The Celestia Class Heavy Shuttle Orbiter is the heavier, bulkier variant of the Starling Class Shuttle. It carries thirty-two crew members and holds a large storage bay, excellent for carrying lab equipment, medical supplies, communication devices, small vehicles, autonomous rovers, and much else.
Blueprints were drawn out for this spacecraft when humans began exploring worlds too dangerous for the Starling to safely handle. The first operational model of the Celestia was built just before the year 2200 CE. Like the Starling, it has undergone many revisions to become as powerful, advanced, and reliable as its counterpart.
It is standard of any FTL craft to possess Starling shuttles for most worlds and Celestia orbiters for large, atmospherically dense, or otherwise hazardous worlds. This is why the only people permitted to fly the Celestia are pilots who have undergone rigorous training.
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The bottom. Note the heat shielding.
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The top. The hexagon is an access port for loading supplies and goods for transportation.
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The right wing and engine.
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The back. This is the end that would dock to a larger spacecraft.
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The left wing and engine.
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The front.
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A Mk. 4 Celestia coming in for a landing on Luna.
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A Mk. 4 Celestia orbiting Venus.
Stastics and Versions
Prototype Celestia Orbiter "Hercules"
Manufacturer: Orbital Vehicle Designs.
Year: 2189 CE.
Mass: 24.6 tons.
Length: 35.2 meters.
Pressure Rating: ~250atm.
Temperature Rating: 1100C.
Earth TwR: 2.2
DeltaV: 85 Km/s
Warp Capabilities: None
Mk. 1 Celestia Orbiter "Titan"
Manufacturer: Boeing and Orbital Vehicle Designs.
Year: 2191 CE.
Mass: 23.1 tons.
Length: 38.5 meters.
Pressure Rating: ~280atm.
Temperature Rating: 1200C.
Earth TwR: 2.37
DeltaV: 95 Km/s
Warp Capabilities: None
Mk. 2 Celestia Orbiter "Eros"
Manufacturer: Boeing and Orbital Vehicle Designs.
Year: 2198 CE.
Mass: 21.4 tons.
Length: 39.8 meters.
Pressure Rating: ~325atm.
Temperature Rating: 1255C.
Earth TwR: 2.41
DeltaV: 97.5 Km/s
Warp Capabilities: None
Mk. 3 Celestia Orbiter "Hyperion"
Manufacturer: Orbital Vehicle Designs.
Year: 2207 CE.
Mass: 19.3 tons.
Length: 40.2 meters.
Pressure Rating: ~390atm.
Temperature Rating: 1330C.
Earth TwR: 2.45
DeltaV: 100.25 Km/s
Warp Capabilities: None
Mk. 4 Celestia Orbiter "Tethys"
Manufacturer: Orbital Vehicle Designs.
Year: 2215 CE.
Mass: 18.0 tons.
Length: 40.279 meters.
Pressure Rating: ~415atm.
Temperature Rating: 1340C.
Earth TwR: 2.3
DeltaV: 98.9 Km/s
Warp Capabilities: None