Colonist Ark

'''Colonist Ark also known as Settler Ark, Noah Box, Sardine Can'''

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When the Second Exodus begun special ships were designed and constructed by Earth Orbit and Luna Ship Yards. The first Model was the NOAH Class. While the ships look quite primitive they are perhaps the finest example of early Terran Space Engineering. The latest Japheth Class still looks almost identical and has many of the same ingenious features.

All Terran and Union Arks are built so that crews with very basic training are able to find their intended world and that they have everything along they need to start a colony. Every part and every piece of an Ark is so designed that it can be used by the Colonists. Engines become Energy plants, environmental systems Water and Air treatment plants. In this aspect the modern Arks are actually much simpler as new colonies are checked on right away and usually receive aid from the Union Colonist Bureau right away. During the Days of the Second Exodus there were little extra resources available and dozens of Arks left every day. Some Colonists didn't even want any Earth Contact and the rest had to be equipped so they could survive at least until Communications was set up (GalCom back then).

Noah Arks were 600 meters long and had a main cylindrical body with a diameter of 280 meters. They were slow and not very maneuverable, these Arks were unarmed and most of the passengers were kept under Sleep Inducers. Almost all ship functions were automatic or robotic. From Engineering to Navigation. The Ship master only had to control the course and make sure all systems worked as they should. Some Planets received only one Ark, but usually at least 2-3 Arks went together in a Convoy.