The accomplishments of the Leonardo class would have been more impressive if Krasnovia hadn't gotten to Alpha Centauri first, and if their ships weren't demonstrably faster in getting there. In addition, Krasnovia began establishing regular trips between both Alpha Centauri and Barnard's star, as well as maintaining an outpost in both. Krasnovia began asserting that vessels travelling to any system within 10 light years needed their permission.
Krasnovia's "success" was mainly down to running much smaller vessels at a much higher speed (1.6 accelleration to 0.9c). With vessels departing every year, they maintained a supply stream. As it happens, this steady stream was absolutely required, because Krasnovia was depending on packaged food, and after 10 years in storage several key nutrients would lose their potency.
For the next Iliad Missions, ISTO took a clean-sheet approach. ISTO's space administration had been lambasted for being too conservative with their designs. Their engineers sought to combine the endurance of the Leonardo class with the sheer speed of the Krasnovia's Jörmungandr. The result was ... wel... the Wells class.
The Wells and Verne were built in record time on a compressed schedule. Because of time constraints much of the same hardware that was trialled on the Leonardo class was simply reused. This would cause problems with the higher constant accelleration experienced by the craft over the longer duration, with a reactor operating at a much, MUCH higher power level. Structural members warped during the flight, and the curious choice had been made to have to habitats installed on a rotating platform. The sheer weight caused the bearings on this system to fail.
Another problem was the elevator system on board. It was designed for 0.8g, and operating for years at a time a 1.0g lead to component failures that had the crew moving cargo by staircase or improvised pulleys before mission's end.
Another problem was the 56+ years the crew was away from the Solar System. While they, themselves only experienced 30 years, it was a difficult adjustment to come back to a world in which everyone they cared about was dead. Technologies had changed. Society had changed.
Many of the crew had children while on the flight. One bright note of the entire Wells class debacle was that the medical and psychological research performed during both project Gilgamesh and the first two Iliad missions had ensured that all of the facilities needed for child rearing were aboard. Including diapers, educational materials, and recreation facilities. The medical staff were trained ahead of time in obstetrics and pediatrics. The medical staff were also trained in Geriatrics, which was also handy to have on a flight where everyone aged 30 years.
pennant | name | namesake | ordered | laid_down | launched | destination | distance |
IB-40 | Wells | Herbert George Wells | 6750 | 6760 | 6762 | Xi Boötis | 21.8 ly |
IB-41 | Verne | Jules Verne | 6750 | 6760 | 6763 | Beta Hydri | 24.33 ly |
ISTO's third interstellar mission. Launched in 6762. The vehicle travelled to the Xi Boötis system (21.8 ly distant) using constant accelleration. The vessel accelerated at 1.0g for 2.85 years (proper time), to reach a max speed of 0.9c. After coasting coasted for 9.3 years (proper time), it decelerated for to 2.14 years (proper time) slow back down to visit the system. After spending 5 years in the system, it made a 15.0 year (proper time) return flight.
The vessel arrived back in the Solar System in late 6819. While 55.8 years passed on Earth, because of Time dilation, only 29.4 years passed for the crew.
Iliad 4There was never an Iliad 4 mission planned. This number is considered by many Eastern cultures to be unlucky. And if Spacers are anything, it's superstitious.
Iliad 5ISTO's fourth interstellar mission. Launched in 6763. The vehicle travelled to the Beta Hydri system (24.33 ly distant) using constant accelleration. The vessel accelerated at 1.0g for 2.85 years (proper time), to reach a max speed of 0.9c. After coasting coasted for 10.6 years (proper time), it decelerated for to 2.85 years (proper time) slow back down to visit the system. After spending 5 years in the system, it made a 16.3 year (proper time) return flight.
The vessel arrived back in the Solar System in late 6825. While 61.5 years passed on Earth, because of Time dilation, only 31.8 years passed for the crew.