The Hangar Bay
A spacecraft is a vehicle, or machine designed to fly
in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including
communications, observation, navigation, space colonization, planetary
exploration, combat, and transportation of lifeforms and cargo.
| Designation | Purpose |
| Battlecruisers | These are the mightiest warships and can absorb considerable damage. The biggest disadvantage of the battleship is its extreme cost. |
| Carriers | Assault carriers serve as mobile bases for fighter squadrons. A carrier transports fighters to the scene of a battle, launches them, and recovers and re-arms fighters that survive the battle. |
| Colony Vessels | Colony ships carry more than enough equipment and colonists to set up a fledgling colony on a new planet. Colony vessels used a series of pods to transfer this equipment to the surface. Some types of colony ships can only be used once, as once colonization is complete, the colony ship itself will land on the planet to be dismantled and the materials used to construct the new colony's initial buildings. |
| Destroyers | Destroyers are larger than heavy cruisers and a bit less manoeuvrable but with greater firepower. |
| Dreadnaughts | A type of battleship equipped entirely with large cannons. |
| Escorts | An escort is an often used term for any ships whose primary focus is on providing escort duty to either military or civilian vessels. |
| Fighters | Fighters and bombers are small attack spaceships. They are fast and manoeuvrable but easy to destroy. |
| Freighters are starship types designed to carry cargo or passengers. Furthermore, they are usually equipped with light armament to defend against pirates and oncoming asteroids. | |
| Frigates | The frigate is the smallest of the warships and can make high speed patrols and serve as escorts. |
| Heavy Cruisers | Heavy cruisers are among the slowest and least manoeuvrable starships. Heavy cruisers are being phased out by some races in favour of modern battleships. |
| Interstellar Rescue | Last minute emergency rescue vehicles. |
| Light Cruisers | Light cruisers tend to be fast and well-armed, but cannot absorb as much damage as a heavy cruiser or battleship. |
| Scouts | With less firepower than an escort but greater speed. Scouts can also serve as rescue ships and combat vessels. |
| Shuttles | Shuttles are small ships that can land on the surface of a planet and take off again. They can fly into orbit around planets, fly between planets and in some cases between stars. Shuttles are the least expensive spaceships to build. Shuttles are used to transport passengers and supplies from starships or space stations to a planet's surface, and from planets to ships in orbit. |
| Space Stations |
Also known as orbital stations or orbital space stations, these are spacecraft capable of supporting a crew, which is designed to remain in space (most commonly as an artificial satellite in low planetary orbit) for an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock. Outposts can serve as fortresses defending planets and important areas of space. |
| Specialty Vessels | These are specialised vessels outfitted for either Medical, Survey or Repair work. |
| Transports | An Assault Transport is a combat lander whose primary roles are to suppress the enemy and to to ferry troops, vehicles, and combat materiel from space to the surface. |
| Beyond Heroes | Index |