Endeavour

―Captain Goode on the *Endeavour*

The ***Endeavour***, formerly **Space Shuttle *Endeavour*** or **OV-105**, is a spacecraft originally built and used by NASA's Space Shuttle program that was passed around the Settled Systems following its decommissioning and received modern spaceflight upgrades over the centuries. In 2470 it was acquired by the *Disco Volante* prospecting company, who use it as their home and headquarters.

## History

### Shuttle Program

The Space Shuttle program was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); it was the first operational orbital spacecraft designed for reuse. Each Space Shuttle orbiter was designed for a projected lifespan of 100 launches or ten years of operational life, although this was later extended. At launch, it consisted of the orbiter, which contained the crew and payload, the external tank (ET), and the two solid rocket boosters (SRBs).

    Following the loss of *Challenger*, NASA was authorized to begin the procurement process for a replacement orbiter. A major refit of the prototype orbiter *Enterprise* was looked at and rejected on cost grounds; instead, the cache of structural spares that were produced as part of the construction of *Discovery* and *Atlantis* were earmarked for assembly into the new orbiter. Assembly was completed in July 1990, and the new orbiter was rolled out in April 1991. It was named *Endeavour* after the British HMS *Endeavour*, the ship which took Captain James Cook on his first voyage of discovery.

*Endeavour* flew hundreds of cargo transport missions between Earth and Luna, and even joined a Mars-bound supply convoy in 2004. Near the end of its career it became the sole shuttle for missions to the ISS, the future *Gateway*, and flew its final mission to the station in mid-2011, after which it and the other shuttles were retired in favour of improved launch systems.

The shuttle's history after its retirement is murky. It toured a series of museums for several years until public focus turned to the new series of interplanetary spacecraft, as well as the troubles and turmoil of the Directorate Wars and the C.A.R. Rebellion in the mid and late 21st century. The *Endeavour* was spared the fate of its fellow shuttles - scrapped entirely - and possibly entered private hands by the 22nd century.

### Exploring the stars

In the aftermath of the discovery of HZQ (and with it FTL travel) followed by the Great Migration, Earth was reduced to a backwater. At some point and under unknown circumstances the *Endeavour* orbiter left Earth and was passed around the Settled Systems, receiving modifications and upgrades over the centuries. By the 2470s most of its 20th century hardware, software and equipment had been removed and replaced with modern spaceflight tools, including a galactic map, heavy armaments and even a roemer drive, albeit one with a limited range compared to most other starships; these modifications meant that it could take off under its own power without the need of boosters or external fuel tanks. Someone also reinforced its exterior tiles, effectively giving it armour. It also received some aesthetic changes, including the addition of a second tail fin, longer wings and three additional thrusters. Its primary engines were also converted to antiproton propulsion rather than liquid hydrogen. By the time the modifications were complete, the *Endeavour* was a far cry from its humble 20th century origins.

### Goode Hands

In 2470, not long after recovering from his 55-day ordeal on an abandoned planet, James Goode joined his associate Cole Miller in purchasing the modified *Endeavour* at auction. It subsequently became the headquarters of their prospecting company *Disco Volante*, itself named for the ship belonging to Goode's late father Kirk. Over the next five years they recruited a small crew from a range of backgrounds, becoming a fully independent ship with ties to no faction other than their own.

## Overview

### Propulsion

The *Endeavour* possesses six pion rockets mounted on the orbiter's aft fuselage; these six antiproton-fueled engines can be swiveled 10.5 degrees vertically and 8.5 degrees horizontally during the rocket-powered ascent of the orbiter in order to change the direction of their thrust. Hence, they steer the entire starship, as well as provide rocket thrust towards orbit.

The aft fuselage also houses three radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs); these use an array of thermocouples to convert the heat released by the decay of plutonium-238 into electricity by the Seebeck effect. The electrcity is used throughout the entire starship and is virtually renewable due to the long half-life of the material.

Two Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) thrusters, also powered by antiproton annihilation reactions, are mounted in two separate removable pods on the ship's aft fuselage, located between the main engines and the vertical stabilizer. The OMS engines provide significant thrust for course orbital maneuvers, including insertion, circularization, transfer, rendezvous, deorbit, abort to orbit, and to abort once around.

The *Endeavour* is also equipped with a roemer drive in front of the largest of the six pion rockets. Contained within an annihilation reaction chamber, the roemer drive produces a kugelblitz that emits HZQ, generating sagittarius fields and allowing the *Endeavour* to travel faster-than-light.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the *Endeavour* relied on external fuel tanks and boosters to achieve orbit. Thanks to its various upgrades and modifications over the centuries, the modern *Endeavour* can lift off and reach orbit under its own propulsion.

### Structure

The *Endeavour* is made primarily from aluminium alloy, although the engine thrust structure is made from titanium alloy. Weight is reduced by substituting graphite epoxy for aluminum in some structural elements. The windows are made of aluminum silicate glass and fused silica glass, and comprise an internal pressure pane, a 1.3-inch-thick (33 mm) optical pane, and an external thermal pane. Their exterior tiles are constructed from an anti-ballistic composite armour that repels rocket fire; kinetic barriers add another layer of protection.

#### Thermal Protection

The *Endeavour* is protected by Thermal Protection System (TPS) materials inside and out, from the ship's outer surface to the payload bay. The TPS protects the ship from the cold of space and the heat of atmospheric entry.

### Armaments

While it was never designed to carry offensive or defensive weaponry, the *Endeavour* is currently equipped with several armament systems. Eight point defence cannons (PDCs) line the hull of the cargo bay with two more on the underside of the wings; these are rapid-fire projectile weapons that can fire thousands of rounds per minute to both attack enemy ships and destroy incoming ordnance.

### Other

#### Stealth System

The *Endeavour* carries four Orbital Stealth Arrays (OSAs) that can be deployed from the cargo bay as the ship enters orbit above hostile territory. When deployed, they form a reflective energy mesh that mimics the starscape behind the spacecraft, effectively making the *Endeavour* invisible to onlookers. This does not, however, hide the *Endeavour* from infrared imaging.

#### *Discovery*

The *Discovery* is a modified *Sojourner* shuttle used by *Disco Volante* for ground missions. Equipped with both plasma and antimatter propulsion, the *Discovery* contains both manual and automatic flight control systems, a fully-stocked armoury, a planetary scanner, mining gear and even a stealth array. The *Discovery* is kept docked to the exterior of the *Endeavour*'s fuselage and makes up more than a quarter of the spacecraft's total weight.

## Crew

* James Goode - captain, pilot
* Cole Miller - engineer, first mate
* Nyoka Wingsknight - soldier, combat technician
* Harley Burton - doctor, medic
* Myra Beach - technician
* Tennyson - analyst, technician
* AVA - system core, astrogator
* Marvin - M.U.S.E
* Unknown number of contractors

James GoodeCole MillerNyoka WingsknightHarley BurtonMyra BeachMarvin
## Trivia

* Unlike other starships, including other independents, the *Endeavour* does not have a prefix - e.g. UCS ("United Colonies Ship") or MV ("Merchant Vessel") - in its name.