THI Nebula Skimmer-Class Mining Vessel

Vessel Classification: Surface Extraction Specialist

Model Designation: NS-750 "Stardust Collector"

Overview

The Nebula Skimmer-Class represents Tachyon Heavy Industries' answer to efficient surface mining operations. Unlike its larger siblings, the NS-750 specializes in rapid extraction of valuable minerals from asteroid surfaces without deep penetration. Its revolutionary Particle Attraction Grid technology allows it to literally "skim" valuable particles from asteroid surfaces with minimal waste and maximum speed.

The Nebula Skimmer is prized for its agility and efficiency, capable of processing multiple smaller asteroids in the time it would take larger vessels to set up operations on a single target. This versatility makes it the preferred choice for operations in dense asteroid fields where maneuverability is as important as extraction capacity.

Technical Specifications

Physical Dimensions

• Length: 215 meters
• Width: 108 meters
• Height: 42 meters
• Mass (unloaded): 24,300 metric tons
• Mass (fully loaded): 48,600 metric tons

Propulsion Systems

• Main Drive: Helios-V Fusion Reactor (2 units)
• Maneuvering Thrusters: Enhanced Plasma Vectoring System (48 units)
• Emergency Propulsion: Chemical Backup Thrusters (12 units)
• Maximum Velocity: 0.18c (18% light speed)
• Standard Operating Velocity: 0.07c (7% light speed)
• Deceleration Capacity: 0-full stop in 28 minutes at standard velocity

Mining Equipment

• Primary Extraction: Particle Attraction Grid (PAG-750)
• Secondary Extraction: Surface Abrasion Lasers (24 units)
• Tertiary Systems: Micro-Fracture Inducers (16 units)
• Collection Systems: Magnetic Particle Collectors (12 units)
• Processing Capacity: 350 metric tons per hour
• Refinement Systems: Rapid-Cycle Molecular Separator

Cargo Capacity

• Raw Material Holds: 18,000 cubic meters
• Refined Material Holds: 8,000 cubic meters
• Quantum Crystalline Lattice Compartment: 50 cubic meters (temperature and pressure controlled)
• Fuel Storage: 6,000 cubic meters

Crew Accommodations

• Standard Crew Complement: 42 personnel
  • Command Staff: 6
  • Engineering: 12
  • Mining Operations: 16
  • Medical: 3
  • Security: 3
  • Science Team: 2
• Emergency Capacity: 65 personnel
• Crew Quarters: Private cabins for senior staff, shared quarters (2 persons) for general crew
• Recreation Facilities: Compact holographic recreation chamber, small gymnasium

Life Support

• Atmospheric Recycling: Standard carbon scrubber system with bioengineered backup
• Water Reclamation: 98.5% efficiency
• Food Production: Limited hydroponic garden (supplementary to stored supplies)
• Medical Facilities: Medical bay with 4 beds, emergency surgical capabilities

Defensive Systems

• Hull: Lightweight titanium-ceramic composite with enhanced maneuverability
• Shields: Rapid-response electromagnetic barrier (optimized for small debris deflection)
• Point Defense: Automated laser turrets for debris clearing (8 units)
• Security Measures: Internal bulkhead lockdown systems, emergency pressure doors

Computer Based Systems (CBS) Inventory

Category I: Critical Systems (SL-T4)

1. Main Propulsion Control System
2. Life Support Management System
3. Emergency Response System
4. Navigation and Positioning System
5. Power Distribution Network
6. Primary Communications Array

Category II: Essential Systems (SL-T3)

7. Particle Attraction Grid Control System
8. Secondary Propulsion Control
9. Cargo Management System
10. Crew Management and Access Control
11. Resource Allocation System
12. Backup Communications System
13. Environmental Control System
14. Refinement Process Control System
15. Defensive Systems Control

Category III: Important Systems (SL-T2)

16. Maintenance Management System
17. Inventory Control System
18. Medical Diagnostic System
19. Resource Consumption Monitoring
20. External Sensor Array Control
21. Surface Analysis System

Category IV: Standard Systems (SL-T1)

22. Crew Personal Devices Network
23. Administrative Documentation System
24. Non-critical Communications
25. Recreational Facility Controls

Network Architecture

The Nebula Skimmer-Class implements a streamlined version of THI's zone-based network architecture, with four distinct security zones:

1. Command Zone (Red): Highest security, containing critical navigation, propulsion, and life support systems
2. Operations Zone (Orange): High security, containing mining operations and cargo management systems
3. Engineering Zone (Yellow): Controlled access, containing maintenance and diagnostic systems
4. Crew Zone (Green): General access, containing crew facilities and entertainment systems

All cross-zone communications pass through hardened security gateways with comprehensive monitoring and filtering capabilities.

Cybersecurity Features

• Air-gapped critical systems with physical separation
• Hardware-based authentication for critical system access
• Comprehensive logging and monitoring across all systems
• Regular automated vulnerability scanning
• Quantum encryption for sensitive communications
• Manual override capabilities for all essential functions
• Rapid system isolation capabilities in case of breach

Certification Requirements

This vessel requires full IACS UR E26 certification before deployment, with particular emphasis on:

• Network security architecture validation
• Penetration testing of all security zones
• Incident response procedure validation
• Recovery capability demonstration

The Astronomical Bureau of Shipping (ABS) must certify compliance with all E26 requirements before the vessel can be cleared for operation in asteroid field mining activities.