History
The colonists arrived on the colonial transporter Ark of Eden. An upgrade over the previous short distance models and generation ships the Ark of Eden was equipped to house 40,000 settlers in rotating shifts of cryo-hibernation. When the ship arrived at its destination it was designed to detach different segments or modules that would carry essential supplies to the surface or be the framework of initial buildings both on planet and in space. After shedding its modules the core of the Ark would serve as auxiliary vessel for any needs that may arise in system. In 50 DE, after a total of XXX years of service, the Ark of Eden was decommissioned and labelled a National Artifact.
Systems and Modules
The Ark of Eden was designed to carry hundreds of modules, each attaching to each other or one of the ships rib supports. Upon reaching the planet the modules were intended to detach, to be sent down to the planet or serve as the foundation for platforms and stations in orbit. Some of the modules included:
- A prefabricated space station that would serve as a communication hub and refinery for metals mined in space.
- Prefabricated satellites for use in orbit around the colony and distributed around the system.
- Prefabricated housing units for each colonist and their family
- Prefabricated power generators, wind/solar/coal/hydro/gas
- Pilot-able container carrying construction equipment and vehicles, container could be converted on site into a warehouse where these supplies are kept
- Pilot-able container carrying farming equipment and vehicles, container could be converted on site into a warehouse where these supplies are kept
- etc
Cryogenic Hibernation Bays
The Ark of Eden was built with cryogenic facilities, so that during the XXX years it would take to arrive at Deseret only a small number of colonists awake at time. This was done in order to reduce the strain on resources during the voyage, as well as reducing the aging that would occur during the XX years the ship would experience in time dilation. The colonists were split up among 10 shifts of 4,000 each, with 2-3 shifts awake at any given time. Multiple cryogenic hibernation bays were scattered across the ship, part of a plan to minimize losses if an accident should occur.
Living quarters
For centuries science fiction and popular art had depicted space vessels and technology as ultra smooth plastics and metals, all in uniform white, black and grey. While attractive, it did not take long for humans actually working and living for long periods of time in space to realize that this design was physically and mentally harmful to humans. Colonial vessels, many designed for cryogenic or generational systems, counteracted this through the use of a wide variety of visual and tactile textures.
Marbles, woods, cement, plastic, metals all were used to provide the widest variety of stimulation to colonists during their journey. Rooms and hallways were designed to be visually distinct from each other, done in different styles to break up monotony. Modern, Neoclassical, gothic, Victorian, art deco, baroque, beaux-arts architecture and many more separated each area, sometimes providing stark contrasts. While this was important for mental health it also served as a physical record of the history that the colonists were leaving behind on Earth.
Some famous amenities:
Amenities
The Ark of Eden was designed with the resource to make the long voyage across the stars as enjoyable as possible. As such it included a vast network of Personal Development Modules spread throughout the ship. While entertainment and relaxation were considered important the main goal of these modules was to educate the colonists in useful skills, keep them in shape, and to get rid of the tensions that build normally over time during long space trips.
Current Use
The Ark of Eden has been maintained as a National Monument since its decommission in 50 DE. It is docked at
Lily Station, in orbit around Deseret. It serves as a museum, where copies of the original national archives and cultural database are maintained for posterity.
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