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The VOID
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IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
In the light of the fact, that a ship needs adequate lifeboat capacities in order to conform with the law of the Republic and the Empire, I have been thinking about concepts other than the hardshell escape pod.
Since a spacesuit is essentially nothing but a single-person inflatable escape pod, a similar concept could just as well be used to evacuate people from a damaged ship.
I was thinking about a multi-layered soft hull with self sealing capacities, made from the same materials that you would build an armored spacesuit from. The biggest advantage would be, that such systems require much less space.
They are no able to land you on a planet, but for ships operating along frequented space lanes, that is not a necessity. The concept seams to be vulnerable, but if you can trust your life to a space suit, you could trust it to an IEP as well.
It would also be possible, to construct IEPs with a hard shell, if the shell is built from segmented parts and able to fold.
Thoughts, please.
--- "The sand people are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers." — Obi-Wan Kenobi
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5/29/2006, 8:34 pm
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Tiree
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
I was thinking the same thing a while back. I could not figure out how to cram in escape pods with the Baudo, but this would be perfect for it. Kind of like an inflatable raft or tent. You could probably make it as small as a cubic meter for a 2 or 4 person life raft.
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5/30/2006, 6:56 am
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50stone
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Generally though you use spacesuits while around a spacecraft or facility and so atleast partially protected, if floating free in open space you would be vulnerable to space debris, micrometeorites and the like.
You would need a small scale particle shield generator in that construction if your going to rely on it.
Still it would be a lot smaller than an escape pod, probably the size of a large backpack while stowed.
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5/30/2006, 7:19 am
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mykaDragonBlue
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Some thoughts...
These pods would have to be hard mounted around airlock or hatch frames to work. People need to be able to get into the pod while still in an atmosphere, so the pod needs to inflate before leaving the ship. Especially for larger (multi-person) pods, its unlikley they could fit through the airlocks (except main cargo loading areas, which is an option is some cases) once the pod is inflated and the person inside. The hatch could work though. Somewhat like they do on planes these days (except airtight).
A collapseable frame surrounded by a 'fabric' covering would work. I dont know if multiple layers are all that important, unless its to incorperate diferent materials.
I'm haviing other thoughts, but I keep changing my mind as to the relevance and conclusions :P
In general I think its a viable idea, and I like it, in some circumstances. Possibly very short range ships only.
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[- i have no sig -]
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5/30/2006, 8:39 am
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Jamwes
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Could also work as an Emergency Emergency Escape Pod. Extras in a cargo hold and other places where people shouldn't normally be but if they are durning an accident and can't get to a "normal" escape pod.
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"A gat in the hand is worth the world by its tail."
Catch ya on the flip side.
-Jamwes
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5/30/2006, 9:08 am
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Trowa
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
VOID, what about these?
http://sinai.critter.net/starwars/gear/survival.htm#lifepod
Granted, since it's made of the same material as liquid cable, they are alot softer and much more easily shredded to pieces compared to what you're thinking about.
But I felt it was worthy of note. Maybe even a first step to what you're thinking of.
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5/30/2006, 9:23 am
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The VOID
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Okay, here is a very simple concept model of one construction I can think of.
You got that plate, the size of your airlock door. You put it on the airlock door and it seals itself in the airlock door frame. Then you open the outer airlock door, the pod expands, you open the access hatch and get in. Closing the hatch releases the pod and the air left inside the airlock propells it away from the mothership. If more people are aboard, they just close the airlock, repressurise it and do it all over again. One such pod could easily hold 4-5 people.
The pod itself does contain an air regenerator and a weak particle shield generator in the back plate and in the front frame. That shield also doubles as the pods seal in the airlock, when it is deployed. Additional life support is not included. You bring it into the pod yourself! Thats an easy thing, because emergencies like fires and reactor leaks, all ships have breathing masks strategically placed and additional stuff of that kind will be found in every airlock. You just recycle material, that is already there and you can put lifepod capacity for almost 20 people into the same space that normally houses a single one-person escape pod.
--- "The sand people are easily startled, but they will soon be back, and in greater numbers." — Obi-Wan Kenobi
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5/30/2006, 9:47 am
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Trowa
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Will it include the usual neccesities like flares, survival gear, or a comlink that're included in escape pods? I think you might need to make the back plate thicker to include storage space for these things.
But otherwise, I think it's brilliant. The way the standard airlock can be used to expand then propel the pod really is creative.
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5/30/2006, 12:44 pm
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krag123
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Void you might want to consider adding a homing beacon or destress signal transmitter into your IEP. Also i would suggest adding a window into the door, so that you know when you are docked and its safe to open the door.
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“All hail the immortal emperor, for with out him all is lost” – Adeptus Astartes -
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5/30/2006, 1:16 pm
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Trowa
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Re: IEPs - Inflatable Escape Pods
Here's another thought. You may want to add repulsors to that thing. Because who could lug something like that out of the closet and shove it in the door frame of an airlock?
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5/30/2006, 6:50 pm
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