SPECIFICATIONS

GOVERNMENT: Jovian Defense Forces
TYPE: Interstellar Space Tug
MODEL: IST-78
DATE INTRODUCED: 2178 AD
LENGTH: 464.6 feet (141.6 meters)
WIDTH: 731.6 feet (223 meters)
HEIGHT: 191.6 feet (58.4 meters)
MATERIAL: Crystal Composite
POWER PLANT: 45x Macrotechnologies IPFF-5000 Ion Plasma Fusion Furnace
OUTPUT: 5000 megawatts each (225,000 megawatts total)
ARMOR TYPE: None
ARMOR THICKNESS: NA
DISPLACEMENT: 60,000 tons
CREW:  153 (75 Engineers, 6 Electricians, 6 Technicians, 6 Operators, 13 Officers, 7 Medical, 20 Security, 20 Science)

PROPULSION:
             PRIMARY (Main Engine):
             2x Io Heavy Industries IHI-IPFE-22K Ion Plasma Fusion engines
             SPEED: KiloMach 9.16 each (KiloMach 18.32 total empty), when docked with an   ST-68 Space Transport speed is KiloMach 3.7 each (KiloMach 7.4 total), KM 0.82 each (KM 1.65 total) when docked with an ST-69 Space Train*
            *NOTE: Normally two IST-78 Space tugs dock with the ST-69 thereby doubling the KM speed.

             FASTER THAN LIGHT DRIVE :
             1x Pallas Research PRID-T2-28000A Type-2, Mark-IV Intersection Drive unit
             SPEED: 0.84 light years per hour empty, 0.24 light years per hour when docked with ST-69, 0.08 light years per hour when docked to an ST-69*
            *NOTE: Normally two IST-78 Space tugs dock with the ST-69 thereby doubling the time dilation to 0.16 light years per hour.

 
ELECTRONICS:
             1x Microwave Radio Communications array with a 1000 AU range.
             1x Laser Communications Array with 1000 AU range.
             1x SLV Communications Suite with a 5 Light Year Range.
             1x LADAR array with a range of 220,000 miles.
             1x Passive EMS array with a 1,000,000-mile range.
             1x Active EMS array with a range of 100,000 miles.
             1x SLV Sensor Suite with a range of 1 Parsec.
             2x Gravitational/Antigravity Control Unit; Primary Unit is normal Tesla-Shauberger Ring: Effect: Provides artificial lift, g-force compensation, and enhanced maneuverability. Secondary Unit is for the Intersection Drive Unit.

DEFENSE SYSTEMS:
              6x Cydonia Research CR-DF-2000A omnidirectional LEVEL-2 Gravitonic deflector field generator; Range: 2000 feet from hull; Power Requirement: 2000 megawatts each; Output: 432 terajoules with a regeneration of 43 terajoules every ten seconds.

CARGO BAY:
            1x 5814 yd3 Bay holds 10 years of food and supplies for the crew (missions were rarely more than 8 years for this vessel).

 Description/Overview:
            The IST-78 Interstellar Space Tug was built to help facilitate the transport of the existing fleet of large-scale transport ships that were produced at the former UN Solar Empire industrial facilities at Jupiter and the asteroid Vesta.  These ship yards began production of new Space Transports and Space Trains for the colonization efforts of the JDF.  The new fleet of transports would also require an FTL booster.  The IST-78 was the solution to this need for a "booster" capable of propelling the space transports outside the Sol star system.