In Search of the Sol System

[redwood973]

How well do you know your solar system

We are starting up again after almost a year off. During this down time our ship was in the Sol system for minor refit, resupply and a short assignment as an cadet training vessel. The actual ships crew. . .well thats where you come in.

I decided I wanted to give each PC and NPC 5 development points [maybe just three, what do you think] to spend to account for their down time. Following this is a stat sheet of each of the inhabited worlds of the Sol system (5 in all).

What I see the players doing is taking these data sheets and creating what they did for this down time (such as helping an aunt run her dinner on the moon, or assist at the Academy, or an assignment on the terraforming mission on Venus, or System Traffic Control on Titan, or anything else they can come up with from the data sheets).

The assist I need from you all is did we miss anything in the data sheets. Did we leave out an orbital facility somewhere. Did we forget an inhabited world (I am not sure Titan was ever mentioned in Star Trek, but we believe it may have been mentioned in Babylon 5 [or was that Io] so it was added to honor the B5 series). Please if you can check them over and let us know what changes you recommend. Thanks-in advance.

[redwood973]

Star System Data
---System Name: Sol
---Affiliation: U.F.P
---Stellar Type: G2 V [bright, yellow dwarf]
---Inhabited Planets: Venus (Sol II [Class k]); Earth (Sol III [Class M]); Luna (Sol III a [Class F]); Mars (Sol IV [Class H]); Titan (Sol VI o [Class G]).
---Other Planets: Six others, including two gas giants.
---Other Stellar Objects: Thick, metal rich asteroid belt between Sol IV and Sol V; Kuiper Belt beyond Sol VIII; Oort Cloud at 50,000 AU's [eight light-months].
---Artificial Objects: Earth Station McKinley, San Francisco Fleet Yards, Starfleet Office Complex, Spacedock (all in Earth orbit); Jupiter Station (Jupiter); Mars Defense Perimiter (beyond Mars); Pluto Communications Relay Station (Pluto); Starfleet Academy Flight Range (Satrun); Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards (Mars).

Planetary Data
---Planetary Class: M
---Position in System: 3
---Distance from Star: 1.0 AU (149,503,000 km)
---Planetary System: Earth has one moon (Luna).
---Planetary Size
------Diameter: 12, 756 km
------Equatorial Circumference: 40, 077 km
------Total Surface Area: 511,222,212 sq km
---Planetary Conditions
------Gravity: 1.0 G
------Year and Day: 365 d/24 h
------Atmosphere: Nitrogen-Oxygen, density 1.0 bar (terrestrial).
------Hydrosphere: 70.8%
------Climate: Predominantly temperate with tropical zones at the equator, mild variations along the upper and lower latitudes, and average polar regions. (15 C)

Lifeform Data
---Sapien Species: Human
------Population: 10.7 billion
------Tech Index: Level 6 (antimatter)
------Government: Democracy
------Culture: Peaceful and relaxed
------Affiliation: U.F.P Founding Member
---Animal: Extensive
---Vegitation: Extensive
---Aquatic: Moderate

Homewold of the human civilization, location of the Federation government; as well as Starfleet Command. Millions of people perished in a massive nuclear exchange that destroyed most of the major cities, and eliminated most national governments, during World War III. Nuclear winter lasted almost two decades; disease and starvation drastically rose the death toll, surpassing the number slain in the fighting. Much of humanity was reduced to living in a second Dark Age. A remarkable renaissance was begun when first contact was made with the Vulcans. Humanity began to explore the stars and colonized several worlds. Ninety-eight years after First Contact Earth joined Andor, Centauri Prime, Tellar, and Vulcan to form the United Federation of Planets.

[redwood973]

[Insert Star System Data Here]

Planetary Data
---Planetary Class: F
---Position in System: 3 (a)
---Distance from Star: 1.0 AU (149,503,000 km)
---Planetary System: Luna is the only natural satellite of Earth.
---Planetary Size
------Diameter: 3,480 km
------Equatorial Circumference: 10,934 km
------Total Surface Area: 38,050,320 sq km
---Planetary Conditions
------Gravity: 0.2 G
------Year and Day: *
------Atmosphere: None, density 0.0 bar (very thin).
------Hydrosphere: None
------Climate: Predominantly a cool desert, too small to contain an atmosphere biosphere life-support is required in order to sustain life. The climate is, therefore, controlled. (-23 C)

* Luna completes one revolution about the Earth in 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes and 11.5 seconds. It also rotates on its axis once in about the same period of time, accounting for the fact that virtually the same surface of Luna is always turned toward Earth (a phenomenon known as "synchronous rotation").

Lifeform Data
---Sapient Species: Human
------Population: 50 million
------Tech Index: Level 6 (antimatter)
------Government: Democracy
------Culture: Peaceful and relaxed
------Affiliation: Terran Colony
---Animal: None
---Vegitation: None
---Aquatic: None

The first Terran colony, Tyco City, was established on Luna as a base for lunar exploration. Observatories were soon established to obtain clearer views of the sky than was possible from Earth. The New Berlin colony was established as a mining settlement, Lake Armstrong (visible from Earth) quickly made New Berlin a popular tourist destination.

[redwood973]

[Insert Star System Data Here]

Planetary Data
---Planetary Class: H
---Position in System: 4
---Distance from Star: 1.52 AU (227,244,560 km)
---Planetary System: Mars has two small moons, both are considered to be asteroids captured early in the planets history: Phobos (21 km dia.); Deimos (12 km dia.)
---Planetary Size
------Diameter: 6,780 km
------Equatorial Circumference: 21,302 km
------Total Surface Area: 144,427,560 sq km
---Planetary Conditions
------Gravity: 0.4 G
------Year and Day: 687 d/24.6 h
------Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide-Nitrogen, density 0.007 bars (very thin).
------Hydrosphere: None
------Climate: Predominantly very cold desert, permanent ice caps at both polar regions are composed of water ice and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). Terraforming efforts have produced areas with (barely) breathable atmospheres, such as on Olympus Mons, and at the Valles Marineris the pressure is high enough to allow excersions in a thermal suit and rebreather. Habitation is however primarily limeted to biodomes. (-63 C).

Lifeform Data
---Sapient Species: Human
------Population: 189.9 million
------Tech Index: Level 6 (antimatter)
------Government: Democracy
------Culture: Peaceful and relaxed
------Affiliation: Terran Colony
---Animal: None
---Vegetation: None
---Aquatic: None

The second Terran colony. The mineral scapolite, relatively rare on Earth, is widespread on Mars; and is actively mined. One of the best known features of the colony is the public transit system, envied even by citizens of Earth. Magnetic ramps (called mass drivers) propel transport cars through tubes to destinations all over the planet [a B5 reference]. Because of the tilt of its axis and eccentricity of its orbit, Mars has short, relatively warm summers and long, relatively cold winters. A major weather event occures in the southern hemisphere between late spring and early summer: dust storms, some reaching global proportions, last for weeks and sometimes months.

[redwood973]

[Insert Star System Data Here]

Planetary Data
---Planetary Class: G
---Position in System: 6 (o)
---Distance from Star: 9.54 AU (1,426,258,620 km)
---Planetary System: Titan is the fifteenth of Saturn's twenty moons.
---Planetary Size
------Diameter: 5,150 km
------Equatorial Circumference: 16,180 km
------Total Surface Area: 83,327,000 sq km
---Planetary Conditions
------Gravity: 0.14 G
------Year and Day: *
------Atmosphere: Nitrogen-Methane, density 1.5 bars (thick).
------Hydrosphere: None
------Climate: Exclusively arctic. (-178 C)

* Titan completes one revolution about Saturn in 88 days. It also rotates on its axis once in about 15 days, 22 hours, and 41 minutes.

Lifeform Data
---Sapient Species: Human
------Population: (see texts)
------Tech Index: Level 6 (antimatter)
------Government: Military Governorship
------Culture: Peaceful and relaxed
------Affiliation: Terran Outpost
---Animal: None
---Vegetation: None
---Aquatic: None

Established and maintained by the Earth government, the outpost is staffed by Starfleet personnel and a small transient population of civilian technicians. Habitation is limited to biodomes. The outpost monitors private, commercial, and military traffic within the Sol system. The dense orange haze of the atmosphere prevents direct monitoring of the system. Titan Outpost relies on sensor drones scattered throughout the system to monitor and relay information back to the outpost.

[redwood973]

[Insert Star System Data Here]

Planetary Data
---Planetary Class: K
---Position in System: 2
---Distance from Star: 0.7 AU (104,652,100 km)
---Planetary System: Venus has no natural satellites
---Planetary Size
------Diameter: 12, 100 km
------Equatorial Circumference: 38,016 km
------Total Surface Area: 459,993,600 sq km
---Planetary Conditions
------Gravity: 0.9 G
------Year and Day: 225 d/5,832 h (retrograde*)
------Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide-Nitrogen, density 92.0 bars (very thick).
------Hydrosphere: None
------Climate: Being closer to the sun this planet is subject to runaway greenhouse effect producing a very warm desert climate. Habitation is limited to biodomes amd adequate protective equipment must be worn at all times. (482 C)

* Venus rotates very slowly on its axis (5,832 hours or 243 days), and is retrograde (opposite the direction of Earths rotation [it is in fact one of only two such bodies in the Sol System]).

Lifeform Data
---Sapient Species: Human
------Population: (see texts)
------Tech Index: Level 5/6 (atomic/solar-antimatter)
------Government: Science Council Administration
------Culture: peacful and relaxed
------Affiliation: Terran Colony
---Animal: None
---Vegitation: None
---Aquatic: None

Governed by a colonial administrator, who is also director of the project, Venus is a Terraforming Colony having only a small transient population of scientist and some Starfleet personnel. The runaway greenhouse effect has casused any surface water to evaporate into the atmosphere, resulting in the complete cloud cover and deep atmosphere (70 to 80 km). Atmoshperic winds reach 360 kph, and cover the planet completly. Great care must therefore be taken when piloting through it. Venus is primarily a rolling plain interrupted by two continental sized palteaus.

[Phoenix]

The only things I can think you are missing is the Academy live-fire range (starship), in an unused portion of the asteroid belt. The Pluto (orbit or what I don't know) communications relay station (both are from the SFA box set). Oh, lets not forget the Mars Perimeter Defense Network.

Also some minor details about the system arrangement.

---Inhabited Planets: Venus (Sol II [Class k]); Earth (Sol III [Class M]); Luna (Sol III a [Class F]); Mars (Sol IV [Class H]); Titan (Sol VI f [Class G]).
---Other Planets: Six others, including two gas giants.

last I checked there are 9 planets in the Sol system (10 in Trek apparently) and 4 of them are gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus...not the two you mentioned.

By the way, I like the B5 ref. on Mars, but by this point don't you think she might be a little bit more on the inhabitable side? Class L or something.

[Evan van Eyk]

Mars is in fact Class L, I think it is even given as example in the Rulebooks. Maybe you can also take a look at Star Charts there is also some interesting information ( btw, here Sol 'only' has nine planets). In the Academy Boxed set, however you find a load of information for Earth background, its definitely worth a look.

[redwood973]

Thanks for the assistance guys.

The Mars Perimeter Defense Network does this orbit Mars (which would seem silly) or is it an actuall series of units in their own orbit around the sun just called TMPDN due to their relative relationship to Mars?

Academy Live-Fire Starship Range any ideas on how to list this one. I dont want to just lable it as "asteroid belt" due to someone might think it occupied the whole belt. Are their any specific location for this?

Pluto Communications Relay Station has been added to the data sheet.

About the number of planets I have often heard that science believes there is a 10th, as yet undiscovered planet (something to do about an unaccounted for gravitational force acting an Pluto) and I assume that is where that idea came from. Does this 10th ST world have a name? [I think I might skip the 10th planet idea unless someone has a data sheet for it already.]

I should have listed the two gas giants as, "Super gas giants" thus only accounting for Jupiter and Saturn. Sorry my bad.

As far as the Planetary Class on Mars goes: I am not sure what to do. I like the idea of biodome cities, would these still be needed in a Class L environment? I have to admit trying to do a mix-and-match Star Trek/B5 referenced system is kind of at odds.

And does anyone have any suggestions on how many DP's I should allow? Five seems a bit high but on the other had 3 seemed a bit low.

[Ensign Arrgh]

I know they have colonies elsewhere, but isn't 6 billions total for the system on the low side. After all, the Netherlands spawned a population of around 20 to 40 millions in the world with a state of only 2 millions in the 18th century, and there has been 3 centuries between the WW3 era and the DW, and it seems to me that they would have had the time to do some serious terraforming on Mars.

[Evan van Eyk]

I just looked MArs up in the Academy set. There it is Class M, as it is already terraformed. In the Star Charts however its Class K, as it is now, so maybe you want to do the middle-way and make it Class L

The Perimeter around Mars is 'sphere-like' its just at the same orbit around the sun as Mars. I think you can find some information about it in the Dominion War Sourcebook here at trek-rpg.net.


You are right some scientists believe there is a tenth planet. However depending on the distance it could be ten times larger than Jupiter or even smaller then Pluto. Its maximum distance would be 0.5 lightyears its minimum I don't remember.

While it is described in the Academy set, I don't think it is thus important and it does not appear in the Star Charts.


I would adapt the DP rate to the already made advances of your characters. If they already played long, they can hardly do anything senseful with just 3 points, because skills and advatnages... are already developed. But if five is to high for you, but three to low, I would suggest to "tahtah" take four points

[Ensign Arrgh]

I've heard some theories about a companion brown dwarf as well, maybe it's the famous tenth planet. There are also four micro planets not far beyond Pluto, none really fits the description of planet, and some look more like asteroids than planets.

[SIR SIG]

How about the Atlantis project?

Ref: TNG:Family

They wanted to raise a landmass and call it atlantis or such.

[redwood973]

Population was one of the harder items we had to come up with. The population listed for Earth is simply the estimated population from about 10 years ago (depending on the age of the reference book we used). As for the population of the other worlds. . .the Luna population was taken from a line of Rikers in ST:FC; as for the rest we made this up: (moon population/total surface area of moon)*total surface area of inhabited planet=population.

We had no other ideas so if you have one please let us know. Population figures (except for Luna) are something we are looking into changing.

The Planet Mars is something I am gonna have to ponder over. I like the idea of the large biodome cities (as seen in B5), but in the ST universe it has been a while since the planets' terraforming was begun. (Someone once told me that FASA listed the time to see results from terraforming was 80 to 100 years.) **Sound of REDWOOD973 gathering his Corebooks around him for a little reading before bed**

The Mars Defense Perimeter will be added to the data sheet just as soon as I finish downloading the DWS and read through it. Thanks for the reference Evan.

A Tenth Planet question from one of my players: was this planet ever referesed in any of the shows in any way, shape or form? If not I think we will go without it.

Development Points Given will be five. The characters are still fairly inexperienced, so receiving 5 DP's will be a big deal to the players (I want them to be excited about this and develop a good story for their characters time during this last year).

The "Micro Planets" I have not heard of ENS Arrgh. You said there are four of them "not far beyond Pluto." Are they considered satellites of Pluto? (I believe I heard something at one time about another asteroid belt that orbits the sun beyond our solar system. Am I just making up that memory or is there another, perhaps smaller asteroid belt surrounding our system? If so could these bodies be from that belt?

The Atlantis Project I forgot about. I remember the episode and that J-L turned down leading it, but I cant remember wasnt there an old rival of J-Ls' who was the next in line for the directorship? So its not like J-L's rejection killed the project. Hum, that would be a major project that I should mention in the final planetary description. . .any ideas what that should be? Would they have any results by now, even if minor ones?

Thanks for the assist everyone. You have given me a lot to consider. Thank-you.

[Cochrane]

The planetoids beyond Pluto are called the Kuiper belt. IIRC Pluto can be considered part of it. I think there could be Kuiper Belt objects larger than Pluto. There are known ones not too much smaller. The objects are very far apart and there are probably very many of them. I'm sure Charon is Pluto's only satellite.