Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle

The Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle (SOEIV), informally known as the drop pod, is a class of Human Entry Vehicle used by the United Nations Space Command to rapidly deploy individual soldiers from orbit to a planetary surface.
== Specifications ==
=== Design details ===
The SOEIV is an angular pod with a mass of 500 kilograms and physical dimensions of 2.3 meters in length, 2.7 meters in width, and 5 meters in height. Within the pod is a crash seat, communications gear, numerous equipment and weapon racks and lockers, and a rudimentary control system that allows for pod maneuvering. A "blunt carriage", a SOEIV has a single entry and escape hatch on one side that includes a variety of windows, with a gas-bolt system for rapid exit upon landing. There is a braking chute system, comprising an extended cable attached to four petal-like flaps, and braking rockets to aid deceleration and reinforced impact plating on the underside to absorb crash impact. The hardened and shielded communications systems within a SOEIV are built directly into the pod's hatch and enable its operator to synchronize deployment. In spite of the pod's apparent size, there is not much room for its occupant to move around, as most of the bulk is reserved for heat shielding, electronics, the safety harness, and equipment storage. The SOEIV is coated with ceramic plating, with an alloy crash cage underneath.