Navigation

Navigation

aka Astrogation

Astrogation means "star navigation." Since etymologically and historically the part "navi-" refers to terrestrial ships (Navi= naval), it is often been replaced by the prefix "astro-". However the Union Fleet still uses the word Navigation as almost all member species fleet evolved from their surface navies and the word Navigator translates better into most of the original languages.

On Civilian Ships Navigation is usually done by Computronics, but basic triangulation based on at least three of the known Pulsars is required part of the Ship Master patent required for civilians to operate a Faster than light ship registered to a Union Port.

In the Union Fleet, Navigator is a Union Fleet Occupation Specialization (UFOS) and NAVIGATION is a ship operation department aboard all Union Trans Light ships. Small ships often combine the job of navigation and Helm, but in bigger vessels it is a separate department and Super cruisers and above Navigation is a Senior Officer Department with staff.[1]

Navigatior

Several tasks define astrogation/ navigation: (1) determining present location, (2) planning a safe and reliable means of reaching a destination. The actual calculation part is generally perfomed by ship computronics, but Union Fleet Navigators must be able to make the Calculations manually. Fleet Navigators are trained in the use of Navigational system and instruments of other societies and cultures and must learn to use primitive or advanced systems. Navigators maintain and update Catalogs and charts in case new features are discovered or surveyed. The Navigation Department maintains the Nav Tank, optical systems (telescopes) and closely works with Helm. The Navigator translates the course and destination requests of the CO.

Navigators also enter spatial hazards or navigational anomalies in charts and catalogues.

[1]Staff usually are other officers that rotate during shifts. Explorer and Survey ships have a larger Navigation department that also collects,stores and processes navigational data and updates charts and catalogs. On larger ships it includes Enlisted and s