LIFEBOATS

	The nature of its missions in the galaxy requires that the Enterprise 
carry a set of small spacecraft for dedicated escape and rescue operations. 
Located throughout both the Primary and Secondary Hulls, these ejectable 
lifeboats are designed to meet the short-term survival needs of the starship 
crew in the event of a catastrophic emergency.
	As set down in the original Starfleet specifications, the standardized 
ASRV, or autonomous survival and recovery vehicle, is capable of the 
following operations:
¥Rapid departure from its parent starship with a minimum velocity of 40 m/s.
¥Independent maneuvering with a total delta-v of 3,600 m/sec.
¥Life support for a total of eighty-six person-days.
¥Recombination with other lifeboats after ejection to augment survivability.
¥Subspace radio signaling for location and recovery.
¥Atmosphere entry and landing.
	The first group of ASRVs were delivered in 2337 in time to be fitted to 
the last Renaissance class starship, the USS Hokkaido, and with minimal 
hardware and software changes were chosen as the lifeboats for the Galaxy 
class. Automated facilities on Earth, Mars, Rigel IV, and Starbase 326 
produce 85% of the ASRVs, with satellite facilities on Velikan V and Rangifer 
II acting as industry second-sources for the remaining 15%.
	The ASRV measures 3 x 3 x 3 m and its shape is characterized as a 
truncated cube. The total mass is 1.35 metric tonnes. Its internal spaceframe 
is a standard beam and stringer arrangement, constructed from gamma-
welded tritanium and frumium monocarbonite. The frame is skinned with 
single-crystal microfilleted tritanium, with umbilical pass-throughs, 
conformal emitters, and sensors doped with hafnium cobarate for passive 
thermal control during atmosphere entry.
	Spacecraft propulsion is achieved through three distinct systems: 
ejection initiator, main impulse engine, and reaction control system. The 
ejection initiator is a single-pulse, buffered microfusion device that propels 
the lifeboat through the launch channel. Power is tapped from the fusion 
reaction to start the lifeboatÕs inertial damping field and spin up the gravity 
generator. Like its larger cousin aboard the Enterprise, the IDF protects the 
crew against acceleration forces. The main impulse engine, a low-power 
microfusion system for all primary spacecraft maneuvering, is rated at a 
maximum 950 kg thrust and is fed from a 75 kg deuterium fuel supply. The 
reaction control system performs all precise attitude and translation motions 
required for combined operations with other lifeboats and maneuvering 
during planetary landing.
	Life support on the ASRV is maintained by its automatic 
environmental system, providing complete atmospheric composition, 
pressure, humidity, and temperature control. Stored food and water supplies 
as well as a waste management system are included. Lightweight 
environment suits are stowed with portable survival packs for planetside 
operation. The normal lifeboat crew capacity is four, with provisions for as 
many as six if necessary.
	One important feature of the ASRV design, the in-line twin hatches, 
allows it to dock with other lifeboats to form larger clusters. This capability, 
nicknamed Ògaggle modeÓ by experienced pilots, dramatically increases in-
space survival rates by affording access to wounded crew members by 
medical personnel, combining consumables supplies, and adding propulsion 
options. Gaggle mode must be terminated prior to atmosphere entry, as the 
structural loads cannot be handled by the combined craft.
	Out of four hundred ejectable lifeboats installed within the Galaxy 
class, eighty are specialized ASRVs with two additional docking ports to 
increase the packing density and structural integrity of the gaggle. Computer 
simulations indicate that at least 25% of any total number of ejected ASRVs 
are likely to be the four-port version.
	Crucial to the successful recovery of the ASRVs are the subspace 
communications systems and automatic distress beacons.  Æ