Starport design...

> Bundle: 570
> Archive-Message-Number: 7154
> Date: Sun, 3 Apr 1994 07:22:14 -0700
> From: [email removed] (Roger Sanger)
> Subject: Starport design...
>
> I've always winged starports at my roleplaying sessions, but I've got
> an adventure coming up that is likely to take place primarily at a
> starport, so I need something a bit better defined than my adlibbing.
>
> I shall therefor be designing a starport, but I have no idea what I
> should put in it.
>
> WHAT IS IN A STARPORT?

Well here's my $0.02.

For my old campaings (...haven't had any new ones either:( )I tried to
model it as a mesh of seaport and airport.  However this is a moot
point if you're in the wilds...just be happy to find a "firm marked
spot".

Basic components should include: (bear w/me as I start w/the obvious)
1	Landing/TO pad with blast deflector.  In lower tech level these
would require water cooling, so expect to find the associated
plumbings.  Also for this consideration it would be wise to have
nearby a *large* body of water. At lease one long runway for airframe
vehicle L/TO operations. (I usually size these at 3000+ meters)
2	Covered hangers: four types, Commerical passenger loading
(nicely furnished, subtle but highly secured against hijacking),
Commerical cargo loading, expect to find secured but lightly
furnished, lots of loading equipments.  General private hanger for
privatly owned and operated vessals.  And finally the service hanger
where you get to fork over your annual maintance payments:)
3	Well paved taxi way connecting item 1 and 2.  Expect to find
available *heavy* duty tow truck (wheel/track/grav/legs) to move ships
around the starport.  (Facility maintance crew hates cleaning up HePlaR
burn marks...)
4	Firestation and emergency medical center
5	Fuel farm (may or maynot contain Purifyer system depending on
local condition) and a distribution network.  Really lowtech will use
fuel trucks, followed by above ground lines (easier to maintain and
inspect) and finally underground lines.  However truck will always be
used for special conditions (i.e. "You mean your TL15 vapor recovery
lines won't go into my salvaged TL10 fuel tank?")
5.5	Power Plant: If local politics and technology allows, this can
be a bank on back up generators.  Otherwise it can be anything from
steam turbine to fusion power plants.
6	Air/Near space traffic control center:  This can usually be
found in the orbital portion (or High Port).  For saftly reasons
there's probably a backup set dirtside.  Responsible for maintaining
communciation during initial approach.  Also expect to find a large
ground or space based logn range detection array.
7	Tower/Operation center:  Direct landing and takoff vector,
schedual landing/TO time, Taxi way right of way assignment ("gee
officer, I didn't mean to broadside the scout/courier. just heading
over to the freight hanger in my cherry red Fat Trader.")  Responsible
for communication during final approACH and TO.  TOC should exist in
both High Port and Dirt Side,  Short range high resolution sensor are
often installed to side L/TO operations.
8	Customs:  There should be three customs.  One for commerical
passenger like those in most major airports, One for freight with
contraband detection equipments (big ones for bulk cargo) and
enviromental controlled quartine area for bio freights.  And finally
the one run by the local planetary landlord...consult your local
government type and lawlevel for ideas...but only if you wanna leave
the starport area.
9	Passenger service:  Waiting rooms, overpriced cheezy
restaurants, Hotels/Shopping Mall/Casino/PostOffice/Hospital(wanna guess why?)
complexe for those staying on Starport grounds.  Also expect to find
Starport police to keep things undercontrol.  Other service also
available can be personnel service, freight broker, legal aides,
education centers, engineering consulting firms, banks, and your
firendly neighborhood Sears fusion gun sales/service center :)
10	Planetary Transportation Hub:  Located outside but adjacent to
Starport property lines.  Provide transportation service via
planes/trains/car/bus/grav/helio/ship/bikes/feet...(get the idea :). Since
this is base on my design theres also a unfillable, free parking
structure w/easy access to the starport.:)
11	High Port specifics:  For commerical passenger and delicate
freight service, direct docking to the central station is provided.
All others can be placed into unobstructing parking orbits.  Custom
agents board via custom cutters for paperwork and inspection.
Personnel and freight are off loaded using starport operated shuttles.
12	Sateillites facilities:  At class A and some B starports,
expect to find orbital construction facilities for large starships.
If not reasonable close to the main High Port facility ther should be
a small station nearby as office/rest area/toolshack.The simplest form can
be a open frame structure (i.e. dry dock from Star Trek movies) but in
some systems with radiation problems this would be completely enclosed
and armored.
13	Common to both High Port and Dirt Side are administrative
office for the Chief administrator, chief of sections, central
computer, vehicle pool, cafeteria, showers, and personel locker
spaces.  The major sections would include facility maintance,
personnel, security, legal, finance, emergency service, operations,
and diplomatic corp (if there's a greater government out there...)
Like the before mentioned power plant the starport may or maynot
contain its own communication network.
14	Scattered through out the commerical passenger section expect
to find large number of information/service booth (manned or
automated) where a traveller can get directions, rent vehicles, and to
get general local informations (i.e. local sign for 'men's room').
Can also be found in fewer qty in the private hanger areas.

Okay so this was more like $0.03 worth.  Hope you find *some* of this
info useful :>

- -Ed Fok