The 50 dT Cutter Jump Shuttle offers a means to provide cutters with jump capability for interstellar flight: a cutter docks to the shuttle and the joined pair can then jump to other systems using the shuttle's jump drive. The shuttle uses the same basic hull as the cutter, allowing it to be carried and launched using the same boat bays. Docking cutter to shuttle is performed after launch of both craft; undocking must occur before the craft are taken aboard a host ship, if 50 dTon boat bays are used.
In addition to cutters, a line of 50 dT cylindrical modules, likewise using the same basic hull as the cutter, are available to convert the shuttle for use as a small cargo or passenger transport. It is not cost-effective to serve as a merchant vessel in this role, but governments of lower population worlds may buy shuttles in this configuration to serve their own transport needs.
The 50 dT cargo module comes in configurations to carry cargo, fuel, up to 12 single-occupancy or 25 double-occupancy passengers, up to 100 passengers in low berths, or up to 200 passengers in emergency low berths. The module can also be configured to carry two 20 dT launches or a 30 dT ship's boat. It has small maneuvering jets that allow it to be remotely maneuvered into a bay for storage or out of a bay for docking, but it is otherwise incapable of maneuver.
The 50-ton shuttle's maneuver drive provides 2G acceleration when it is maneuvering solo, 1G when docked to a cutter or a cargo container. Its jump
drive at TL 13 provides jump-1 when docked, with fuel for two consecutive jumps. It carries a crew of one.
The cutter's drives are not used when docked to the shuttle; the cutter draws power for life support from the shuttle when docked to it.
In practice, one jump shuttle is provided for each warship carrying multiple cutters, allowing that ship to convert a cutter for jump, either as a lifeboat or
emergency courier to summon assistance in the event of misjump.
WY-0211111-000000-00000-0 MCr 30.850 50 Tons, 100 with cutter or cargo module docked
50t cutter jump shuttle J1 TL 13.hgs
*Uncoupled/Coupled
I'm considering two methods of docking. One is to put a docking collar near the bridge, moving it forward to clamp onto the rear of the cutter when docked and withdrawing it into the shuttle when the shuttle is solo, preserving the shuttle's ability to maneuver in atmosphere. This has the disadvantage that the shuttle cannot jump without a cutter or container docked, but it is fairly simple.
The other is to have the shuttle split amidships behind the bridge, expanding it forward and backward on longitudinal struts to open a framework hangar of 50 dT volume in which to dock the cutter or container, with a mesh of jump cables (as used in Supplement 7's jump ship) being drawn up over the frame once the cutter or container is inside the frame. This is a bit complex but means the shuttle can launch independently by expanding to full 100 dT volume.
In addition to cutters, a line of 50 dT cylindrical modules, likewise using the same basic hull as the cutter, are available to convert the shuttle for use as a small cargo or passenger transport. It is not cost-effective to serve as a merchant vessel in this role, but governments of lower population worlds may buy shuttles in this configuration to serve their own transport needs.
The 50 dT cargo module comes in configurations to carry cargo, fuel, up to 12 single-occupancy or 25 double-occupancy passengers, up to 100 passengers in low berths, or up to 200 passengers in emergency low berths. The module can also be configured to carry two 20 dT launches or a 30 dT ship's boat. It has small maneuvering jets that allow it to be remotely maneuvered into a bay for storage or out of a bay for docking, but it is otherwise incapable of maneuver.
The 50-ton shuttle's maneuver drive provides 2G acceleration when it is maneuvering solo, 1G when docked to a cutter or a cargo container. Its jump
drive at TL 13 provides jump-1 when docked, with fuel for two consecutive jumps. It carries a crew of one.
The cutter's drives are not used when docked to the shuttle; the cutter draws power for life support from the shuttle when docked to it.
In practice, one jump shuttle is provided for each warship carrying multiple cutters, allowing that ship to convert a cutter for jump, either as a lifeboat or
emergency courier to summon assistance in the event of misjump.
WY-0211111-000000-00000-0 MCr 30.850 50 Tons, 100 with cutter or cargo module docked
50t cutter jump shuttle J1 TL 13.hgs
Hull: | 0.000 Td | MCr 11.000 | |
Armour Factor-0: | 0.000 Td | MCr 0.000 | |
M-Drive Factor-2/1*: | 2.000 Td | MCr 3.000 | |
J-Drive Factor-0/1*: | 2.000 Td | MCr 8.000 | |
P-Plant Factor-2/1*: | 2.000 Td | MCr 6.000 | +1.000 EP |
P-Fuel: | 1.000 Td | MCr 0.000 | |
J-Fuel: | 20.000 Td | MCr 0.000 | |
Scoops: | 0.000 Td | MCr 0.100 | |
Purification: | 0.000 Td | MCr 0.000 | |
Bridge: | 20.000 Td | MCr 0.500 | |
Computer Model/1: | 1.000 Td | MCr 2.000 | -0 EP |
0.5 x Staterooms: | 2.000 Td | MCr 0.250 | |
Cargo: | 0.000 Td | MCr 0.000 | |
Totals: | 50.000 Td | MCr 30.850 |
I'm considering two methods of docking. One is to put a docking collar near the bridge, moving it forward to clamp onto the rear of the cutter when docked and withdrawing it into the shuttle when the shuttle is solo, preserving the shuttle's ability to maneuver in atmosphere. This has the disadvantage that the shuttle cannot jump without a cutter or container docked, but it is fairly simple.
The other is to have the shuttle split amidships behind the bridge, expanding it forward and backward on longitudinal struts to open a framework hangar of 50 dT volume in which to dock the cutter or container, with a mesh of jump cables (as used in Supplement 7's jump ship) being drawn up over the frame once the cutter or container is inside the frame. This is a bit complex but means the shuttle can launch independently by expanding to full 100 dT volume.
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