franchise-star-trek-tng-technical-manual1

14.6 CAPTAIN'S YACHT14.6 CAPTAIN'S YACHTOne of the specialized auxiliary spacecraft carried by theUSS Enterprise is the captain's yacht. This spacecraft ischaracterized as multipurpose, though it normally functions toconvey diplomatic personnel on special missions not normallyaccomplished by shipboard transporters.The general planform is a flattened elliptical solid, designedfor the space environment and extended atmosphericflight. It measures 10 m along the minor axis and 18 m in themajor axis, and 8 m in height. The total loaded mass is ratedat95metrictonnes. The structural framing comprises gammaweldedtritanium and duranium members measuring anaverage 18.6 x 9.2 cm in cross section. Hull skinning iscomposed of eight alternating layers of keiyurium borocarbideand cortenium molybdenite, with major tiling sections averaging6.02 cm thick.The interior habitat volume is subdivided to form the flightdeck, two modest staterooms, flight crew bunks, galley, andEngineering access. Surrounding the habitat are the imbeddedimpulse engine system, cryogenic reactant tanks, lenticularaerodyne atmosphere flight motors, and related subsystems.The spacecraft is normally piloted by a crew of two,supplemented by a service representative to assist diplomaticguests.The yacht is capable of sustained sublight velocitiesapproaching 0.65c. The impulse propulsion system (IPS)consists of six sequential beam-fusion reaction chambersfeeding a central toroidal driver coil. Each chamber measures1.3 m in diameter and is similar to its larger IPS cousins on theEnterprise. The reaction exhaust is vented through the drivercoil and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) accelerator for impulsetravel. The MHD tap provides power to the navigationaldeflector grid for removal of interstellar dust and gas from thevehicle flight path. For atmosphere flight the exhaust isredirected after it exits the MHD tunnel and sent through theaerodyne engines around the ellipse equator. The normalatmosphere cruising velocity is Mach 6; maximum safe waveridervelocity is Mach 20. Magnetic turbulence contour equalizers,variants of the navigational deflector, provide momentumconditioning at Mach transitions.The Enterprise is designed to operate safely without theyacht in place, since its structural integrity field and inertialdamping fields produce slightly modified fields in those areasto compensate for the concavity of the yacht docking structure.Yacht operational rules in the vicinity of the starship aregenerally the same as those for other auxiliary spacecraft,with the difference being that the yacht, during emergency undockings,may be safely deployed at velocities as high asWarp Factor 7. The yacht's systems are designed to afford thecraft a smooth falloff of warp field, though the decaying fieldenergy cannot be sustained for any appreciable time.14.5.1 The captain's yachtCabin windows •Impulse engine •Landing foot (2) •Entry/egress platformVentral plan viewDorsal plan viewYacht bridgeDorsal entry hatchAerodyne system nozzlesForward elevation view (1/2 cutaway)This is one of those nifty things that we may never get to see on the show. We did briefly flirt with the idea of actually usingthe captain's yacht in "Samaritan Snare, "but it was decided to use an "executive shuttlecraft" instead. Patrick Stewart informsus that the yacht is named Calypso, after Jacques Cousteau's ship. Visual effects coordinator (and Navy veteran) Ron B.Moore points out that naval tradition would probably insist the craft be called the Captain's Gig.