Submarine info
Jul. 30th, 2009 10:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ffuturesHere's the submarine description - an information sidebar for players. Needless to say the information for referees isn't quite the same in all respects...
The SILGRS (Smithsonian Institution Low-Gravity Research Submarine) is designed for use in Ceres and any other asteroids found to contain liquid water. Since it operates in very low gravity where ballast tanks would be ineffective, its motion is controlled entirely by its propellers and fins.
Powered by a sodium-fuelled atomic blast, the SILGRS has four steerable electric propellers for a cruising speed of 15-20 KPH; in an emergency the atomic blast can be run at full power, for estimated speeds of 30-60 KPH. However, instrumentation and sonic obstacle detection may be ineffective at higher speeds, and the steering function of the electric engines will be impaired. The hull has been rated for vacuum and for depths to 100 KM within Ceres.
There is accommodation for up to eight occupants including the pilot, navigator / radio operator and engineer; oxygen is supplied via electrolysis, with carbon dioxide and other waste gases vented automatically, so life support is not a limiting factor. Scientific equipment includes cameras, sampling ports, a microscope, blue / UV spotlight, etc.
Note: While the SILGRS has not been designed as a spacecraft, the atomic blast is capable of attaining orbital velocity from Ceres – this may be useful if it is necessary to surface at a point remote from the base camp. However, there is no landing system and attitude control in vacuum is VERY limited, the occupants will have to wait for rescue. This procedure should only be undertaken in an emergency.
The SILGRS (Smithsonian Institution Low-Gravity Research Submarine) is designed for use in Ceres and any other asteroids found to contain liquid water. Since it operates in very low gravity where ballast tanks would be ineffective, its motion is controlled entirely by its propellers and fins.
Powered by a sodium-fuelled atomic blast, the SILGRS has four steerable electric propellers for a cruising speed of 15-20 KPH; in an emergency the atomic blast can be run at full power, for estimated speeds of 30-60 KPH. However, instrumentation and sonic obstacle detection may be ineffective at higher speeds, and the steering function of the electric engines will be impaired. The hull has been rated for vacuum and for depths to 100 KM within Ceres.
There is accommodation for up to eight occupants including the pilot, navigator / radio operator and engineer; oxygen is supplied via electrolysis, with carbon dioxide and other waste gases vented automatically, so life support is not a limiting factor. Scientific equipment includes cameras, sampling ports, a microscope, blue / UV spotlight, etc.
Note: While the SILGRS has not been designed as a spacecraft, the atomic blast is capable of attaining orbital velocity from Ceres – this may be useful if it is necessary to surface at a point remote from the base camp. However, there is no landing system and attitude control in vacuum is VERY limited, the occupants will have to wait for rescue. This procedure should only be undertaken in an emergency.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-31 08:31 am (UTC)***
The SILGRS (Smithsonian Institution Low-Gravity Research Submarine) is designed for use in Ceres and any other asteroids found to contain liquid water. Since it operates in very low gravity where ballast tanks would be ineffective, its motion is almost controllable by its propellers and fins.
Powered by a sodium-fuelled atomic blast, the SILGRS has four steerable electric propellers for a cruising speed of 15-20 KPH; in an emergency the atomic blast can be run at full power, for speeds of 15-100 KPH, whichever is least appropriate. However, neither instrumentation nor sonic obstacle detection will function at all, and the steering function of the electric engines will be negligible. The hull has been rated for vacuum - at least until it's suffered crush damage from depth - and for depths to 80 KM within Ceres.
There is accommodation for up to eight occupants including the pilot, navigator / radio operator and engineer, or four occupants carrying the ridiculous amount of equipment favoured by average player characters. Oxygen is supplied via electrolysis, with carbon dioxide and other waste gases vented automatically, so a few hours of life support are available - less in the event of fires, accidents, power cuts or stowaways. Scientific equipment includes cameras, sampling ports, a microscope, blue / UV spotlight, etc. but cannot be guaranteed to function in the presence of
Things That Should Not Be.
Note: While the SILGRS has not been designed as a spacecraft, the atomic blast is capable of attaining orbital velocity from Ceres if heavily modified by the party's engineering specialist – this may be useful when the base camp is destroyed in the course of events. However, there is no landing system and attitude control in vacuum is completely impossible, the occupants will have to wait for rescue. This procedure should only be undertaken at the end of an adventure.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-31 08:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-31 09:51 am (UTC)I didn't think of the electrolysis thing, that's a nasty one :-) I hope you get nice technical parties who won't be totally thrown by it.