News Release: Sylea (Core/Core 2118) 029-244

Gargan Shiimzim, Director of Public Affairs for Svenson Small Craft, LIC, proudly announces the completion of the Copernicus, the prototype for a new class of laboratory ship designed for use by the IISS and MTD, in response to the RFP for THUDDD #9. The Copernicus is Svenson Small Craft's first starship design and compliments the companies varied line of small craft ranging from starship lifeboats all the way up to 1000 displacement ton high-traffic surface-to-orbit shuttles. Contact your local sales representative for details.

The Copernicus meets all of the RFP performance requirements. Jump 2, able to operate without re-supply for 13 weeks (with storage to extend that as needed), ability to interface with world surfaces (and deep space!), large 40 ton laboratory space, accommodations for 20 scientists, and high resolution, high sensitivity sensors. All for the minimal cost of 200 MCr!

The Copernicus provides the capability to jump 2 parsecs at a time. She is capable of 2G acceleration in space and she is streamlined to operate in planetary atmospheres at speeds of over 3,500 kph. A hanger is provided for an optional air raft for use on planetary surfaces. A backup HEPlaR drive is provided to allow for true deep space operations well beyond the 2000 AU limit of the normal thruster maneuver drives.

She carries fuel and food to operate for up to three months (13 weeks) at a time. There is a full sickbay to provide medical care for the crew during long duration missions. There are both electronic and mechanical shops to provide for any necessary repairs during long duration missions. Extensive laboratory space is provided, as well as quarters for 20 scientists beyond the basic crew. Provisions have been made, optionally, for a medic, a pilot for the air raft and a maintenance person to make necessary repairs without the ship having to return to port during the mission.

There is a full suite of scientific sensors on board, including a densiometer, and a full set of backup sensors which can be used to study secondary targets when the ship's weapon systems are not in use. The three powerful fiber optic computers provide a massive amount of computing power for the scientists in addition to supporting the ships normal functions.

There is a 20 ton cargo bay to carry any extra equipment needed for experiments or exploration. Optionally, the cargo bay could be used to store additional reactor fuel, food and other supplies if the mission is for a greater duration than three months. A large hatch and automated cargo handling equipment are included. This provides a great deal of flexibility to the mission planner when preparing for special missions.

There are two decks. The crew living space is in the bow of the ship and above the labs, the hanger and the cargo area. The power plant, maneuver engines, fuel purifier and jump drives are located in the stern. The fuel scoops and fuel purifier allow for refueling at gas giants and worlds without starports or refined fuel supplies.

All crew members and scientists have a private stateroom to make life on board the ship more agreeable during long missions. Each stateroom has a personal entertainment center, including a complete suite of audio and holo-vid components and a desk with a docking station for a hand computer which is fully integrated with the ship's data network. The captain's cabin includes a separate office. There is also a gym so that the crew can stay in shape during their free time. The galley is able to feed the entire crew in one sitting. The ship has one fresher shared between each set of four staterooms.

The Copernicus is heavily armored with bonded superdense material to provide protection from hostile, low tech natives. There are also two light laser turrets (128 Mj each) one on either side of the hull and a sandcaster turret on top to provide protection from hostile, higher tech natives and/or pirates. A radio jammer is provided to disrupt native communications when they get restless. There is limited use of stealth, drive and neutrino masking in use to make detection more difficult, beyond the normal chameleon coatings. Other safety features include five 2.75 ton six passenger lifeboats and three decontamination airlocks.

The proposed names for the initial 10 ships of the class are all names of ancient Solomani scientists: Copernicus, Galileo, Hubble, Kepler, Ptolemy, Brahe, Tombaugh, Sagan, Eratosthenes, Battani.

The Galileo is an upgraded version of the Copernicus with vastly improved sensors, high automation, new dedicated science computer, Thrusters reduced to 1 G, new 1 G Contra-grav Lifters, endurance has been increased to 6 months (26 weeks), new Electro Static Armor, replaced the two light laser turrets with a single Quad VRF PD laser turret and new standard workstations for each laboratory.