Difference between revisions of "Sleeper Ship"
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| − | A [[Sleeper Ship]] is a [[Starship]] using sublight [[NAFAL]] propulsion that uses one crew put into a state of suspended animation, while automation of some sort steers the [[ship]]. | + | A [[Sleeper Ship]] is a [[Starship]], usually using sublight [[NAFAL]] propulsion, that uses one crew put into a state of suspended animation, while automation of some sort steers the [[ship]]. |
* Since [[civilization]]s that use such ships generally have limited means and [[technology]] for producing [[NAFAL]] [[starship]]s, most are used for [[colonization]] purposes. | * Since [[civilization]]s that use such ships generally have limited means and [[technology]] for producing [[NAFAL]] [[starship]]s, most are used for [[colonization]] purposes. | ||
| + | * The term also applies to ships where a small living crew stays awake while the rest (the majority of those aboard) stay in suspended animation. Most examples of [[Sleeper Ship]]s with [[FTL]] propulsion use this arrangement. | ||
| + | * Certain [[nanotech]] approaches stock a ship with seeds and machines in order to build a civilization at the destination. This is technically not a [[Sleeper Ship]], as there is nobody sleeping on the ship, but most of the details are otherwise identical. | ||
[[File: Wiki Navy.png|right]] | [[File: Wiki Navy.png|right]] | ||
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== Description ([[Specifications]]) == | == Description ([[Specifications]]) == | ||
| − | A ship containing a full complement of personnel intended to make a sub-light journey across space. | + | A ship containing a full complement of personnel intended to make a (usually sub-light) journey across space. |
| − | * Since such journeys take years, or even decades, the passengers, and sometimes the crew are put into | + | * Since such journeys take years, or even decades, the passengers, and sometimes the crew are put into hibernation in [[Low Berth]]s for the duration of the journey. |
| − | * Such ships are smaller than [[Generation Ship|Generation Ships]], where the passengers and crew live full lives during the journey. | + | * Such ships are smaller (and thus more affordable, and thus more common) than [[Generation Ship|Generation Ships]], where the passengers and crew live full lives during the journey. |
* The two terms [[Sleeper Ship]] and [[Generation Ship]] are often, ''incorrectly,'' interchanged and used to refer to either type of ship. | * The two terms [[Sleeper Ship]] and [[Generation Ship]] are often, ''incorrectly,'' interchanged and used to refer to either type of ship. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In cases where a small portion of those aboard are awake, it is often common to be awake in shifts. For instance, the complement might include 5 crews, each of which handles 1/5th of the voyage then wakes up the next crew before sleeping out the rest of the trip. If the voyage takes 40 years, the crews will only have aged 8 years each, and remain available to participate in the new colony's early years. This also provides backup capability if something goes wrong, similar to the [[Frozen Watch]] but on a longer time scale. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are also cases where the voyage will only take a few years (sometimes a few weeks), and while the colonists may have skills useful at the colony most of them are not useful aboard ship. The colonists hibernate to reduce life support costs, and to facilitate use of smaller ships, while the crew remains awake for the entire voyage. In these cases, the crew - who are adjusted to shipboard life among the stars, and thus might make poor colonists - may continue flying the ship (possibly returning to where the colonists came from) after their cargo is delivered. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is sometimes used to build a colony up in stages with smaller ships. As an extreme example, a ship might carry only 1,000 colonists and their equipment at a time, to a colony 1 week-long jump away from the colonists' origin, building up to 1,000,000 colonists over 100 back-and-forth trips over the span of 40-50 years (2,000 weeks, plus time to load and unload 1,000 times each). These same ships are typically capable of much longer journeys; only the logistics of scheduling multiple trips in a reasonable time span limits their range for such operations. | ||
== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) == | == History & Background ([[Dossier]]) == | ||
[[Colony Ship]]s establish colonies on new worlds, settlements to sustain life and provide socioeconomic commerce. | [[Colony Ship]]s establish colonies on new worlds, settlements to sustain life and provide socioeconomic commerce. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[Flight of the Phoenix 2800|Phoenix 2800]] was one famous [[FTL]] sleeper ship, taking 5 years to complete its multi-sector voyage. | ||
=== Polity Users of This Technology === | === Polity Users of This Technology === | ||
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|S2= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]] | |S2= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]] | ||
|S3= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] | |S3= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] | ||
| + | |S4= Author & Contributor: [[Adrian Tymes]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | |||
[[Category: Ship Organization]] | [[Category: Ship Organization]] | ||
{{LEN|Ship type definitions|Supraclass}} | {{LEN|Ship type definitions|Supraclass}} | ||
Revision as of 00:46, 20 June 2019
A Sleeper Ship is a Starship, usually using sublight NAFAL propulsion, that uses one crew put into a state of suspended animation, while automation of some sort steers the ship.
- Since civilizations that use such ships generally have limited means and technology for producing NAFAL starships, most are used for colonization purposes.
- The term also applies to ships where a small living crew stays awake while the rest (the majority of those aboard) stay in suspended animation. Most examples of Sleeper Ships with FTL propulsion use this arrangement.
- Certain nanotech approaches stock a ship with seeds and machines in order to build a civilization at the destination. This is technically not a Sleeper Ship, as there is nobody sleeping on the ship, but most of the details are otherwise identical.
Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Interstellar Colonization:
Description (Specifications)
A ship containing a full complement of personnel intended to make a (usually sub-light) journey across space.
- Since such journeys take years, or even decades, the passengers, and sometimes the crew are put into hibernation in Low Berths for the duration of the journey.
- Such ships are smaller (and thus more affordable, and thus more common) than Generation Ships, where the passengers and crew live full lives during the journey.
- The two terms Sleeper Ship and Generation Ship are often, incorrectly, interchanged and used to refer to either type of ship.
In cases where a small portion of those aboard are awake, it is often common to be awake in shifts. For instance, the complement might include 5 crews, each of which handles 1/5th of the voyage then wakes up the next crew before sleeping out the rest of the trip. If the voyage takes 40 years, the crews will only have aged 8 years each, and remain available to participate in the new colony's early years. This also provides backup capability if something goes wrong, similar to the Frozen Watch but on a longer time scale.
There are also cases where the voyage will only take a few years (sometimes a few weeks), and while the colonists may have skills useful at the colony most of them are not useful aboard ship. The colonists hibernate to reduce life support costs, and to facilitate use of smaller ships, while the crew remains awake for the entire voyage. In these cases, the crew - who are adjusted to shipboard life among the stars, and thus might make poor colonists - may continue flying the ship (possibly returning to where the colonists came from) after their cargo is delivered.
This is sometimes used to build a colony up in stages with smaller ships. As an extreme example, a ship might carry only 1,000 colonists and their equipment at a time, to a colony 1 week-long jump away from the colonists' origin, building up to 1,000,000 colonists over 100 back-and-forth trips over the span of 40-50 years (2,000 weeks, plus time to load and unload 1,000 times each). These same ships are typically capable of much longer journeys; only the logistics of scheduling multiple trips in a reasonable time span limits their range for such operations.
History & Background (Dossier)
Colony Ships establish colonies on new worlds, settlements to sustain life and provide socioeconomic commerce.
The Phoenix 2800 was one famous FTL sleeper ship, taking 5 years to complete its multi-sector voyage.
Polity Users of This Technology
The following species are known to use, have used, or posses the technology to manufacture sleeper ships:
References & Contributors (Sources)
- Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), TBD.
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
- Author & Contributor: Adrian Tymes