Copyright 2001 - Star Trek: A Call to Duty

Starfleet Auxiliary Craft 

UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS:  STARFLEET DIVISION

Standard Technical Specifications for Starfleet Auxiliary Craft

Locations of Mass Shuttle Construction Construction:
  • Antares Fleet Yard, Antares IV
  • Utopia Planitia, Mars
  • Starbase 134
  • San Francisco Fleet Yard, Earth
  • Copernicus Fleet Yard, Luna
Production Information:  Most Starfleet vessels contain the onboard facilities to manufacture limited numbers of additional shuttlecraft.  However, some components are not easily replicated, and once off-the-shelf materials are exhausted, additional production is not possible.  Deuterium, Anti-Deuterium, Dilithium, space-time driver coils, in addition to other components, cannot be replicated.

 

CONTENTS

1.0 Shuttlepods
1.1 Type-15 Shuttlepod
1.2 Type-16 Shuttlepod
1.3 Type-18 Shuttlepod

2.0 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.1 Type-6 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.2 Type-7 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.3 Type-8 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.4 Type-9 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.5 Type-10 Personnel Shuttlecraft
2.6 Type-11 Personnel Shuttlecraft

3.0 Cargo Shuttlecraft
3.1 Type-9A Cargo Shuttlecraft

4.0 Auxiliary Spacecraft
4.1 Work Bee
4.2 Type-M1 Sphinx Workpod

Appendix A - Size Comparison Chart

Appendix B - Author's Notes

Appendix C - Credits and Copyright Information

 

1.0  SHUTTLEPODS    

1.1  TYPE-15 SHUTTLEPOD

Type:  Light short-range sublight shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two; pilot and system manager.
Power Plant:  Two 500 millicochrane impulse driver engines, four RCS thrusters, three sarium krellide storage cells.
Dimensions:  Length, 3.6 m; beam, 2.4 m; height 1.6 m.
Mass:  0.86 metric tones.
Performance:  Maximum delta-v, 12,800 m/sec.
Armament:  Two Type-IV phaser emitters.

The Type-15 Shuttlepod is a two person craft primarily used for short-ranged transportations of personnel and cargo, as well as for extravehicular inspections of Federation starships, stations and associated facilities.  Lacking the ability to obtain warp speeds, the Type-15 is a poor candidate for even interplanetary travel, and is traditionally used as a means of transport between objects only a few kilometers apart.  The craft is capable of atmospheric flight, allowing for routine flights between orbiting craft or stations and planetside facilities.  Ships of this type are stationed aboard various starship classes and stations, both spaceborne and planetside.

A variant of this type, the Type-15A Shuttlepod, shares the same specifications of its sister craft, but is capable of reaching a maximum delta-v of 13,200 m/sec.  The Type-15A was a limited production craft and the information gained from its service allowed for further streamlining of what would eventually become the Type-16 Shuttlepod.  Still, the 15A remains in active service, and existing Type-15 spaceframes can easily be converted to the 15A provided that off the shelf parts are available.  However, it should be noted that Starfleet Operations has deemed that the 15A spaceframe exhausts its fuel supply rather quickly and its production at major assembly plants is now discontinued.

 

1.2  TYPE-16 SHUTTLEPOD    

Type:  Medium short-range sublight shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two; pilot and system manager.
Power Plant:  Two 750 millicochrane impulse driver engines, four RCS thrusters, four sarium krellide storage cells.
Dimensions:  Length, 4.8 m; beam, 2.4 m; height 1.6 m.
Mass:  1.25 metric tones.
Performance:  Maximum delta-v, 12,250 m/sec.
Armament:  Two Type-IV phaser emitters.

Like the Type-15, the Type-16 Shuttlepod is a two person craft primarily used for short-ranged transportations of personnel and cargo, as well as for extravehicular inspections of Federation starships, stations and associated facilities.  Lacking the ability to obtain warp speeds, the Type-16 is a poor candidate for even interplanetary travel, and is traditionally used as a means of transport between objects only a few kilometers apart.  The craft is capable of atmospheric flight, allowing for routine flights between orbiting craft or stations and planetside facilities, and its cargo capacity is slightly higher then that of the Type-15.  Ships of this type are stationed aboard various starship classes and stations, both spaceborne and planetside.

 

1.3  TYPE-18 SHUTTLEPOD    

Type:  Medium short-range sublight shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two; pilot and system manager.
Power Plant:  Two 800 millicochrane impulse driver engines, four RCS thrusters, four sarium krellide storage cells.
Dimensions:  Length, 4.5 m; beam, 3.1 m; height 1.8 m.
Mass:  1.12 metric tones.
Performance:  Maximum delta-v, 16,750 m/sec.
Armament:  Three Type-V phaser emitters.

Developed in the mid-2360s, the Type-18 Shuttlepod is somewhat of a departure from the traditional layout for ships of its size.  In response to the growing threat of conflicts with various galactic powers bordering or near to the Federation, this shuttlepod was designed to handle more vigorous assignments that still fell into the short-range roles of a shuttlepods.  Even with her parent vessel under attack, the Type-18 was designed to function in battle situations and could even be used as an escape vehicle should the need arise.  Lacking a warp core, the pod is a poor choice for travel beyond several million kilometers.  Ships of this type are seeing limited deployment on various border patrol and defensive starship classes, including the Defiant-, Sabre-, and Steamrunner-class.

 

2.0  PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT    

2.1  TYPE-6 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT (UPRTD)

Type:  Light short-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant:  One 50 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 6.0 m; beam, 4.4 m; height 2.7 m.
Mass:  3.38 metric tones.
Performance:  Sustained Warp 3.
Armament:  Two Type-IV phaser emitters.

The Type-6 Personnel Shuttlecraft is currently in widespread use throughout Starfleet, and is only recently being replaced by the slightly newer Type-8 Shuttle of similar design.  The Uprated version of this vessel is considered to be the ideal choice for short-range interplanetary travel, and its large size makes it suitable to transport personnel and cargo over these distances.  A short-range transporter is installed onboard, allowing for easy beam out of cargo and crew to and from their destination.  Atmospheric flight capabilities allow for this shuttle type to land on planetary surfaces.  Ships of this type are currently in use aboard virtually every medium to large sized starship class, as well as aboard stations and Starbases.

The Type-6 is perhaps the most successful shuttle design to date, and its overall structure and components are the foundations upon which the Type-8, -9, and -10 spaceframes are based.

Major technological advancements in the 2370’s allowed for further upgrades to be made to the engine systems aboard shuttlecraft.  These upgrades make this craft more capable of long-range spaceflight and, like its starship counterparst, no longer damages subspace.

 

2.2  TYPE-7 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT (UPRTD)    

Type:  Medium short-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant:  One 150 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 8.5 m; beam, 3.6 m; height 2.7 m.
Mass:  3.96 metric tones.
Performance:  Sustained Warp 4.
Armament:  Two Type-V phaser emitters.

With the borders of the Federation ever expanding as Starfleet reached the latter half of the 24th Century, the ASDB realized that there was sufficient need for a shuttlecraft capable of making the week-long journeys between planets and stations at low warp.  The Type-7 was the first step in this direction, and is equipped for short-range warp travel.  To offer comfort to its occupants, the shuttle contains a standard replicator system and sleeping compartments.  The forward and aft compartments are separated by a small, informal living area that has a workstation and table.  The aft area is normally equipped with a bunk area, but can easily be converted to allow for increased cargo capabilities.  A medium-range transporter and atmospheric flight capabilities allow for the Type-7 to service starbases, starships and stations.  Ships of this type are currently in use aboard most medium to large sized starship classes, as well as aboard stations and Starbases.

Major technological advancements in the 2370’s allowed for further upgrades to be made to the engine systems aboard shuttlecraft.  These upgrades make this craft more capable of long-range spaceflight and, like its starship counterparts, no longer damages subspace.

 

2.3  TYPE-8 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT    

Type:  Light long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant:  One 150 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 6.2 m; beam, 4.5 m; height 2.8 m.
Mass:  3.47 metric tones.
Performance:  Warp 4.
Armament:  Two Type-V phaser emitters.

Based upon the frame of the Type-6, the Type-8 Shuttlecraft is the most capable follow-up in the realm of personnel shuttles.  Only slightly larger, the Type-8 is equipped with a medium-range transporter and has the ability to travel within a planet’s atmosphere.  With a large cargo area that can also seat six passengers, the shuttle is a capable transport craft.  Slowly replacing its elder parent craft, the Type-8 is now seeing rapid deployment on all medium to large starships, as well as to Starbases and stations throughout the Federation.

 

2.4  TYPE-9 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT    

Type:  Medium long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant:  One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 8.5 m; beam, 4.61 m; height 2.67 m.
Mass:  2.61 metric tones.
Performance:  Warp 6.
Armament:  Two Type-VI phaser emitters.

The Type-9 Personnel Shuttle is a long-range craft capable of traveling at high warp for extended periods of time due to new advances in variable geometry warp physics.  Making its debut just before the launch of the Intrepid-class, this shuttle type is ideal for scouting and recon missions, but is well suited to perform many multi-mission tasks.  Equipped with powerful Type-VI phaser emitters, the shuttle is designed to hold its own ground for a longer period of time.  Comfortable seating for four and moderate cargo space is still achieved without sacrificing speed and maneuverability.  As is standard by the 2360’s, the shuttle is equipped with a medium-range transporter and is capable of traveling through a planet’s atmosphere.  With its ability to travel at high-warp speeds, the Type-9 has been equipped with a more pronounced deflector dish that houses a compact long-range sensor that further helps it in its role as a scout.  The Type-9 is now being deployed throughout the fleet and is especially aiding deep-space exploratory ships with its impressive abilities.

 

2.5  TYPE-10 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT    

Type:  Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant:  One 250 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 9.64 m; beam, 5.82 m; height 3.35 m.
Mass:  19.73 metric tones.
Performance:  Warp 5.
Armament:  Three Type-V phaser emitters, two micro-torpedo launchers, jamming devices.

Developed specifically for the Defiant-class starship project, the Type-10 Personnel Shuttle is the largest departure from the traditional role of an auxiliary craft that Starfleet has made in the past century.  Short of a dedicated fighter craft, the Type-10 is one of the most powerful auxiliary ships, with only the bulkier Type-11 being more heavily equipped.  Nonetheless, the shuttle sports increased hull armor and the addition of micro-torpedo launchers, as well as a suite of tactical jamming devices.  A larger warp coil assembly, as well as torpedo stores, makes the Type-10 much more heavier then other shuttles.  Elements from the Defiant-class project that were incorporated into the shuttle include armored bussard collectors, as well as a complex plasma venting system for use during possible warp core breech situations.  This bulky craft is equipped with a powerful navigation deflector that allows it to travel at high-warp, and a complex sensor system makes this shuttle suitable for reconnaissance work.  Able to hold its own in battle situations, the Type-10 is seeing limited deployment on Defiant-class starships, as well as border patrol vessels and combat-ready ships.

 

2.6  TYPE-11 PERSONNEL SHUTTLECRAFT    

Type:  Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Four flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant:  One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 16 m; beam, 9.78 m; height 4.25 m.
Mass:  28.11 metric tones.
Performance:  Warp 6.
Armament:  Four Type-V phaser emitters, two micro-torpedo launchers (fore and aft), aft-mounted veritable purpose emitter.

With an ultimate goal towards creating a useful all-purpose shuttlecraft, the designers of the Type-11 Personnel Shuttle set out to create a craft that was equipped with all the systems of a starship within the shell of a relatively small shuttle.  Allocation of the larger Danube-class runabout to starships in the field proved too costly, and with the expressed need by the Sovereign-class development team for a capable shuttle, the Type-11 was born.  Its overall frame and components are a meshing of lessons learned in both the Type-9 and Danube-class vessels.  Impressive shielding, several phaser emitters, micro-torpedo launchers and a capable warp propulsion system makes this shuttle capable of performing a multitude of tasks.  Both the ventral and dorsal areas of the shuttle feature a new magnaclamp docking port that is capable of linking up to other ships similarly equipped.  A two-person transporter and a large aft compartment with a replicator adds to the shuttle’s versatility.  The end hope is that these all-purpose shuttles will replace the more specific-purpose crafts already stationed on starships, reducing the amount of space needed for shuttle storage in already-cramped bays.  The Type-11 is now seeing selective deployment outside the Sovereign-class to further assess its capabilities in the field.

Information on the Type-11 is relatively scarce, aside from a few paragraphs in Star Trek: The Magazine #1.  Its classification is conjectural.

 

3.0  CARGO SHUTTLECRAFT    

3.1  TYPE-9 CARGO SHUTTLECRAFT (UPRTD)

Type:  Heavy long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation:  Two flight crew.
Power Plant:  One 150 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, six RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 10.5 m; beam, 4.2 m; height 3.6 m.
Mass:  8.9 metric tones.
Performance:  Warp 4.
Armament:  Two Type-V phaser emitters.

Short of a full-fledged transport ship, the Type-9A Cargo Shuttle is the primary shuttle of choice for cargo runs at major Starfleet facilities.  Originally developed by the ASDB team stationed at Utopia Planitia, the 9A served as cargo vessel that carried components from the surface of Mars to the facilities in orbit.  While able to travel at warp velocities, the 9A is somewhat slow at sub-light speeds, especially when carrying large amounts of cargo.  The front of the shuttle is divided by a wall with a closable hatch, allowing for the aft area to be opened to the vacuum of space.  The 9A also has the ability to carry one Sphinx Workpod in the aft area.  A medium-range transporter and atmospheric flight capabilities allow it to easily complete its tasks.  While rarely seen stationed aboard all but the largest starships, the Type-9A is a common site at any large Starfleet facility. 

In response to the need to transporter ground troops into areas heavily shielded, a variant designated the Type-9B was designed and is capable of carrying 40 troops and their equipment to the surface of a planet or interior of a space station.  This variant has seen limited service onboard frontline ships, most notably the Steamrunner-class starship.

Major technological advancements in the 2370’s allowed for further upgrades to be made to the engine systems aboard shuttlecraft.  These upgrades make this craft more capable of long-range spaceflight and, like its starship counterparts, no longer damages subspace.

 

4.0  AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT    

4.1  WORK BEE

    

Type:  Utility craft.
Accommodation:  One operator.
Power Plant:  One microfusion reactor, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 4.11 m; beam, 1.92 m; height 1.90 m.
Mass:  1.68 metric tones.
Performance:  Maximum delta-v, 4,000 m/sec.
Armament:  None

The Work Bee is a capable stand-alone craft used for inspection of spaceborne hardware, repairs, assembly, and other activates requiring remote manipulators.  The fully pressurized craft has changed little in design during the past 150 years, although periodic updates to the internal systems are done routinely.  Onboard fuel cells and microfusion generators can keep the craft operational for 76.4 hours, and the life-support systems can provide breathable air, drinking water and cooling for the pilot for as long as fifteen hours.  If the pilot is wearing a pressure suit or SEWG, the craft allows for the operator to exit while conducting operations.  Entrance and exit is provided by the forward window, which lifts vertically to allow the pilot to come and go.

A pair of robotic manipulator arms is folded beneath the main housing, and allows for work to be done through pilot-operated controls.  In addition, the Work Bee is capable of handling a cargo attachment that makes it ideal for transferring cargo around large Starbase and spaceborne construction facilities.  The cargo attachment features additional microfusion engines for supporting the increased mass.

 

4.2  TYPE-M1 SPHINX WORKPOD    

Type:  Light industrial manipulator (Sphinx M1A), medium industrial manipulator (Sphinx M2A), medium tug (Sphinx MT3D).
Accommodation:  Pilot (M1A, M2A); pilot and cargo specialist (MT3D).
Power Plant:  One microfusion reactor, four alfinium krellide power storage cells, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions:  Length, 6.2 m; beam, 2.6 m; height 2.5 m.
Mass:  1.2 metric tones.
Performance:  Maximum delta-v, 2,000 m/sec.
Armament:  None

Along with the Work Bee, the various Sphinx Workpod types are a common site in any large Federation shipbuilding facility.  Intended never to be far from its parent facility, the Workpod was designed to allow greater user hands-on control of the various functions involved with day-to-day construction and repair.  With more tools then the Work Bee, the Sphinx M1A and M2A are used primarily to manipulate spaceborne hardware during construction.  The Sphinx MT3D is a third variant of this robust design, and can be used for towing objects to and from the construction site.  Furthermore, a group of MT3D units can work together to tow larger objects into place, including most starship classes, when large tractor emitters are not an option.  All three variants utilize the same basic systems, and are small enough to fit inside of a Type-9A Cargo Shuttlecraft.  All variants of the Sphinx Workpod are commonly found at Federation Fleet Yards and Starbases, as well as on larger Starfleet vessels.

 

APPENDIX A - SIZE COMPARISON CHART    

 

APPENDIX B - AUTHOR'S NOTES    

From The Desk of Robert Siwiak:

This is the one point in this entire page where you'll find that, for the first time, the authors step out of the Star Trek universe and back into our own 21st Century mindset.  The information presented on this page is a result of hours and hours worth of researching, more researching and then a rigorous and intensive process of compiling the best information from canon sources, and making an attempt to fill in the blanks.  For the purposes of ST:ACTD, these are the specs for the common Starfleet Shuttles and Auxiliary Craft.  Now to address some of the problems found in compiling this information, followed by a brief explanation as to why a certain path was taken in these specs.

Why Make Shuttle Specs?:  Well, this turned out to be a side project of mine that was never actually supposed to become standardized, but I'm glad it did.  Between a handful of discussions with the entire team, J in particular, it was realized that we mine as well create specs for the Danube-class runabout since it is a ship in its own right and makes appearances many times throughout ST:ACTD's history.  As everyone's specs came closer to their final state, a discussion sparked after it became realized that we were each making our own specs for some of the shuttles that we were including.  At that point, it was decided that we would need some sort of standard shuttle specs to be used throughout the many classes we have in this project.

Why Are The Specs of The Type-6, -7, and -9A Different Then The TNG TM:  The watchful eye of the vigilant Trekkie will notice that suddenly, these ships can go a bit faster in terms of their warp speed.  Also, some information on the RCS thrusters doesn't seem to coincide with the TM.  For the former, I suggest you read the next section, but for the latter, I'll cover that right here.  If you look at the actual models for those shuttles, you can actually count how many yellow thruster quads are present.  For those that the RCS thrusters aren't visible, I simply shoved in the lowest amount necessary for a ship to be able to maneuver in a 360 degree by 360 degree environment.  In this case, that happens to be four RCS thruster quads.

Warp Speeds:  I'm in that group of thinkers who believes that having shuttles limited to Warp 1 is stupid.  If you take into account that warp flight through a solar system is somewhat difficult, then you must also take into account that it would take a shuttle 3 years to get to the next star system.  A solar system contains numerous planets, asteroids, and other objects - each with its own gravity field.  More then half of the stars in our galaxy are binary stars, adding to the who gravitational mess.  It's not only difficult to plot a course that goes around physical objects, but one also has to plot around the gravitational ones, which interfere with the subspace domain.  J likes to point out that it would be simply enough for a ship to travel "up" relative to the plane of the solar system, then warp to where one wishes to.  Unfortunately, it's being found that in the real world, solar systems have planets and planetoids that don't lie on a relatively single plane like our own Sol Star System, but rather they lie on multiple planes.  This doesn't mean that warp flight within a star system is totally impractical, but this is backed up by the frequent amount of times that ships drop out of warp just outside a system, like when the Borg Cube and the Enterprise-D drop out of warp on their approach to Earth.  Voyager seems to be the stupid exception, but we often see them move several thousand/million kilometers away from a planet before jumping to warp.  In this case, perhaps there was nothing in the way of their flight path.  As it applies to shuttles, then, it would be very impractical for a shuttle to be used to travel between star systems unless they could go at higher warp speeds.  Also, as the shuttle lineup grows on, we increasingly larger nacelles on shuttles.  The Starship Spotter states the Type-10 can travel at Warp 5, so the other shuttles are rated around that number, depending on various factors.  To cover my behind, I rate the older shuttles as being an "uprated" version.  After all, we know SMs like to occasionally have their crew jump into a shuttle and go to another star system, and this will prevent the "ACTION:  It is now 6 months later" because a shuttle traveling at Warp 2 would take that long.

Type-11... Come Again?:  Yes, yes... Type-11.  Kurt seemed rather adamant that we allow usage of this shuttle on other ships, the Norway-class in particular.  While we argued that that shuttle had only been seen on the Sovereign-class, it was eventually decided that limited use of this shuttle would be allowed.  The Type-11 designation, while never being mentioned in a canon source, was decided since it seems to fit into the number style already established. 

 

APPENDIX C - CREDITS AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION    

STARFLEET AUXILIARY CRAFT SPECIFICATIONS CREATED BY:  ROBERT SIWIAK

SOURCES USED:

  1. Star Trek:  The Next Generation Technical Manual - Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda
  2. Star Trek:  Deep Space Nine Technical Manual - Herman Zimmerman, Rick Sternbach and Doug Drexler
  3. Star Trek:  The Magazine
  4. Star Trek Starfleet Starship Spotters Guide

  5. Ex Astris Scientia: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/index.htm

 

Copyright 2001 - Star Trek : A Call to Duty. Use of these specifications is restricted to the Star Trek: A Call to Duty (ST:ACTD) Technical Specifications domain at http://techspecs.acalltoduty.com and may only be reproduced with the express permission of the ST:ACTD on sites that clearly serve to provide information on ST:ACTD, its various ships and stations, or other related topics. Editing the contents of the information present on this page or reformatting the way in which it is presented is not permitted without the direct permission of ST:ACTD.  Wherever possible, published sources were consulted to add to the wealth of knowledge in this document, and in some cases, this text was reproduced here.  Sources used are properly cited in the "Credits and Copyright Information" appendix.  No copyright infringement is intended.