[Spaceships] Reconfigurable cargo hold:passenger seating

[Snoman314]

Originally Posted by Joseph Paul

Is a cargo hold considered a shirt sleeves environment? Or do you need to suit up to go into it?

That was the topic of much debate in a thread a couple of months ago: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=82679

Personally I think that having full life support in a cargo hold module is cheating, as you're getting something for nothing. I personally think it's reasonable that a cargo hold might able to be kept pressurised, but without extra life support capacity (ie temperature control, CO2 scrubbing/O2 supply, etc). In my mind, crew might go into a cargo hold during spaceflight, but the air they breathe comes from elsewhere in the ship, and they'll need cold weather clothing, or personal cooling system (50/50 chance) if they're going to stay in there long due to the temperature. (Note that the temp wouldn't fluctuate as much as outside, the rest of the ship provides some use as a heatsink.) Also, stays would potentially be limited in duration by radiation exposure.
I also would allow for the option that a specific ship might have a cargo hold like the space shuttle: airlock access only.

Steerage cargo on the other hand is probably where you want to look closer. (listed under habitat, Spaceships, p17). It sounds to me like it comes with extra life support capacity, as it specifically mentions using it to carry livestock.
Adding some stow-able seats into your steerage cargo sounds to me like what you're trying to go for.