TAU class

STARSHIP CLASS
TAU (Thousand Astronomical Unit)
extrasolar exploration vessel
Affiliation	NASA
Ordered	5
Completed	5
Operational	2036 - 2069
Active	1
Projected Lifespan	5 years
Dimensions
Mass	6,440 mt
Length	218.2 m
Beam	50.3 m
Height	122.1 m
Characteristics
Crew	15-18
Cruise Speed	0.1 c
Maximum Speed	0.2 c
Defenses	electromagnetic shield
Auxiliary Craft	mix of up to 4 drone probe capsules and modified landers
Combat Ratings
Size	3
Impulse	0.1 c / 0.2 c
Background
Costs (RPs)	Construction: 193 RP Prototype: 386 RP IMC: 38.6 RP
Guide entry	Guide: TAU
Spreadsheet	TAU class

Ships

Name	NCC	Builder	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
Daedalus	TAU One	Rockwell	2036.02	2036.08	lost
Betelgeuze	TAU Two	Rockwell	2037.02	2043	decommissioned
Charybdis	TAU Three	Rockwell	2037.0723	2038.0207	lost
Phlebas	TAU Four	Rockwell	2037.12	2042	decommissioned
Jacob	TAU Five TAU Six TAU Seven TAU Eight	Rockwell	2038.08	2069	decommissioned

Initial Flight Configuration

Hull Systems (30 SU)

Size: 3

Length: 218.2 m

Beam: 50.3 m

Height: 122.1 m

Target Mass: 6,440 mt

Utilized Mass: 6,365.21 mt

Maximum SU: 642.75

Utilized SU: 635.25

SU Mass: 10 mt (10.02 mt specifically)

Hull

Outer: 12 SU

Inner: 12 SU

Shipbuilder: Rockwell

Resistance

Outer Hull: 4; 3 SU

Inner Hull: 4; 3 SU

Structural Integrity Field: n/a

Personnel Systems (428.5)

Crew: 15-18

Crew Quarters

Spartan: 8; 1 SU

Cryogenic Pods: 18; 1 SU

Environmental Systems

Basic Life Support: [3 PWR]; 12 SU

Reserve Life Support: [2 PWR]; 6 SU

Emergency Life Support (18 emergency shelters): 6 SU

Gravity: n/a

Consumables: 2 years (fully active crew); 13.2 SU

Replicator Systems

Food Processor System: food stores, [0 PWR]; 2 SU

Industrial Fabrication Units: n/a

Medical Facilities: Rating: 1 (10%); [1 PWR]; 5 SU

Recreation Facilities: Rating: 2 [4 PWR]; 12 SU

1 gym, 1 small lounge

Personnel Transport: Jefferies tubes [0 PWR]; 1 SU

Fire Suppression: [1 PWR]; 3 SU

Cargo: 3,670.3 mt total; 366.3 SU

Escape Pods: n/a

Propulsion Systems (39.5 SU)

Impulse Engine:

Type: Type I (fusion-powered) (0.1c / 0.2c) [2 / 4 PWR]; 5 SU

Location: aft

Pratt & Whitney F100 fusion-powered ion engine

Impulse Engine:

Type: fission-powered (0.1c) [3 PWR]; 30 SU

Location: aft

set of 4x AmJet SJ-79 fission-powered ion engines

Reaction Control System: (0.025c) [2 PWR]; 4.5 SU

Auxiliary Reaction Control System: (0.013c) [1 PWR]; 1.5 SU

Power Systems (85 SU)

Impulse Engine: 1 Type I fusion reactor (generates 6 PWR)

Impulse Engines: 4 AmJet SJ-79 fission reactors (each generates 1 PWR)

Auxiliary Power: 3 AmJet SJ-40 fission reactors (each generates 2 PWR); 45 SU

Auxiliary Power: 5 RTGs (each generates 2 PWR); 10 SU

Emergency Power: 1 Type N2036 fusion reactor (generates 5 PWR); 5 SU

Battery Power Systems: 9 SU

Source: Emergency Life Support one-time drain [bursts 18 PWR]

Power Distribution System: Standard Power flow, +10 Power transfer; 16 SU

Standard Usable Power: 28

Operations Systems (52.25 SU)

Bridge Systems: bow module; 6 SU

21st century flight deck

Computers

Core 1: flight-deck module [5 PWR]; 1.5 SU

Core 2: auxiliary control module [5 PWR]; 1.5 SU

Uprating: n/a

Optical Data Network (ODN): fiberglass laser optics; 9 SU

Navigational Deflector: n/a

Sensor Systems

Long-Range Sensors: [5 PWR]; 1 SU

Range Package: pre-warp (72 / 58 / 17 / -)

High Resolution: none

Low Resolution: 1 lightyear (0.3 / 0.4-0.6 / 0.7-0.9 / 0.91-1.0 ly)

Gain package: standard (+0)

Strength package: Class 1 (Strength +0 / +0 / +3 / +3)

Coverage: standard

Lateral Sensors: [5 PWR]; 6 SU

Gain package: standard (+0)

Strength package: Class 0 (Strength +0)

Coverage: standard

Navigational Sensors: [5 PWR]; 6 SU

Gain package: standard (+0)

Strength package: Class 0 (Strength +0)

Probes: 4 externally-mounted, modified lander/capsule probes; 0.5 SU

Flight Control Systems:

Autopilot: Control 1, Coordination 1 [1 PWR]; 4 SU

Navigational Computer

Main: Class 1 (+0) [0 PWR]; 1 SU

Backups: 1 [0 PWR]; 0 SU

Inertial Damping Field: n/a

Attitude Control: [1 PWR]; 0.75 SU (unrounded)

Communication Systems

Type: Type I (interplanetary radio) [2 PWR]; 1 SU

Strength: 1

Security: 0 (no uprating)

Basic Uprating: no uprating (+0)

Emergency Communications System: Yes [2 PWR]; 1 SU

Science Systems

Rating 1 (+0) [1 PWR]; 8 SU

Specialized Systems: +10% (physical: subspace); 3 SU

Laboratories: 1; 2 SU

Tactical Systems (0 SU)

No tactical systems

Auxiliary Spacecraft Systems (0 SU)

While the vessel does carry up to four crewed capsules, these are externally mounted. The TAU class has no shuttlebays or embedded craft.