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C14 Transporter



Originally introduced in late 2006 to help with the exploration of Mars and the outer planets, the Avery C14 Transporter was produced to meet the requirement for a general-purpose exploration and transport vehicle. The body of the ship is comprised of two sections, the front spherical part is the command deck and in an emergency can be jettsoned to provide crew support for a maximum of seven persons for up to two weeks. The remainder part consisted of an engine section and middle tanks which could be used for fuel, cargo or probes for scientific surveys.

Using a new type of propulsion system, early C14's had an intermittant problem where the photo-electric plasma drive, which worked by converting electric energy from it's solar panel arrays and using it to ignite the plasma drive system, could stop/start whilst running. This was eventually found to sourced to a build-up of static electricity around the exhaust venturi and accidentially shutting down and restarting the main drive. Before the problem was corrected it caused the devastating destruction of a Skybase and three other C14's when its engine ignited whilst docked at the space station, ploughing into the side of the Skybase. All C14's were grounded until the fault was corrected by Avery's engineers.

Avery C14's were launched into space from their launch sites where the solar panels were folded up and surrounded by blast panels that would fall away when orbit was achieved. Launch was assisted by four booster rockets that fell away during ascent. Not having any form of surface landing capability, transport to and from the C14 was aided by shuttlecraft docking next to the command deck, or by transfer tube to and from a Colonial I when transporting cargo.

C14's helped expand man's sphere of influence into space from the first permanent bases on the moon to the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn and their moons. Serving for eighteen years until 2024, the C14 was eventually replaced by more modern craft and the rapid advances in space technology. The pair of C14's seen here are examining a space ice berg orbiting near Saturn.





Specification

Civil & Commercial/Terran
Manufacturer - Avery Astronautics
Classification - Exploration/Transport Ship
Main Drive - Avery photo-electric plasma drive AP16 210,000lbs thrust
Secondary Drive - Standard correction jet array
Personnel - 7 crew
Defence - Duralloy armour 6cm thick
In-service date - 2006


About this image:- December 2005, POV-Ray 3.5, Photoshop 5.5.
Based upon an original image by Colin Hay / Spacecraft 2000-2100AD (c) Hamlyn Publishing 1979

All images © S. Attwood / Digital Waterfalls
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