My take: Using tugs for FTL transport should present no problem. Just extend
the FTL field around the containers. Using tugs for STL (slower than light)
creates additional difficulties. If you use a flexible connector, you are
stuck with the whiplash effect or the trouble of multiple engine modules and
coordinating them (alignment, timing, etc.). If you use a solid connection, it
is probably no longer a tug. If you use a tractor beam, you would still need
to connect the containers that you are hauling together (unless you have a
GREAT number of tractor beams). Again, it would be more economical to connect
the containers to a spine rather than spend all that energy over the time it
takes to get
in-system.
If you could cluster the containers it would be better than using a long spine
(less torque).
Another question: Having looked at the models for transport in the GZG
Starship line, I noticed that most of the freighters were not streamlined. How
do they get the containers down to the planet? Not a small task the way
atmospheric
entry rules are written for non-streamlined craft. Also, I do not think
that most transports would want to pay the additional cost for atmospheric
streamlining (ouch!). On large, well established worlds, it should not present
a problem. They probably have Space stations that would warehouse the
containers until transport to the surface could be arranged. Perhaps some
worlds have beanstalks to transport goods to the surface.
The small colonies (Jim-Bob's Landing) present a greater problem
(Think of the colony in the movie Aliens). Does every colony have the ability
to support a space craft to reach orbit? Maybe (but it sounds expensive). If
they do, it would need to be streamlined. The cargo would need to be moved to
the shuttle. This could be in smaller containers or by placing the entire
cargo container in a bay internal to the shuttle (as the cargo containers are
not streamlined). The shuttle would then take them to the surface. If the
whole container was transported to the surface, its contents
would need to be sorted and re-packed. Then sent back to the transport
in orbit (2 trips for the shuttle). If the colonists cannot support a shuttle,
the transport would need to be able to get to the surface. Dropping the
containers from orbit would be too great of a waste (and would be hard on the
merchandise). And, most likely, transports would load the containers with
supplies for more than one destination or have smaller containers.
Thoughts, ideas?
In a message dated 11/12/99 7:36:26 AM Central Standard Time,
> Brian_Bell@dscc.dla.mil writes:
<< Another question: Having looked at the models for transport in the GZG
Starship line, I noticed that most of the freighters were not streamlined. How
do they get the containers down to the planet? Not a small task the way
atmospheric
entry rules are written for non-streamlined craft. Also, I do not think
that most transports would want to pay the additional cost for atmospheric
streamlining (ouch!). On large, well established worlds, it should not present
a problem. They probably have Space stations that would warehouse the
containers until transport to the surface could be arranged. Perhaps some
worlds have beanstalks to transport goods to the surface.
The small colonies (Jim-Bob's Landing) present a greater problem
(Think of the colony in the movie Aliens). Does every colony have the ability
to support a space craft to reach orbit? Maybe (but it sounds expensive). If
they do, it would need to be streamlined. The cargo would need to be moved to
the shuttle. This could be in smaller containers or by placing the entire
cargo container in a bay internal to the shuttle (as the cargo containers are
not streamlined). The shuttle would then take them to the surface. If the
whole container was transported to the surface, its contents
would need to be sorted and re-packed. Then sent back to the transport
in orbit (2 trips for the shuttle). If the colonists cannot support a shuttle,
the transport would need to be able to get to the surface. Dropping the
containers from orbit would be too great of a waste (and would be hard on the
merchandise). And, most likely, transports would load the containers with
supplies for more than one destination or have smaller containers.
Thoughts, ideas? >>
If you look at modern transport, you can easily come up with a far future
system. Freight lines will send their big container ships on the major runs,
where competition and volume demand peak efficiency. These runs will be the
ones betwen large trading worlds, major import/export ports. The big
ships will use the orbital ports to unload their containers, swapping them out
for others already filled for their next port of call. the containers
themselves will either be shipped on to their destination, or emptied and
their cargo broken down into smaller lots to be shipped to their specific
destinations. Smaller ships, will handle this, taking the now palletized
remnents to the lesser planets. Backwaters will be serviced by streamlined
free traders, able to land on the planets that don't have the infrastructure
to handle the big boys.
You can find a pretty good possible explanation of interstellar freight
handling techniques in GURPS:Traveller, Far Trader. It has a lot of material
specific to it's own universe, but nothing that couldn't be adapted for use in
FT.
John