| SMALLCRAFT CLASS | |
|---|---|
| OTV type K42 | |
| |
| Affiliation: | United Earth, United Earth Starfleet |
| Classification: | shuttlepod |
| Service period: | 2151-2161 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 6.9 meters |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity: | 1 pilot, 6 passengers |
| Cruising speed: | one quarter impulse |
| Armaments: | plasma cannons |
| Defences: | polarized hull plating |
| |
OTV type K42 shuttlepods were short-range small craft used by United Earth Starfleet in the mid-22nd century for transportation of personnel and equipment between ships, planets and other facilities. They were routinely carried aboard NX-class starships as auxiliary craft.
History[]
In the mid-22nd century, shuttlepods were normally used by Starfleet personnel and sometimes by MACOs. The vehicles also occasionally carried diplomatic delegations. The NX-class Enterprise (NX-01) carried two shuttlepods, namely Shuttlepod 1 and Shuttlepod 2, throughout its ten year mission from 2151 until 2161.
Starfleet Command also used shuttlepods, although they differed from the ones used by NX-class starships. They had blue and silver streamlines and a registry number. One of these vehicles, seen in 2154, had the registry number NC-05.
In the mid-2150s of the mirror universe, shuttlepods were also stored in launch bays aboard NX-class starships and were used by officers of the Terran Empire.
The Federation starship USS Franklin carried a compliment of shuttlepods until the time of its disappearance in the mid-2160s.
Shuttlepods were featured in a holoprogram used in 2370 that also included a simulation of Enterprise's interior and several locations on the planet Rigel X.
Specifications[]
The type K42 was 6.9 meters long with an access hatch on the port side, and an extensible airlock in the roof. It was propelled at sub-light speeds by a nuclear fusion engine pod that could be ejected in an emergency. Defensive systems included polarized hull plating, which was also utilized to endure the stresses of atmospheric re-entry, and plasma cannons with a range of 10 kilometers. The pod was equipped with quantum-level sensors for scientific missions, and an emergency distress beacon with a range of ten million kilometers.
Life-support[]
The shuttlepod could carry six passengers as well as the single pilot, and could maintain a breathable atmosphere for 24 crew-days with the air tanks and atmosphere recyclers working in tandem. Despite this, they were not intended for long duration missions and only had limited toilet facilities. Edible provisions were provided by a small protein resequencer and ration packs. The life-support system was independent of the engine power supply meaning it could continue to operate even when the engine pod was inoperable.
Known craft[]
| name/registry | assigned to | ship commissioning | disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttlepod 1 | Enterprise | 2151 | destroyed (1944) |
| Shuttlepod 1 | Enterprise | 2154 | active (2155) |
| Shuttlepod 2 | Enterprise | 2151 | active (2153) |
| NC-05 | Starfleet Command | by 2153 | active (2154) |
| Columbia shuttlepod | Columbia | 2150s | crashed (2296), recovered (2368) |
| Endeavour shuttlepod | USS Endeavour | c. 2150s-60s | active (2162) |
| Franklin shuttlepod | USS Franklin | c. 2150s-60s | active (circa 2164) |
| Shuttlepod 1 | USS Essex | c. 2150s-60s | active (2165) |
| Shuttlepod 2 | USS Essex | c. 2150s-60s | active (2165) |
| Shuttlepod 3 | USS Essex | c. 2150s-60s | active (2165) |
Mirror universe shuttlepods[]
| name/registry | assigned to | ship commissioning | disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttlepod 1 | ISS Avenger | 2150s | destroyed (2155) |