LARGE SPACECRAFT

Model:
ESA Albatros
Drive:
chemical
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:
7
Crew:
5
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
6
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 1 shuttle Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
1
DP:
9
Overkill:
3

Cost: 450 million eb
The Albatros is an odd hybrid – a spaceplane, carrying a space shuttle piggy-back. ESA means these to work as lift-off platforms for shuttles, allowing a shuttle to be carried into LEO with full fuel tanks. USAF speculates that ESA intends this as a method of quick deployment of troops shuttles into orbit.

ARMAMENT: 4




Model:
USAF Midway-class
Drive:
chemical, nuclear
Type:
gunship
# burns:
8, 15
Crew:
12
Power:
B, N, FC
Passengers:
48 (troops) + 8 (craft pilots)
sensors:
80%
Cargo: 400 m3, 4 delta / OTV (or 8 minifighters) Computer Rating:
 4
SP:
4
Actions/Turn:
6
DP:
26
Overkill:
9

Cost: 5 billion   eb
If you want to spend the world’s biggest military budget in the space warfare category, ask USAF. They’ll be more than happy to spend it twice and yell for more... Midway-class ships are the way USAF found to project it’s might in deep space. Midways aren’t as heavily armed as the earlier Andromeda-class gunships, but they aren’t mere weapons platforms – they do carry a troop of EVATs, or spacetroopers, to any destination the USAF wants to get. Since Midawys can’t land on atmosphered planets (like Earth or Mars), it is generally thought that these ships will be used mainly in the Asteroid Belt, at least untill suitable orbital dropships get projected.

ARMAMENT: 10




Model:
NASA Discovery-class
Drive:
chemical, nuclear
Type:
deeps space explorer
# burns:
8, 12
Crew:
6
Power:
N, S, FC
Passengers:
62
sensors:
90%
Cargo: 150 m3, 5 craft Computer Rating:
 5
SP:
0
Actions/Turn:
3
DP:
15
Overkill:
6

Cost: 1.5 billion   eb
Your standard-issue explorer ship, Discovery is a modern spaceship – NASA offers them to any nation or corporation who feels they need one.

ARMAMENT: 2 (usually not installed)




Model:
NASA Space Shuttle III
Drive:
chemical
Type:
Shuttle!
# burns:
9
Crew:
4
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
8
sensors:
%
Cargo: 250 m3, flitter Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
14
Overkill:
5

Cost: 300 million eb
The next generation in the Space Shuttle program, Shuttle III is meant to be a bigger, more cost-effective lifter. These craft are also meant to be able to operate on Mars (although it haven’t been tested yet)! And it makes a nice troop carrier for orbital work...

ARMAMENT: 6



Model:
KosmoSov Buran II
Drive:
chemical
Type:
Shuttle!
# burns:
9
Crew:
6
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
8
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 300 m3, Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
15
Overkill:
6

Cost:    270 million eb
Can the Yanks have yet another Space Shuttle? If so, Russians can have the next Buran (“Blizzard”, it was the name of the original Soviet space shuttle, developed in late 1980s), and it will be bigger, tougher, and it will carry more! However, the electronics are inferior, and Buran II requires bigger crew...

ARMAMENT: 6



Model:
Mitsubishi-Koryidansu Uigitsu-class
Drive:
chemical
Type:
mini-shuttle
# burns:
6
Crew:
2
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
4
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 20 m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
6
Overkill:
3

Cost: 70 million eb
Budget space shuttle, anyone? Uigitsu make most of the private shuttle fleets, and they are popular among smaller corporationsas well. For small – time transport, or if you just need to be able to reach your orbital facilities on your own, and time day and night, they’re perfect, and equivalent of a business jet in the space age. Uigitsu are said to be employed by criminal sindicates as well (just what do you think – how the drugs make their way off-planet??).

ARMAMENT: 2





Model:
Rockwell “American Express”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:
7
Crew:
7
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
100
sensors:
%
Cargo: 50 m3 Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
3
DP:
9
Overkill:
4

Cost: 450 million eb
Or “American Excess”, as those pesky jealous Euros call it. The first spaceplane in history able to lift a hundred people into orbit! Lot of passengers equals low ticket costs – economy works in advantage of the Express... however, the ticket is still pretty expensive, and gossip says these craft are unrelaible... what causes the Express to have less passengers than it should have to be fully productive?

ARMAMENT: 6




Model:
Panavia “Orion”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:
7
Crew:
3
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
14
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 10 m3 Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
0
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
7
Overkill:
2

Cost: 140 million eb
Europeans laughed at the “American Express” project, but they weren’t able to construct a spaceplane as impressive. Instead, they’ve built the Orion, a smaller, lighter “space business jet”. Orions find heavy use in corporate sector.

ARMAMENT: 2




Model:
Tupolev “Viera”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
mini-shuttle
# burns:
6
Crew:
1
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
5
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 15 m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
6
Overkill:
4

Cost: 65 million eb
The Viera (“Faith”) is often an objective for poor jokes, like: "why it’s called 'faith?' – because it’s the only thing that keeps it together". But this is unjust on this little ship. Viera is a sturdy, easy to operate mini-shuttle, with typically Russian resistance to poor handling, damage and adverse conditions. Whereas rarely used in surface-to-orbit role of your typical shuttle, Viera is a common sight as a lifeboat, especially for deep-space installations. It has been tested in a real threat situation and made an emergency landing on Mars – although the shuttle itself was damaged beyond repair in the process, it made it to the ground in one piece, and two out of five passengers did survived the crash. Since no craft did performed better, this created a stable demand for Vieras, to be used as rescue craft. And you can trust Viera – if things go hairy, she’ll take you out of there.

ARMAMENT: 1 (usually not installed)




Model:
Koroliev K-16 (aka “Piglet”)
Drive:
Chemical
Type:
OTV
# burns:
10
Crew:
2
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
2
sensors:
45%
Cargo: 8x25 m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
3
Actions/Turn:
1
DP:
7
Overkill:
4

Cost: 90 million eb
Another Russian product, and – as usual – it’s big, box-like and ugly. And you can rely on it. This slightly outdated OTV is a great cargo hauler, and is rather tough for it’s class.

ARMAMENT: 2 (usually not installed)



Model:
USAF Richmond-class
Drive:
chemical, nuclear
Type:
carrier
# burns:

Crew:
8
Power:
N, FC, B
Passengers:
20
sensors:
%
Cargo: 200 m3, 6 delta, 22 minifighters) Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
3
Actions/Turn:
4
DP:
17
Overkill:
17

Cost: 23 billion eb
After the Colorado Springs incident, the USAF has been diligently preparing for the first space War. They will not be caught defenseless again.  Richmond-class carriers are not as advanced as Midway-class gunships, but they are scary (and damn expensive) ships as well. Due to large amount of storage space, it is theorized Richmond-class carriers can be used as space tankers for combat craft on prolonged operations.  Currently only one exists, and it remains in earth orbit always well out of trajectory of the lunar mass driver.

ARMAMENT: 60





Model:
Bae Orca
Drive:
chemical
Type:
mini-shuttle
# burns:
5
Crew:
2
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
2
sensors:
55%
Cargo: 4m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
5
Overkill:
2

Cost: 80 million eb
Orca is merely a flitter able to operate from Earth. It has an aerodyne body, and tiny passenger and cargo compartmets. What’s intersting, is the amount of weaponary this otherwise nondescript shuttle can carry...

ARMAMENT: 4



Model:
Boeing “Jumbo”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:
7
Crew:
9
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
150
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 70 m3 Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
3
DP:
11
Overkill:
4

Cost:  2.9 billion eb
The fate of American Express went unnoticed by American corps. Boeing made an attempt to top Rockwell by creating an even bigger spaceplane. The Jumbo does fly well, but it isn’t economical... so only one was ever built. Boeing claims they are able to deliver another one in 6 months from the date of ordering, but nobody is interested.

ARMAMENT: 4





Model:
MDD “Orient Express II”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:
7
Crew:
12
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
200
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 100 m3 Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
1
Actions/Turn:
3
DP:
12
Overkill:
5

Cost:  2.3 billion eb
Orient Express II from McDonell-Douglas never left the project desk. Seems MDD had learned from Boeing and Rockwell projects. Orient Express became an entry stage for the construction of a new generation of spaceplanes.

ARMAMENT: 2




Model:
Orbital Air “Gull”
Drive:
chemical (scramjet)
Type:
spaceplane
# burns:

Crew:
2
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
6
sensors:
50%
Cargo: 8 m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
0
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
5
Overkill:
2

Cost: 80 million eb
Another “business jet” of space age, Gull is a comfortable (or even luxurious, depending on the variant) vehicle, able to start from any adequately long runway and reach the orbit. And it does it without making Mr.Jones’ fat ass suffering the multi-G accelertions a space shuttle would cause. Gulls are readily avalible for sale to anyone willing.

ARMAMENT: none




Model:
Bae “Ray”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
mini-shuttle
# burns:
5
Crew:
2
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
4
sensors:
%
Cargo: 50m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
6
Overkill:
3

Cost: 120 million eb
Another aerodyne-bodied shuttlecraft from Bae, Ray is Orca’s big brother that seems to be obviously geared for combat (it can take as much weapons as the big shuttles, and there are rumours of Rays having their cargo bay turned into mssile bay).

ARMAMENT: 6




Model:
MiG “Stschuka”
Drive:
chemical
Type:
shuttle
# burns:
6
Crew:
3
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
8
sensors:
45%
Cargo: 50 m3 Computer Rating:
 2
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
8
Overkill:
4

Cost: 130 million eb
“Stschuka” (“Pike”) is like it’s fish counterpart – fast and deadly. This tough small shuttle simply darts into orbit by sheer power of it’s rocket engines, and requires minimum maintenance. Russians use them for emergency operations in space – whether these are rescue operations, fast deployment of EVA troops, or simply an urgent delivery.

ARMAMENT: 3



Model:
Jsa "GODHAMMER"
Drive:
chemical
Type:
Shuttle!
# burns:
9
Crew:
4
Power:
B, FC
Passengers:
8
sensors:
%
Cargo: 250 m3, flitter Computer Rating:
 3
SP:
2
Actions/Turn:
2
DP:
14
Overkill:
5

Cost: 300 million eb
The JSA's equivalent of the Shuttle III, and virtually identical in every discernable way.  It should be, they were made by some of the same designers who freelanced their work to Japan.

ARMAMENT: 6


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Written by Mike Van Atta, images from GI Joe, Armageddon, Bubblegum Crisis, Chris Moore, Macross, Gundam, Planetes, 2001, Lost in Space, Jovian Chronicles, and various other unkown anime and artists