Planetside Transportation
There are many ways to move about the worlds, and each location offers something different - both in the form of mass transit and personal transports. Of course, the weather, atmosphere, and practical demands on a world will decide what forms transportation are available. This page will list the most common forms of planetside transportation used around the galaxy - along with some methods of leaving a world for space.Contents
HoverTrams
Coming Soon!LANCE
Coming Soon!Liftports
The concept of space elevators has been around for centuries, and early during the exodus to the stars, they were implemented with great success - providing a steady stream of cargo, materials, and personnel. As ships were developed that could navigate in both space and Earth's atmosphere with relative ease, the original space elevators began to decline in use.The skies and low atmosphere gradually became crowded with ships arriving and departing from every major population center on Earth. In fact, the popularity of spacebound ships began to outpace the regulations and monitoring systems, and soon collisions and near-collisions filled the news streams. The need for a safe technology to handle mass transits to and from space had arrived again: the Liftport was born.
Based on the original concept of space elevators, a Liftport is a hub of activity in all major plate regions on Earth and some other worlds with significant gravity and large population centers. Several incredibly strong cables extend from the surface out into space where they are attached to a large array of docking platforms in geosynchronous orbit. Some of the larger Liftports can accomodate up to 20 or more lifts, with each lift typically carrying upwards of 500 people. Some lifts are large enough to also feature bars, restaurants, and small shops or vendors. The use of AG cans (see Artificial Gravity) means the lifts can quickly accelerate to a speed near 500 miles per hour without the occupants feeling the G-forces. On Earth, a trip from the surface to an orbital platform will average 10 minutes.