ISSV-12 Amundsen Trans-Solar Exploration Cruiser

Factfile:
Constructed: March 8th 2212
Builder: Lockheed-Boeing L1 Orbital Works- Frame 3
Operator: Atlantic Coalition Deep Space Exploration Command
Length: 526m
Diameter: 202m
Mass: 287 kt
Crew: 38
-Maximum Complement: 240
Standard Operational Endurance: 5 years
Maximum Thrust: 580 kN
Maximum FTL speed: 12 Tm/h


Description:
The trans-solar exploration cruiser Amundsen was initially ordered in as Vehicle No.2 in the North American Federation's Odyssey Project (The NAF's abortive attempt to achieve true manned trans-stellar capability), as such it's basic frame is based on a derivation of the Federation's Apollo Class torch vessels then in service on the Jupiter-L2 route. Though vehicle No.1 was completed in 2186 as the NSV Goddard, the NAF's collapse during the late-22nd century crisis left the second vehicle only partially assembled. With no additional funding likely to be forthcoming, Lockheed-Boeing took Vehicle No.2 out of the construction frame and left it in a long term parking orbit. To most in the industry it seemed that was the end of a short and particularly disappointing story. However with the formation of the Atlantic Coalition in 2191 and the unification of it's constituent national space organizations there arose a situation where significant financial and industrial resources were available to pursue an extra-solar exploration program at the same time that the political leadership were in search of a centrepeice policy to help unify their nascent polity.
So it was that in 2199 Vehicle No.2 was taken out of storage, and construction began to a new modified design incorporating the latest advances in trans-stellar propulsion technology. In the late 2200s The return of the GCR's Star Road 2 mission, and news of recent discovery of a third habitable biopshere in the Ross 128 system signaled the start of the colonization race, and this led the newly formed Deep Space Exploration Command to demand an accelerated program of construction, which was completed in 2212. In a ceremony attended by Chief Director Arnaud Sebatier, the Coalition's newest space vessel was named in honour of the early 20th century polar explorer Roald Amundsen.

After a a comprehensive set of work up trials conducted within the inner system, the Amundsen completed it's first FTL drive test in 2214, setting a record for the Luna to Pluto sprint, arriving at Proserpina Station a mere 40.34 minutes after field initiation. With the shakedown tests completed DSEC formally accepted delivery of the vessel, and began preparation for the expedition to Barnard's star. This endeavor was embarked upon in late 2216, and though the theorised habitable planets were not found, the mission was counted as a success upon return in 2219. The Amundsen was now counted as a proven system and went on to make visits to Proxima Centauri, Wolf 359, and Lallande 21185 during the 2220s. In 2230 it placed the Coalition's first permament extra-solar outpost on Ross 128b, and performed a detailed survey of that system. By the mid 23rd century the Amundsen has been superseded as a frontline exploration vessel by newer and faster starships, however with a deep refit it has remained in service as a supply ship on the shuttle run to the international settlement on Epsilon Eridani d.


The ISSV-12 Amundsen is built around a single spinal truss that runs the entire length of the vessel, providing power, cooling and life support connections to modules as needed. The reactor module houses a paired set of 32GW boosted tokamak reactors constructed by SAE Dyanmique. The majority of this output is typically consumed by either the single REL-20 twin stage magnetically contained pulse fusion engine, or the General Electric Mk.5 Alcubierre Drive Ring. The reactos are fueled principally by an enriched Helium-Tritium reaction sourced from onboard tanks, however, an alternate operation mode for pure Helium fusion is possible with reduced efficiency.

The drive ring itself consists of a 200m graviton accelerator that at maximum power is capable of generating a displacement field sufficient to move the vessel at 12 terametres per hour. However the Amundsen's typical cruise speed is a more sedate 9 Tm/h, with which it can reach Epsilon Eridani in a little under 14 months.

Though the Amundsen is equipped with a high thrust ratio fusion torch, unlike it's torch ship predecessors it does not carry enough fuel to use it for long range brachistone interplanetary travel. Rather it is intended as a short range transit drive to allow the vessel to maneuver itself into planetary orbits where the increased gravity shear makes creation and maintenance of a spatial distortion field for FTL travel impossible. (And bow shock energy from disengaging the drive makes doing so next to valuable installations, or inhabited bodies undesirable.)
The torch engine can also be used for low thrust interplanetary transits using transfer orbits similar to earlier chemical rockets, though this is intended as only an emergency capability in case of Alcubierre drive failure.

The despite advanced magnetic containment and neutron deflection, the thermal output of the power systems at maximum load is significant, and without active closed cycle cooling would lead to the destruction of the vessel. To prevent this and shed this waste heat the Amundsen is equipped with a hydro-magnetically pumped liquid sodium cooling system paired with fifteen high flux radiators.

Alongside the main life support systems, the support module houses maintenance workshops, perishable stores, and the two main cargo bays. It is is directly connected to the rotating 114m hab ring that is capable of producing 0.6g when the ship is not under thrust. Though the Amundsen is operated by a crew of 38, it has berthing space and life support capacity for up to 240 people. Most crew facilities including main berths, rec areas, and the on board medical facility are all housed within the hab ring. Additional berthing can be arranged in multi-function areas within the service module, though lack of gravity during FTL transit means that long term occupation of these berths requires regular visits to the hab ring.
The Amundsen carries sufficient food supplies to provide for the entire transit, but typically some of the configurable multi-function compartments are devoted to hydroponics systems that provide supplemental nutrition.

The docking module is a multi-functional system that features four universal attachment collars, it is the main station connection when the Amundsen returns to the L2 gateway for resupply and inter-transit refit, but also serves as the carrying point for the vessel's current complement of two Cirrus Mk.2 SSTO Aeroshuttles, which are currently used to deliver cargo and personnel to the settlement on Epsilon Eridani d.
In the past the Amundsen has also used the docking module to transfer the smaller non-FTL capable OSV-171 Aquila to the Epsilon Erdiani system which was subsequently used for in depth survey work, and to assist in building and maintaining local orbital infrastructure.

The Command Module is home to the main navigation sensors, and communications antennae, and of course contains the vessel's flight deck from which the command staff run daily operations. It is also the location of the auxiliary power generation system, a set of five photovoltaic panels that can be deployed to provide hotel power should the main reactor be taken offline. In it's original configuration for exploration the command module was also fitted with laboratories and interchangeable mission bays for various experiments or probes. These have since been replaced with additional cargo space.