Update 11
April 2084. Epsilon Eridani-3
Slowly, the SSN Discovery cruises on it's final destination, Epsilon Eridani-3. It's been a long voyage, and only a miracle that no one died along the way. Though oft damaged, the vessel still stands strong, and despite all that happened to them, the crew is prepared to do what it takes to make sure that the mission succeeds. As the vessel closes in on Epsilon Eridani, new information becomes known.
Eridani-III
The close proximity to Eridani's asteroid belt has left it's mark on this planet (orbit 2.5 AU). A relatively recent impact has clearly cracked the crust of this average sized planet (0.9 earth mass). Strong volcanic activity, perhaps a result of the impact, has resulted in a dense atmosphere approaching 0.5 atm, created mostly off carbon dioxide and -monoxide, xenon, argon, and vulcanic sulfur-compounds. Water ice has been confirmed to exist on the planet's poles, which are significantly colder than the average 250 Kelvin temperature.
Interestingly this planet has not one but two moons. A large moon, slightly smaller than Earth's, with a smaller companion in it's Lagrange point. Since this position is not entirely stable, it's expected that the two will eventually collide.
Epsilon Eridani has a very long orbit around it's sun, taking more than 4 years, or almost 1600 days. Orbital eccentricity is low, being neglible for the climate of the planet. Eridani-III's axial tilt, is much stranger than that of Earth. Though it is stabilized by the presence by it's large moon, the axial tilt is 35 degrees, larger than Earth, which result in larger polar circles. Eridani rotates around it's axis every 14 hours, and has a gravitational arceleraton of 8.71m/s
2The moons, upon closer investigation, don't seem like they'll collide soon. The larger moon completes an orbit around it's host planet every 35 days, it's smaller moonlet following it around. Analysis also reviews that unless something disturbs the orbit, the collision shouldn't happen in the immediate near future.
Atmospherical analysis confirms original results, with an atmosphere of 0.5 atm. Composition is confirmed at 35% Carbon Monoxide, 25% carbon dioxide, 10% argon, 10% xenon, 9% Sulfur Dioxide, 7% Sulfur Hexafluoride, 3% Hydrogen Sulfide, 1% other. Temperature are however shown to be colder than expected, ranging from less than 170 at the dark pole (a temperature cold enough to result in the spontaneous freezing of carbon dioxide), to 200-220 Kelvin at the Equator.
Now, the surface geometry is as interesting as it is varied. Near the equator, at a latitude of 20 degrees, sits the large crater that the ship noticed earlier from orbit. It is big enough to land in, and the geometry seems flat. Despite significant winds , the crater remains quite steep, which probably ensures the formation of significant water ice reserves in the crater sides.
The surrounding plains are littered with debris, though appear to be swept clean by frequent strong winds. While the temperatures are cold enough to result in the formation of water ice on the entire planet, the strong winds and Carbon dioxide sublimation cycles have probably prevented the accumulation of large ice reserves in these areas. Small craters or underground ice reserves could provide an alternative sources.
On the opposite side of the planet, the picture is a lot less serene. Vulcanic eruptions there are much more frequent there than on this side, and the area is more mountainous. While this might make landing somewhat harder, the mountains protect against the dust storms that tend to form on the plains. The volcano's themselves might make a source of energy and materials.
After that's there's also the two poles. For now, one is deep within an artic winter. Temperatures are cold, ice reserves are significant and the atmosphere is stable, though at places solidifying. The other pole has large glaciers, containing a mixture of solified carbon dioxide and water ice, which are now slowly melting under the constant sun .
Turn 11 status: April 2084:
Starship: SSN Discovery
Total Size: 110 units
Structural mass: 10 units.
Installed components:
1 Optronic Autopilot. Size 1 , mass 1 . - 5 MW. (Fully automated Control Center)
2 Cryogenic pods Mk II (20 persons). Size 5 units, Mass 8 units. Electricity 5 MW
1 Large Closed Loop Life Support /w hydroponics. Size 8. Mass 5. Electricity: 10 MW. (30 awake / 150cryosleep)
1 Damage Control & machine shop. Size 4. Mass 2. Electricity 1 MW
1 Medical Bay. Size 2. Mass 1. Electricity 1 MW.
1 Recreational Commons. Size 4. Mass 4 units. Electricity 1 MW.
1 Large Cargo bay /w industrial cargo handling system. Size: 43. Mass: 2.
1 Small Cargo bay /w industrial cargo handling system Size : 11, Mass: 0.5
1 He-3 MCF Fusion generator /w external radiators Mk.2. Size 8 Mass 5 Generates 75 MW. Uses 0.75 Fuel/year
1 Electrostatic Ion Engine. Size 3. Mass 5. Electricity 5 MW. Thrust 25
1 He-3 Fuel Tank. Size 8. Mass 12 (including fuel). Holds 16 fuel
Installed modifications:
2*Expanded Superstructure Size -30 , Mass 15
Atmospheric flight conversion. Size 5 , Mass 15
Cargo : [Total Space : 49 /49]
1*Automated Bot Assembly Line: Size 4. Mass 6. Electricity 8 MW
1* Hydroponics Size 6, Mass 5
1*Orbital Survey Satellite. Size 3, Mass 3
1*Powered Exo-skeleton Constructor Units. Cost 2 RU, Size 3, Mass 2
1*Digging & drilling vehicles. Cost 2 RU, Size 4, Mass 4
1*Optronic Central Computer. Cost 10 RU. Size 2. Mass 2.
2.7*Basic Parts Mass 1, Size 1
3*Advanced parts Mass 1, Size 1
2*Emergency Food : Size 3, Mass 1
2*Advanced Medical supplies Size 1, Mass 1
1*Manufacturing equipment. Size 3, Mass 4.
1*Life Sciences Laboratory: Size 10. Mass 15.
Hallway space [4/5]
1*Air tanks & vac suits. Size 1, Mass 1.
1.8*Advanced parts Mass 1, Size 1
1*Air. Size 1, mass 1.
Hull Space [2/3]
2*Air tanks & vac suits. Size 1, Mass 1.
Total mass: 177.5 units.
Free space: 0 units.
Required power: 32 MW
Maximum power output: 75 MW (Note: Minimum power output is 37.5)
Total fuel: 16
Fuel remaining at destination: 3.1
Destination: Epsilon Eridani
Flight time: 34.4
Crew :
29 awake
1 wounded (cryo)
25 cryo
Projects:
Cryo System Investigation (-40)
Ark : Survival
Arrives in 36 years
Launch date: January 2050.
Arrival : May 2084
Ark Arrival :
2086
Action :
Landing destination
Event Choice : (Explanations of these to be added later)
- Atmospheric Skip : (Difficult insertion, easy re-entry, Mediocre Flight and landing)
- Steep dive : (Easy insertion, difficult re-entry, easy flight, difficult landing)
- Slow dive: (Easy insertion, difficult re-entry, Hard flight, easy landing)
- Standard re-entry (Medium insertion, medium re-entry, medium flight, medium landing)
- Other scenario :
Other actions: (Satelite and other ...)
Author
Topic: Outpost: Exodus [Suggestion Game] : Update 14 (Read 23882 times)