Spin Habitat

A Spin Habitat simulates gravity through centripetal acceleration.

• It is a type of Ship Equipment.
• It was one of the dominant technologies used before Grav Plates.

Description (Specifications)

A spin habitat simulates the effects of gravity through rotation, generating centripetal acceleration. This may be referred to as "centrifugal force gravity".

• Its rotation typically produces between 0.35 G and 1.1 G, a range in which most sophonts can live and work without adverse effects.

Image Repository

1. A lab ship with a Spin Habitat.
   

Habitats

It consists of one or more habitats, which generally have their own Life Support and environmental systems.

• Tethered habitats (ie pods linked by cables)
  • Tether materials.
• Spin pods.
  • Arms (may contain elevators or ladders).
• Ring habitats (such as the hull of a Type L class Laboratory Ship).
• Rotational hull (generally cylinder configuration).

Rotation

Rotation around a fixed axis.

• Up and down relative to the spin axis. Outward is downward.

Rotation speed vs distance from central spin axis.

• Rotation speeds in meters per second.
• Arm lengths are typically tens of meters.
• Physiological limitations on rotation rate.

Control

Torque and progressional instability. Countered by:

• Counter-rotating pods.
• Counterweights.
• Stabilizing gyroscopes.
• Thrusters.

Coriolis effect.

• Targeting effects.
• Nausea.

History & Background (Dossier)

Spin habitats are largely redundant due to the widespread availability of Grav Plates and Gravity Control Technology. However, they may still be employed by vessels constructed at TL-7 or less, or on vessels that may require a gravity-free environment such as Research Ships. Very large structures such as space stations or orbital arcologies may utilize spin habitat technology rather than costly gravitic devices.

• The Type L class Laboratory Ship is an example of a vessel that uses Spin Habitat technology.

Deliberately spinning a non-spin habitat vessel.

Spin habitats are generally locked during acceleration.

Most spin habitats are external or ancillary structures on a ship, forming a distinctive part of the hull. A sufficiently large vessel may have internal spin habitats.

References & Contributors (Sources)

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