Ship Design Philosophy

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Created Gravity

A. This is a series of rings, spun to emulate gravity.

B. The rings must have a radius of at least 15 metres in order to simulate a gravitational field.

C. Machinery to spin a hamster cage uses 0.1 tons for every ton of spun ring.

D. Unlike other designs, the hamster cage is usually set at right angles to the hull and installed in counter-rotating pairs, eliminating torque effects on the ship’s attitude.

E. For each full percent of the hull that is made part of the hamster cage, the cost of the hull is increased by +2%.

F. I just realized, it doesn't say how much gravity is generated, nor rotation speed.

 

[Condottiere]

Starships: Engineering and Ye Starter Jump Drive

Imperium - Alpha
. technological level eleven
. ten tonnes
. two hundred parsec tonnes
. twenty power points
. hundred diameters
. fifteen megastarbux
. manufactured for millenia, spare parts easy to obtain

Hierate - Fatcat
. technological level eleven
. twelve and a half tonnes
. two hundred parsec tonnes
. twenty power points
. hundred diameters
. eleven and a quarter megastarbux
. larger, so easier for Aslan mechanics to repair

Solomani - Venture
. technological level nine
. ten tonnes
. one hundred twenty parsec tonnes
. twelve power points
. hundred diameters
. nine megastarbux
. it worked, minimum cost

Vargr - Scooper Doopper Doo
. technological level eleven
. ten tonnes
. two hundred parsec tonnes
. twenty six power points
. hundred diameters
. eleven and a quarter megastarbux
. for all intents and purposes, power is free

Zhodani - Softlani
. technological level eleven
. ten tonnes
. two hundred parsec tonnes
. twenty power points
. hundred fifty diameters
. eleven and a quarter megastarbux
. allows enough time for planetary flight controllers to scan starship; anything exiting nearer is either a military vessel, or unauthorized

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Created Gravity

For comfortable artificial gravity, rotation rates below 2 RPM are ideal for most people, with 1 RPM being very comfortable, but rates up to 4-6 RPM are manageable with training, especially with larger radii (100m+) to minimize disorienting Coriolis effects, though higher rates like 10 RPM are challenging even for trained individuals, causing significant sickness. The key is balancing rotation speed (RPM) with the habitat's radius to achieve desired gravity while keeping head movements from causing nausea.

Comfortable RPM Ranges & Factors

• < 2 RPM: Generally considered very comfortable, with minimal or no adaptation needed for visitors.
• 2-4 RPM: Manageable for residents, potentially requiring some visitor training.
• 4-6 RPM: Achievable with training, but noticeable Coriolis effects (like dizziness when moving your head) are present.
• > 6 RPM: Difficult to adapt to; severe motion sickness and fatigue can occur, requiring extensive training and large radii.

The Importance of Radius (Diameter)

• Coriolis Effect: The main problem is not just RPM, but how your head moves relative to the rotation. A smaller radius means stronger Coriolis forces, causing dizziness.
• Larger Radius = Slower RPM: A bigger diameter allows for slower rotation to achieve the same gravity, reducing Coriolis effects.
  
  • Example: To get 1g (Earth gravity), a 100m radius needs about 3 RPM, while a 1km radius needs less than 1 RPM.

Key Takeaway
A rotation rate of 1-2 RPM is often cited as a sweet spot for general comfort, while larger habitats with radii over 100 meters can sustain faster, but still manageable, rotations like 3-4 RPM for trained individuals.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Created Gravity


Radius (R)
156.49536822666573 meters

R ∝ A ∕ Ω 2

Angular Velocity (Ω)
2 rotations/minute

Tangential Velocity (V)
32.77631327611484 meters/second

V ∝ A ∕ Ω

Centripetal Acceleration (A)
0.7 g


Radius (R)
164.62366151391535 meters

R ∝ A ∕ Ω 2

Angular Velocity (Ω)
1.95 rotations/minute

Tangential Velocity (V)
33.61673156524599 meters/second

V ∝ A ∕ Ω

Centripetal Acceleration (A)
0.7 g

 

[MarcusIII]

A rotation rate of 1-2 RPM is often cited as a sweet spot for general comfort, while larger habitats with radii over 100 meters can sustain faster, but still manageable, rotations like 3-4 RPM for trained individuals.

Yes, around 2 RPM for a radius of approximately 224 meters for 1g to avoid those physiological problems.

 

[Condottiere]

Going by Traveller, seventy percent Terran norm has no effect, which is why I aim at that target.

Below two rotations appears to have no discernible effect on passengers, either, hence one and nineteen twentieths rotations per minute.

Which gives us one hundred sixty five metre radius.

I doubt that we can rely on High Guard for the, more or less, precise amount of material, or costs, for either hamster cages or wheels.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

1. We've got an unpowered two hundred and forty space boat.

2. Shipping space is precisely thirty tonnes.

3. Bunks provide sleeping space for up to two Travellers.

4. They consume 1 Space each and cost Cr200.

5. We turn the unpowered boat into a giant dormitory.

6. Raw statistics would place that as potentially four hundred and eighty humans into a thirty tonne spacecraft volume.

7. One hundred fifty starbux per space, times two hundred forty, equals thirty six kilostarbux.

8. Two hundred forty bunk spaces would be forty eight kilostarbux.

9. Total would eighty four kilostarbux, or one hundred seventy five starbux per bunk, without hotbunking.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

A. To simplify matters, we set aside another thirty tonnes for a fraternal twin.

B. Well use technological level eight, ground vehicle external power, to power up the unpowered boat.

C. Five percent is twelve spaces, at two kilostarbux per space, sixty kilostarbux total.

D. Basically, you plug it in to the ship's power grid.

E. Though, no idea how much the draw would be.

F. In theory, the unpowered ship would get secondary light and heat from the cargo hold it's docked in.

 

[Condottiere]

Inspiration: Chaos On The Bridge | FULL MOVIE | William Shatner, Patrick Stewart | Star Trek Documentary Sci-Fi

CHAOS ON THE BRIDGE | William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Ronald D. Moore | Star Trek, Documentary, Sci-Fi • FULL MOVIES | Shout! Studios

Acting legend William Shatner takes viewers inside the creation of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the bold attempt in 1986 to recreate the success of the original television series, in which Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk. Chaos On The Bridge features interviews with William Shatner, D.C. Fontana, David Gerrold, Maurice Hurley, Rick Berman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Richard Arnold, Jeffrey M. Hayes, John Pike, and Susan Sackett.

Politricks.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

G. Short term life support systems provide this habitat for up to four days before air and filters need replacing (included as part of the vehicle’s regular maintenance costs).

H. It consumes one Space for every 20 people (or part of) on board the vehicle).

I. If it's based on the ten kilostarbux, that would be fifty starbux per month, at half a percent.

J. I'm pretty sure that that's twenty six days more than four days.

K. I'm guessing that every four days, you have to replace fifty starbux worth of parts for one space of technological level four life support.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

L. Long term life support operates for up to 90 days and consumes 1 Space for every 5 people on board.

M. Technological level seven, at fifty kilostarbux per space.

N. That would be, if taken literally, two hundred fifty starbux of replacement parts, every three months.

O. Which, actually, is great for five year missions.

P. Not sure how much volume those spare parts would take up.

 

[Condottiere]

Inspiration: The Captains | FULL MOVIE | William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Chris Pine | Star Trek Documentary

THE CAPTAINS | William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Scott Bakula, Chris Pine, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Frakes | Star Trek, Documentary, Sci-Fi • FULL MOVIES | Shout! Studios

Since first soaring onto television screens in the mid 1960s, Star Trek has become one of the most beloved franchises of all time. The original Captain Kirk, William Shatner, travels around the globe to interview the elite group of actors (Patrick Stewart, Chris Pine, Scott Bakula, Avery Brooks) who have portrayed the role of Enterprise Captain. The Captains also features interviews with Kate Mulgrew, Rene Auberjonois, Ira Steven Behr, and John de Lancie.

1. Seems like Shatner's fan fiction, or circle jerk.

2. Irony being that Shatner's not renown for being a singer, and has a rather unique acting style.

3. Rather mediocre as a director.

4. But, I do think that in this documentary, he brings out the essence of his compatriot actors and their characters.

5. And, the experience.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

Q. In theory, you can bunker four hundred eighty humans into thirty tonnes.

R. That doesn't mean each bunk will continuously be occupied.

S. If it's just, let's say, a battalion that's doing a single jump, you might need life support for only four hundred eighty troops for a fortnight.

T. That would mean keeping the short term life support running for four mini maintenance cycles.

U. Then switched off, when the troops disembark.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

V. You could have a mixture of both long and short term life support equipment.

W. The long term would form a baseline, which covered the needs for the number of crew most likely to remain onboard.

X. Short term would be for a surge requirements, such as passengers.

Y. Or, in an emergency, if a long support module failed.

Z. Assuming normal depreciation, the short life support equipment is actually cheaper, if more maintenance intensive.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

1. Did you know, that wetbars consume no spaces, and cost two kilostarbux?

2. You could scatter wetbars around, like vending machines.

3. Except, with alcohol options.

4. Optimal size for a refrigerator is ten spaces.

5. Any amount of Space can be used for refrigeration, but 1 extra Space per 10 Spaces to be refrigerated must be dedicated to the cooling equipment.

6. This costs Cr1500 per Space dedicated in this way.

7. Since it's the size of a stateroom, I guess it's a walk in refrigerator.

8. Staterooms sans refresher, being ten spaces.

9. Presumably, furnished in technological level five gadgets, and costing a hundred kilostarbux.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

A. We could substitute four hundred eighty bunkees with twenty four stateroomies.

B. Problem would be, no power, and no refresher.

C. Composite accommodations ship would be required.

D. Twelve spaces for the power reception equipment, eleven spaces for walk in refrigerator, one space for short term life support, two hundred spaces for twenty staterooms, ten spaces for five shared freshers.

E. Balance eight spaces, though you could add additional facilities, and adjust the number of staterooms, which could be double occupancy.

F. Or even, hotbunked.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

G. Could you use a ground vehicle, or a maritime one, like a boat, as a space escape vehicle?

H. There are two problems.

I. The first is propulsion, and atmospheric reentry.

J. The second is vacuumization.

K. Which can be resolved at ten kilostarbux per space, or forty kilostarbux per four spaces, supposedly the equivalent of a tonne.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

L. Galleys appear to have two variants.

M. A mini galley takes up two spaces, costs a kilostarbux, and caters to five persons.

N. A full galley is six spaces, at two kilostarbux, plus one space per ten persons served, at a hundred starbux per.

O. Twenty persons would be eight spaces, at twenty two hundred kilostarbux.

P. Dining areas are not included.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Accommodations and Accommodations Ship

Q. An autodoc is a small self-contained diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and surgical system about the size of a low berth chamber or large coffin.

R. It is capable of diagnosing and treating disease, infection, injuries and other medical conditions as efficiently as a qualified doctor (treat as Medic 3).

S. At TL14, an autodoc is capable of reanimation, provided no more than 2D minutes have passed since the Traveller’s death.

T. This period can be doubled by extremely cold conditions or extended up to 1D days by placing the Traveller’s corpse in a low berth.

U. Takes up two spaces, with the technological level thirteen variant costing a hundred kilostarbux, and the technological level fourteen raise dead a megastarbux, each.

 

[Condottiere]

Spacecraft: Hull, Gravity, and SpaceX’s Solution to Land Starship Sideways on the Moon to Avoid Flip…


“Starship is too tall—there’s no way it can land on the Moon!” That’s something you hear a lot from critics of the Starship program. And honestly, it’s not a completely unreasonable concern. But questions like this are what make us think: what if Starship didn’t have to land vertically on the Moon? What if it could land sideways instead? Interestingly, this idea could solve more problems than just the landing itself. So, could it actually be done?

As I said, one of the biggest concerns about landing Starship on the Moon is its height—and that is a very real concern. Landing upright on the lunar surface is extremely difficult. Many, much smaller probes, far shorter than Starship, have failed to land upright on the Moon.
You might recall the robotic lander Odysseus. In 2024, it became the first American-built spacecraft to touch down on the Moon in more than 50 years, but it toppled over at an angle. As a result, the amount of science it could perform was limited because its antennas and solar panels were not pointed in the correct directions.

Intuitive Machines tried the following year with another lander, Athena, but it also failed and ended up on its side. Without enough sunlight reaching its solar panels, the mission had to be ended early.

Half a century ago, Apollo astronauts experienced this challenge firsthand. As they hopped around on the Moon, they sometimes fell over—lunar gravity is not very forgiving.

It only takes a sideways motion of a few meters per second to tip over a lander. The same concern applies to the more than 50-meter (164-foot)-tall Starship HLS. While SpaceX says Starship’s center of mass is relatively low—with heavy components like fuel tanks and engines near the bottom—many people still worry that the vehicle is simply too tall.

To land upright on the Moon, Starship would need landing legs, and those legs would have to be enormous.


1. Tipping over.

2. Cargo hold placement and elevators.

3. Hull recycling.

4. Hull stresses and loads.

5. Sideways stress and twisting forces.

6. Belly landing more complex.

7. Lateral bulkheads?

8. External elevator.

9. In theory, you could have used an air/raft, to get to the mothership, if you're willing to abandon the dropship.

A. Ironically, we need a minimum tonnage for jumping, otherwise we could boost the starship, and then let it coast in jumpspace, if the booster had the time to disconnect from the coaster, and avoid being drawn into the spacetime rift it just created.