[Spaceships] Is This Legal?

[schmeelke]

Originally Posted by scc

1) Does the booster stage need a Control Room so that it can glide or possibly even fly to a landing once the orbiter has separated?

"All spacecraft capable of maneuvering require a control room; multi-stage spacecraft only need this in the uppermost stage. […] You may install fewer control stations: it’s possible to have an autonomous vessel with no control stations at all if the vessel is run by sapient AIs instead." (p. 14)

So that's a yes, you need a control room, but don't need any control stations if it's flown by remote or AI.

Originally Posted by scc

3) The booster needs to be streamlined, normally as this has an Upper Stage it doesn't need armor in it's forward section, but this one isn't discarded, so does that rule still apply?

"A streamlined spacecraft must have at least one Armor system for its front hull or central hull (if a multi-stage design, only the uppermost section need be armored)." (p. 9)

I think this rule assumes the booster stage is discarded, rather than reused. I would assume that yes, it should be armored.