The Calendula

The Calendula is a Calipso-class laboratory ship in orbit around Murdok. It is operated by Lysani Laboratories.

Research is an unending pursuit within the Imperium. A constant effort to further understand and harness the universe produces more than knowledge; it creates products, markets, jobs and profits. Given the numerous scientific projects, it is only natural for mobile research platforms to be designed and made available at reasonable prices.

The Calipso-class laboratory ship is one example. Using a 400-ton hull, the laboratory ship is a movable research and development station used for routine commercial experimentation. The ship has one 40-ton pinnace and two air/rafts. Cargo capacity is 21 tons and there are two laboratories totalling 85 tons.

The laboratory ship requires a crew of five: a pilot, astrogator, medic and two engineers. The pilot also operates the pinnace. Gunners may be added if the ship is armed and additional crew are carried to execute research functions.

This ship is built as a ring structure, which is rotated to provide centrifugal gravity simulation. Although standard grav plates and inertial compensators are installed, they may be turned off and centrifugal force used instead in order to remove grav forces as a variable in experiments. Two drive pods are mounted on the ring, containing the drives and power plant. The pods serve as hardpoints if turret weaponry is called for.

Two air/rafts provide access to world surfaces, both for specimen gathering and routine errands. A 40-ton pinnace is carried at the end of a central spoke, making mating easy even if the ring is rotating.