Roadstead class Orbital Station

Roadstead class Orbital Station
Distant Fringe object.
Type: AW Orbital Station
Category	BCS
Size	35,000 Tons
Hull Configuration	Close Structure Hull
Streamlining	Partially Streamlined Hull
Tech Level	TL–10
Engineering
Computer	Model/4
Jump	J-0
Maneuver	0.5 G
Armaments
Hardpoints	350
Accommodations
Staterooms	3,300
Low Berths	200
Personnel
Crew	379
Officers	76
Enlisted	303
High/Mid Passengers	1,600
Low Passengers	200
Payload
Cargo	10,200 Tons
Fuel tank	3,000 Tons
Special features	3,500t hangar space
Construction
Construction Time	44 Months
Origin	Distant Fringe
Price
Cost	MCr13,200
Statistics
Universal Ship Profile	WO–M40X142–090000–80008-0
Images
Blueprint	No
Illustration	Yes
Source
Canon	Unpublished, fan design
Designer	Ade Stewart
Design System	High Guard
Era	1105
Reference	Fan: Ade Stewart

The Roadstead class Orbital Station is a TL–10 large Orbital Station.

• Please also see AAB article: Ships of the Distant Fringe.

Description (Specifications)

The Orbital Station is a large commercial orbital facility found within systems in the Distant Fringe region. It is classified as an Orbital Complex. Similar designs have been in use from the time the Distant Fringe was first settled.

Image Repository

1. A Roadstead class Orbital Station with a Wulf class Free Trader (silhouetted) alongside.
   
2. Approaching a Roadstead class Orbital Station
   

General Description & Deck Plans

1. A basic plan of the station indicating the general layout and positioning of major elements.
   

The station is constructed as a close structure. It has four major elements - a cylindrical upper habitat, a central column, a large cylindrical primary habitat, and a cylindrical lower habitat. Eight commercial berthing arms project from the central column.

The central column has an overall height of 237 meters and a mean diameter diameter of 22 meters, and contains 75 decks of varying heights. The primary habitat has a diameter of 105 meters, a height of 35 meters and has 11 decks. Both the upper habitat and the lower habitat have diameters of 60 meters, heights of 25 meters, and each contains 8 decks. Each of the eight docking arms has a length of around 60 meters: one terminates in isolation and quarantine facilities. Some sections of the station are narrower and some are wider, giving it a total enclosed volume of approximately 472,500 cubic meters.

The main fuel tanks and the heavy machinery are located within the lower habitat. The main control center is located on the upper decks of the upper habitat and a secondary secondary control room is located close to the base of the central column, above engineering. The main cargo decks are located directly below the primary habitat and include the cryogenic (low berth) sections. General crew quarters are located within the upper part of the central column, though Stewards have rooms close to passenger accommodations and senior crew have accommodations close to the control centers. Second class accommodations are found within the less desirable central column while first class cabins occupy the outer part of the primary habitat, with windows offering spectacular views. The main commercial and leisure facilities lie at the core of the primary habitat and are focused on a multi-deck open plaza.

Basic Ship Characteristics

Following the Imperial Navy and IISS Universal Ship Profile and data, additional information is presented in the format shown here. The small craft factor indicates the number of squadrons (...of ten subcraft) carried on the ship. Tonnage on the universal ship profile is shown in kilotons (...thousands of tons) where necessary.

Basic Ship Characteristics
No.	Category	Remarks
1.	Tonnage / Hull	The Orbital Station is constructed using a 35,000 dTon hull built in a close structure configuration. The hull is unstreamlined and cannot survive entry into a planetary atmosphere. Individual sections of the station are divided by bulkhead walls. There are multiple airlocks located around the station. The complex is not capable of surface landings and risks catastrophic structural failure in significant gravity wells.
2.	Crew	Total Crew Complement: 379 x18 Command, x14 Engineering, x39 Gunnery, x105 Service, x200 Stewards, and x3 Medical Staff. Accommodations: There are x3300 Staterooms. x300 Staterooms are given over to crew quarters. Officers, senior staff, any celebrities working aboard the station, and the majority of the crew have individual cabins: the accommodations for junior staff are double occupancy. Up to x1600 First Class guests may be carried: the stewards attend to their needs. However, staterooms located within less desirable sections of the station are generally available at Second Class rates. The remaining x600 staterooms (a volume of approximately 2400 dTons) are fitted out as public plazas, malls and boutiques, entertainment complexes, casinos, spas and gymnasiums, restaurants, cafes, and other similar amenities. There are x200 Low Berths. The low berths are overseen by the station's medical staff, assisted by properly trained service crew. These are most commonly used to store livestock but they may also be utilized by individuals wishing to wait out a period of time (most commonly for financial or tax reasons), or by those seeking medical procedures that may not be locally available or may require the arrival of a specialist. It is rare that the station's low berths are fully occupied. Accessible areas of the hull are fitted with grav plates and inertial compensators and have full life support and environmental systems. There are secure lockers with a total volume of 38 dTons. These include vaults, safety deposit boxes, and secure holding areas. There are internal monitoring and security systems throughout the facility. Sections of the station can be isolated in the event of an emergency. There are multiple Emergency Lockers.
3.	Performance	The station mounts a Maneuver half-drive, and a Power Plant-1, giving performance of 0.5-G acceleration (sufficient for orbital positioning only) and producing 450 Energy Points. The station does not have an agility rating. The dedicated internal fuel tankage gives the power plant 4 weeks duration. The engineering section has a number of control rooms. Ladders, gantries and platforms give access to the machinery.
4.	Electronics	Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/4 Computer: the station has x2 backup Model/4 Computers. There are multiple workstations and control points throughout the station. The station is fitted with communications equipment and an advanced sensor array. It is fitted with multiple backup commo and sensor systems. It has a transponder unit that can be deactivated on command.
5.	Hardpoints	x350 hardpoints. The listed battery groupings are considered standard for the station. Alternative battery groupings may be designated for specific situations.
6.	Armament	x5 100-Ton bays, mounting Heavy Missile Launchers. Each bay launches standard Anti-Shipping Missiles. x100 triple Beam Laser turrets, grouped into ten batteries of 10 linked turrets.
7.	Defenses	The hull is plated, braced and structurally reinforced, with an armor rating of 4. x200 triple Sandcaster turrets, typically grouped into twenty batteries of 10 linked turrets. The station is not fitted with screens or other passive defensive systems.
8.	Craft	The station is not supplied with intrinsic subcraft: these are purchased as required by the station's operators. Hangars There are multiple large enclosed hangars located around the station: the hangars have a total volume of 3,500 dTons and can be individually sealed.
9.	Fuel Treatment	The station has internal fuel tankage of 3,000 dTons. The hull is not fitted with fuel scoops. The station is not equipped with fuel purification equipment. Refined fuel is held within the station's fuel tanks: it is provided by commercial Tanker vessels.
10.	Cost	The basic cost of the station is MCr13,200.000 If multiple examples of the design are ordered all of the units in the production run qualify for a 20% discount, which reduces the price per unit to MCr10,560.000. The station is a standard design. Detailed architectural plans are widely available and no design fee is chargeable.
11.	Construction Time	176 weeks (44 months) as standard. Build times can be reduced by mass production and the efficiencies such processes generate, by increased financing, and by allotting additional yard resources and facilities to the construction contract.
12.	Comments	Standard cargo capacity amounts to 10,200 dTons. The cargo holds can be sealed and have independent life support and environmental systems. Sections of the hold may be isolated if desired and can be provided with specialized environmental conditions, typically refrigeration.

History & Background (Dossier)

Roadstead class Orbital Stations are rugged and known for their excellent safety record. Many are finished to very high standards, offering services and facilities equivalent to surface hotels, leisure complexes and shopping malls, but with the additional benefit that they are free of any local taxes and surcharges. The design is representative and a large number of variants exist, particularly with regard to the allotted weapons systems, onboard electronics, and the fit out of internal spaces.

Support Craft

The station relies on a variety of support craft.

Interface Craft:

• Colossus class Heavy Lander (typically operating from the commercial arm).
• Deliverance class Lifeboat (often secured to the exterior of the hull and accessed by airlocks).
• Excellence class Fast Shuttle (typically operating from internal hangars).

Tankers:

• Baleen class Heavy Tanker.
• Nimrod class Fuel Lighter.
• Provision class Medium Tanker.

Class Naming Practice/s & Peculiarities

A number of companies manufacture facilities equivalent to the Roadstead class Station.

They vary in hull shape and internal layout but all share the same basic design and all have very similar capabilities and performance characteristics

Selected Variant Types & Classes

4 Representative Station (AW) Classes

§ == ( Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information: ) == §

Civilian Vessel - Trader - Type AW Station

A

• Anchorage class Orbital Station

H

• Harbor class Orbital Station

M

• Mooring class Orbital Station

R

• Roadstead class Orbital Station

References

This article has metadata.

This ship was originally designed using one of the Classic Traveller ship design rules: Marc Miller. Starships (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), 12-23. Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick, John Harshman. High Guard (Game Designers Workshop, 1980), 20-36.

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS