NationStates Jolt Archive

Greetings,

A few weeks ago, the II community aided me in deciding the fate of my nations military sidearms, to which I am eternally greatful for everyones help in that topic. In that vein, I have returned with a slightly more complex problem; the creation of military spacecraft.

At the moment, my MT nation has three Military Spacecraft, essentially RL Spaceshuttles converted to military use with a few missiles, a few Gatling cannons and a Nuclear Weapon or two. Real ramshackle approaches, though they serve my RP uses quite well. Now, I wish to expand the Republican Space Force into bigger vessels. My wish is to create and launch a new, larger and more heavily-armed vessel into space known as the 'Centurion' to be the RSF's new flagship.

My only idea is that it would look something like the Prometheus in Stargate: SG1. Other than that, I have no expertise; I'm not even sure where to start looking, to be honest.

So, I appeal to you, the II forumites. Please, help me design this spacecraft! All I require is that it remain MT/ Near PMT and not be too powerful to remain in that period.

Any constructive comments/criticisms are welcomed, by all means.

Thank-you

OOC: Yes, I know Wrong forum. I've asked the mods to move it. Still, if anyone in General has any ideas, I'd be happy to hear them anyway.

An image might be helpful in determining the overall design, but there are a few basic questions to cover first.

1: Is it capable of trans-atmospheric travel? If yes, that already sets the stage for the basic shape since aerodynamic bodies are a must, unless you have anti-gravity tech, which I don't think you do. If not, then you might consider building it in space, which will allow for larger sizes and structurally improved design.

2: What is it supposed to function as? Orbital bombardment, space superiority or anti-platform work? That will decide its overall weapons complement and armor. Additionally, engines will also be effected. Remember, in space, you need to be able to produce a significant amount of thrust in order to affect headings, especially for the larger ships.

3: Power plant system. Everything needs power to run. What will you use on yours? Keep in mind that you need refueling capability if its a long term system expected to stay out of friendly stations for extended periods of time.

4: Defensive systems. What do you expect it to face? If they are mostly Kinetic Energy Vehicle (KEV) weapons, you'll need something to be able to block them before they hit, usually by misleading the seeker head or messing with the trajectory. Beam weapons and mass drivers are harder to defend against if you are purely MT, although a reflective coating on the vessel might work to protect against the former.

Thats about it for now. I'll post some more when I think it up.

Wow, many thanks. To try and answer your points,

1. Yes, It should be able to, especially since I intend to build it on the ground and then launch it from a military facility.

2. I think space superiority should be its main priority, perhaps with anti-platform as a secondary purpose, although if thats not possible, then just space superiority.

3. Since I see the Centurion as medium-range, ie moving a few systems away, but too far, I'm thinking either nuclear or fusion reactors, around four of them at the rear of the vessel. Perhaps a rotating section to provide gravity.

4. Since this is MT/PMT, I expect to be facing KEV's usually; I don't expect to be able to ever fight FT vessels with the Centurion. I was thinking some sort of Space SAM system, though I have no idea how that would work. I also have no idea what its main weaponry could be.

Thanks

1: That determines its basic shape already. You need wings and an abalative undercoating to absorb heat for re-entry and provide controllable flight. If you want to minimize the target profile, allow the wings to fold inwards when not in use. i.e. space. Preferably, you want these protected against even fragments since wrecking aerodynamics = dead ship on re-entry. Additionally, forget fancy things like rotating sections unless they were completely internal, meaning no external protrusions since that also messes up your aerodynamics. You might want to include sliding covers for your retarding motors (normally in the nose) for re-entry purposes as well.

2: Space superiority means either mounting high performance missiles and/or mass drivers. Given that you will probably be fighting against orbital space superiority fighters, you want weapons that are very agile. Most likely a fragmentation type missile if you are using it on lightly armored fighters to provide a better chance of kill. Against platforms however, particularly military ones, they will have better armor in most cases, and greater redundant systems, meaning you will need a heavier class of weapon to damage them significantly. Considering the size, I would say that you would also need some form of point defense systems. 1 on the top and one on the underbelly.

3: Moving a few systems away? 4 fusion reactors? That sounds more like 40 year PMT rather than MT. Your vessel would be a fair bit bigger than the space shuttles in service. If this thing is designed for space superiority, it should not be able to move beyond the solar system without a tender vehicle for resupply or a carrier of some sort.

4: Addressed above.

I actually tried to address this same issue when I designed the Belknap-class. I wanted to create something that would be a PMT space combat vessel and without the specs for a space shuttle readily available, I did a Google on space plane research. I also decided to arm the Belknap with things such as tungsten missiles and railguns to give them some punch with feasible weapons in a PMT format.

Perhaps you could take a similar route with your design?

Thanks Sarzonia. I've been pondering the issues for some time now, and come up with this:

Centurion-Class:

Power/Propulsion

Four Nuclear Fission Reactors - Power/Thrust
Two Main Engines - Rear of Vessel - Two Reactors Per Engine
Reactors also used for powering of life-support, weapons etc
Rotating middle section for artifical gravity for entire vessel
Nanoelectronics and molecular wiring
Electromagnetic ramjets or electromagnetic rockets for atmosphere/stratosphere propulsion
Battery System for emergency power

Weapons

Offensive

Six Tungsten Missile Batteries/Cells
Four Railguns
Low/Medium-Powered Lasers

Defensive

Gatling-based CIWS system for KEV defence
PMT 'Chaff' for KEVs and Missiles
Anti-Radar 'Snow', Static for missile-defence

Also, and just a thought here, some-kind of last-ditch defense against missiles based on the claymores and tank-reaction armour - it would detonate if a missile got very close and destroy the missilehead. But it would be a one-off thing based on sections around the craft.

Armour

Mixture of Carbon Nanotubes layered with titanium composites and kevlar, ie an armour going like this:

Titanium/Kevlar/Titanium/Carbon Nanotubes/Titanium/Kevlar/Titanium

All coated in an ionomer-solution for self-healing armour in a way to deflect micro-asteroids.

Finally, a liquid hydrogen system running around the crew-quarters in gel-packs just outside the armour to protect the crew from radiation.

Shape

Aerodynamic, so sleek, smooth surfaces of course, possibly based on the stealth systems skin design and NASAs new designs

I seem to recall that you can't fire bullet-using weapons in a void, but I might be thinking of something else.

OOC: I think you could - things don't need much of a 'push' to move in space, and bullets are quite aerodynamic anyway. I guess they just wouldn't stop moving unless they hit something...and I'd need a large number of rounds fired from the weapons, which is why I'd use Gatlings.

OOC: Any other suggestions/criticisms whilst this is in General?

Carbon nanotubes are HIDEOUSLY expensive; we're talking in the neighbourhood of $10 trillion to build one SD with carbon nanotube armour. And as for nuclear fusion reactors, I don't think they would qualify for PMT if you're talking about using them to power a space-borne warship. That was one of the things I considered and ruled out with the Belknap.

Perhaps you could consider one or two lasers as sort of a tertiary armament. They wouldn't be the uber advanced variety you'd see in Star Wars or Star Trek, but they could be a useful weapon under a few required limitations.

Well, Sarz, I like the idea of the nanotubes, and since I'd be spreading the cost of the Centurion over about ten-twenty NS years, it might not be so much of a cost-problem. However, any ideas you'd have about an alternative would be greatly appreciated.

The same goes for powersources...if not nuclear, then what? What did you use for your vessel?

Lasers shall be added now- maybe two of them, kinda low-powered and tertiary defenses.

And what did you think about my idea for the explosive defensive armour?

I like the idea of explosive defensive armour, which would be somewhere along the lines of Praetonia's MBT or real life ERA. As for the nuclear reactors, I didn't say not to use them. I employed fission reactors to power the Belknap. You might also consider something along the lines of a booster rocket system or your ramjet system to provide emergency propulsion in the event of reactor failure. I also included a battery powered system to provide life support and communications in the event of major systems failure.

Ladies and Gentlemen of International Incidents, I give you the Grand Republics latest space effort:

Centurion-Class Spacecraft:


Power/Propulsion

Four Nuclear Fission Reactors - Power/Thrust
Two Main Engines - Rear of Vessel - Two Reactors Per Engine
Reactors also used for powering of life-support, weapons etc
Retarding motors with sliding covers for protection
Electromagnetic ramjets for atmosphere/stratosphere propulsion
Battery System for emergency power

Structure

Internal rotating middle section for artifical gravity for entire vessel
Nanoelectronics and molecular wiring
Escape Pod

Weapons

Offensive

Six Tungsten Missile Batteries/Cells - 50% Armed with fragmentation warheads to eliminate space superiority fighters.
Four Mass Drivers
Low/Medium-Powered Lasers

Defensive

Gatling-based Point-Defence System for KEV defence
PMT 'Chaff' for KEVs and Missiles
Anti-Radar 'Snow', Static for missile-defence
Explosive Defensive Armour (ERA)

A last-ditch defense against missiles based on the claymores and tank-reaction armour - it would detonate if a missile got very close and destroy the missilehead. But it would be a one-off thing based on sections around the craft that would have to be replaced externally, probabaly on the ground or whilst immobile.

Armour

Mixture of Carbon Nanotubes layered with titanium composites and kevlar, ie an armour going like this:

Kevlar/Reinforced concrete/Reinforced concrete/Titanium/Titanium/Reinforced concrete/Reinforced concrete/Kevlar

Outer armour to be coated in an ionomer-solution for self-healing armour in a way to deflect micro-asteroids.

Finally, a liquid hydrogen system running around the crew-quarters in gel-packs just outside the armour to protect the crew from radiation.


Price

Not available to purchase - However, the entire project, spread over the next ten to fifteen years, will cost around $1.5 Trillion USD and be built in the newly-built Praetoria-Class Spaceyard above the Republic.


OOC: Please, be gentle. This is my first ever design attempt. Any and all constructive criticims are welcome

OOC: Any ideas/criticisms? This will be the last 'Bump' for today for this project.