComSats into orbit and drops off the PortaLabs in four seperate locations, probably with the shuttle. It then leaves them to study the rest of the system or do whatever interests the captain. The labs can be picked up when the Clipper leaves, or some may be left behind for extended study.

Extended Duration Survey Pod

General Data

Displacement: 1000 tons	Hull Armor: NA
Length: 41.47 meters	Volume: 14,000 m³
Price: 78 MCr	Target Size: NA
Configuration: 2:1 Cylinder	Tech Level: 12
Mass (Loaded/Unloaded):3,992.6 / 1,591.7

Engineering Data

Power Plant: 85 MW Fusion Power Plant, 1 year duration (12.8 m3 fuel)

Jump Performance: NA

Jump Fuel: NA

G-Rating: NA

G-Turns: NA

Maint: 194

Electronics

Computer: 85 MW Fusion Power Plant, 1 year duration (12.8 m3 fuel)

Commo: NA

Avionics: NA

Sensors: NA

ECM/ECCM: NA

Controls: No bridge, Standard Automation

Armament

Offensive 2xTL-12 MissileTurret/Probe Launcher (Loc:0-Arcs:0;0 MW;No crew)

Defensive: None

Master Fire Directors: None

Accommodations

Life Support: Extended Life Support (2.8MW)

Grav Compensation: 3Gs (69.97 MW)

Crew: 66 ( Main Pod;8xShip's Troops, 2xFlight, 16xScientists, Portalabs; 32xScientists, 4xEngineers, 4xSteward)

Crew Accommodations: 40xSmall Stateroom (0.5 kW)

Passenger Accomadation: None

Other Facilities: 8xLaboratory (0.8 MW)

Cargo: 7000 m³ 29 Large Cargo Hatches. 4x840m3 PortaLabs (4x60 tons), 4xClamshell Bay Doors 32x7m3 probes in magazine. May be replaced with missiles.

Small Craft and Launch Facilities: 30-ton minimal hangar for landing cutter

Air Locks: 10

Notes

As this is only a pod, many of the standard starship entries make little sense; these are marked NA.