The Vehicle Recognition Manual

Ares I  The first manned vehicle to travel from Earth to Mars.  Designed to be a scaled up version of the so-called "heroic" spacecraft of the Apollo era, the Ares I was powered by a nuclear-electric engine and capable of carrying 8 people.  With a compliment of two crew landers and a single cargo lander (which would contain materials to be left behind for a possible follow up mission), the purpose of the mission was never anything more than a brief reconnaissance of a small portion of the Red Planet's surface, and to in fact prove that the trip to Mars was feasible for live Humans.  Aiding in this ascertation was a rotating habitat, capably of generating gravity of 0.4g, roughly the equivalent of Mars' surface.  Thus, not only would the strength and the bodily systems of the astronauts be unaffected (presuming they maintained their strict physical routine), but they would be prepared for movement on Mars when they arrived. Ares II  The second manned vehicle to travel to Mars. AMT Dutchmann During the mid-Expansionist Era, it became clear that there could be found substantial mineral wealth at both Mercury, and within Mercury's orbit in the form of the relatively newly discovered Vulcanian Belt, a region of asteroids orbiting close to the Sun, with their mineralogical profiles often uniquely modified by billions of years of hard stellar radiation.  With this in mind, a design for a manned vessel capable of traveling within this highly erosive and radiation-filled region was unveiled by the Amtech corporation, which had already pushed into new regions of technology with their NEO harvesting operations.  The first ship off of this new production line was the AMT Dutchmann.  However, due to crew conflicts and poor equipment performance, the ship's fate was sealed when the crew was killed while on route to the Vulcanian asteroid Brost.  The ship, placed on automatic pilot, landed successfully on the asteroid, and there it has remained, and eventually protected by the efforts of the Exploration Society, a testament to the risks that Humankind takes in order to further the exploration of space. AMT Almucantar  This was one of many vessels in the freighter fleet of Amtech during the Expansionist Era, but it was not until 2074, still during the youth of manned operations in the Belt, that the destruction and total loss of the ship brought it to the forefront of popular culture and modern mythology.  Many have cited the tragic irony of the ship's fate, as the completion of the first Mobile Mining Platform the following year made these freighters, in their old roles, relatively obsolete.  Of course, this ignores their further role as multipurpose cargo carriers over the next several decades, but the potential for such a ship to be removed from dangerous situations has made its permanent way into both the pop culture of the time, and current Solar System myths and legends. Zeus Primus  The first manned vessel to travel from Earth to Jupiter. IMPF Agamemnon  The first space-born military vessel, of the Agamemnon-class, utilized by the IMPF in Cis-Lunar space. ACP Jamestown and Plymouth These two vessels were the first manned ships created for the purpose of crossing the interstellar void.  Destined to carry the Solar System's first colonists to the worlds of Alpha Centauri A and B, the ships were a major breakthrough in many aspects of design and technology.  And yet, in the retrospect of even a century later, they were quite crude in many ways as well.  Collectively known as the New Hope Vessels, these ships of the Alpha Centauri Project (also called the Great Experiment) were the result of an international design effort.  They were constructed to carry some 500 people in a hybernative state, while a waking crew of three would perform one and a half month shifts, assuring the smooth operations of the ships.  Their life span was limited, however, for once they arrived at their destinations, their fuel was largely spent and could not be replaced without the industrial base of the Solar System, so far out of reach.  At any rate, the ships were largely deconstructed and utilized at the new colony landing sites, ensuring the survival of the Earth explorers. Cetus  The first of the Seven Colony ships, bound for Tau Ceti. Cronus The first manned vessel to travel to Saturn. American Dream  The first of the Thirteen Colony ships, bound for 61 Virginis. IMPF United States  The first IMPF military vessel designed to operate throughout the Inner System. Gabriel's Trumpet  The first of the Hegemony Seed Colony ships, bound for 18 Scorpii. Hand of Grace  The first of the Hegemony's outreach missionary vessels, sent to reestablish contact with previous solar system colonies. Ithaca's Odyssey  The first of the Outer Colony ships, bound for 16 Cygni A. Meshe Ulara  The Tsevorda ship, outfitted with the first known FTL drive, that traveled to Earth. Peter of Bethsaida  The first Hegemony ship, fitted with FTL, to begin Renewed Contact with the previous extrasolar colonies. Justice  The first of many heavily armed Dominion Police vessels. Gehenna The first of the Dominion Elimination Army vessels.

Throughout history, there have been various vehicles of air, sea, and space that have defined Mankind's struggle to explore and expand.  The Spirit of St. Louis, the Mayflower, the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger.  And there have been many others besides.  What they all have in common is that they were, at one time, regarded as simple ships or planes or spacecraft, no different from most others.  But through circumstances or conditions of excellence by their crews, they have made a mark in history.  What follows are some of these vessels, stretching back to the advent of Man's movement into space, and as recently as the League of Worlds.  They listed in chronological order. Some of Histories Most Important Vessels Victoria -- circa 1520 Endeavour (HMS) -- circa 1770 Monitor (USS) -- 1862 Endurance -- 1912 to 1915 Enola Gay -- circa 1945 Kon Tiki -- 1947 Freedom 7 -- 1961 Eagle lunar module -- 1969 Nimitz (USS) -- 1975 ... Ares I -- 2030 Ares II -- 2045 Dutchmann (AMT) -- 2054 to 2059 Almucantar (AMT) -- circa 2074 Zeus Primus -- 2103 Agamemnon (IMPF)-- 2125 Jamestown (ACP) -- circa 2170 Plymouth (ACP) -- circa 2170 Cetus -- 2212 Cronus -- 2253 American Dream -- 2253 United States (IMPF) -- circa 2480 Gabriel's Trumpet -- 2530 Hand of Grace -- 2600 Ithaca's Odyssey -- 2672 Meshe Ulara -- 2808 Peter of Bethsaida -- 2812 Justice -- 2942 Gehenna -- 2948 References, Etc. Dutchmann and Almucantar images created with Celestia. Dutchmann and Almucantar spaceship models created by Steve Bowers. Thanks to Steve Bowers and David Bellomy for some important vessel names. What's New November 18, 2006 I've moved this content to the new web address, though, for the time being, the page remains unchanged. October 29, 2005 Added the introductory paragraph for the Ares I, as well as a crappy image. October 16, 2005 Added some brief names and examples of ships throughout the setting's history. October 3, 2005 Revised some dates in the vessel list. Added an introductory paragraph for the Jamestown and Plymouth, as well as a temporary sketch of the ships. July 31, 2005 Added several ships names to the Important Vessel list. July 5, 2005 Established this page. Added the introductory paragraphs for the Dutchmann and the Almucantar, along with images.

 

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ArcBuilder Universe concept © John M. and Margo L. Dollan 2002-2005 This Page first uploaded July 5, 2005 Most recent update for this page November 18, 2006