[Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

[Prince Charon]

SC Interstellar Survey Service question I

The Solar Cooperative Interstellar Survey Service (see also GURPS Space pp26, 204-205) is the institutional successor to NASA, the ESA, and other civilian space exploration programs. While the Service includes a large bureaucracy, a significant Logistics Division (which also runs the Survey Stations that the more well-known branches operate from), spacecraft design engineers, scientists, and so on, there are two branches that most people think of when they hear of the Survey Service: the Exploration Division, and the Astrographic Division.

The Exploration Division covers both the First-in Scouts who would explore new systems and briefly examine new worlds, and the Expeditionary Branch who follow up on their discoveries. Contrary to the fiction of the period, First-in Scouts did not travel in single-person scoutships. Generally, the crew of a First-in Scout vessel would be around three to seven, and sometimes as many as twelve. While First-in Scouts are trained for First Contact situations in an emergency, they do not specialise in them, and if intelligent life is detected, they will retreat and leave it to the Expeditionary Branch. The latter travel in larger vessels, sometimes have crews of nearly a hundred, mostly scientists and lab technicians. In some eras and in some regions, Expeditionary vessels either are the First-in Scouts, or send warp-shuttles in as scouts while the mothership waits at the edge of the system. On some occasions, a task force of several vessels would be sent, though this is normally something that would be done later, to construct a Survey Station and bring in the Office of Colonial Affairs, various subnational or private interests, et cetra. When a location was deemed to be a high risk (e.g. the last vessel or vessels failed to return) one or more SWAT or Interstellar Patrol vessels would be part of the task force, and the mission would be under the command of a senior Space Patrol officer (so that they have the authority to order a retreat, or other useful precautions). Harsh experience has also shown that First Contact situations should be treated as high risk, even if the specific risks are different.

The Astrographic Division are generally considered the more boring of the two, but they serve a vital purpose, keeping both planetological and astronomical data up to date, including a range of spacial anomalies, some of which can be quite dangerous. Astrographic Division vessels tend to be larger than First-in Scouts, but smaller than the largest Expeditionary Branch vessels, rarely having crews of more than fifty.

When the bill which chartered the Survey Service was originally interoduced, there was some debate about giving them their own security division, but it was eventually decided that the Space Patrol could have a bump in budget to provide enough security personnel for the SCISS's needs.


Space crews, like airliners, sea crews, and so on, need a rank structure, even if it's a loose one. While not a serious problem for the tiny crews of First-in Scouts (which are basically like the Space Shuttle in terms of crew numbers), larger vessels and the stations run by the Logistics Division need a workable system of ranks, albeit they don't need more than maybe one rank above 'commanding officer of one vessel or station'), and they mostly don't need as many ranks below that as an Interstellar Patrol cruiser would.

So, the question: What system of ranks should I base the ranks of the SCISS on, and should they use just one system, or do the divisions each have their own?

1. Basically NASA style, with few ranks but a number of positions (e.g. the Space Shuttle list on that page). Due to the larger crew numbers on many Survey Stations and all interstellar-capable Survey vessels other than the First-in Scouts, we'd still have to add a few more ranks, perhaps basing the higher ranks on the grades that the Space Operations Badge comes in.

2. Roughly Merchant Navy style ranks and something like naval rates (the ETO branch would probably be replaced by a Science branch, and the Medical Department might be expanded to form a Life Support Department).

3. Police style, basically the same ranks as the SC Space Patrol, if fewer of them.

4. Army style (e.g. the US Space Force, with fewer ranks).

5. Royal Air Force style, with fewer ranks.

6. Something else (please specify).


Please include the number of your preferred option when you vote. If you want the Logistics Division, Exploration Division, and Astrographic Division to use different ranking systems from each other, please list the numbers with the name of the division.


EDIT: By two votes, NASA style wins.