Spacer (occupation)

A spacer is a term for an individual who works primarily in space. This word's breadth of definition varies depending on the genre--if almost everyone in the setting is in working in space, it may refer specifically for people who work in low- or zero-gravity environments, typically performing maintenance outside of a ship. 
In hard sci-fi, such as Transhuman Space, spacers are typically commercial astronauts, performing maintenance on stations and mining robots.Transhuman Space, p.42Transhuman Space, p.49 Spacers of TL9+ are often enhanced with bio-tech to improve how well they handle low-gravity environments.Bio-Tech, p.71Transhuman Space, p.91 The most common modification being bones that resist degeneration in zero-gravity and a resistance to radiation. Ape-like hand-feetBio-Tech, p.51 are also useful for a spacers, as they allow one to hold more surfaces and/or tools.Bio-Tech, p.70Bio-Tech, p.175
In space opera and high sci-fi, "spacer" may refer to most non-military interplanetary occupations, such as the crew members of a tramp freighter or freighter liner. In GURPS Space, it's used to describe various spacefaring occupations.
== Examples ==
* Most of the humans in Alien are spacers
* Captain Zeke Morrigan is a spacer in Bio-TechBio-Tech, p.216
* A bartender or chef that works aboard a large space station is not a spacer, as their job involves little to no interaction with airlocks and low gravity.
== See Also ==
* Spacer (skill) -- A subtype of Crewman related to spaceships, such as operating docking clamps, airlocks, hull patches and pressure doors.Basic Set, p.185 This also may be the main origin of "spacer" being used in GURPS in general. 
* Spacer (race), a template for parahumans, upgraded for living in space
== References ==
Category:Setting Concepts