Atmospheric Escape Booster Systems

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Created by: Canon Macross
Maintained by: Mr. Sketchley / http://www.macrossrpg.com/~archers/Images/StudioOtaking.gif

Atmospheric-Escape Booster System Mk I

atmospheric-escape booster system with four 22500 kg [x g] class conventional rocket engines; http://www.artemisgames.com/robotech/images/valkyrie_booster.jpg

While the VF-1 Valkyrie is, by itself, capable of reaching low Earth orbit, it could do so only by exhausting nearly all of its reaction mass. As there was a need for the Valkyrie to transport itself to a higher orbit, an orbital booster was developed that gave the Valkyrie the capability to ascend as high as a geo-stationary orbit. The prime reason for this is that the UNS ships in orbit over Earth during the reconstruction years rarely descended to such a low orbit that an unaided Valkyrie could rendezvous with them on its own power.

The booster took the form of a large attachment to the rear of the VF-1, with four large engine housings, each of which contains a 22500 kg conventional rocket engine. Attitude control was by the VF-1’s maneuvering thrusters, vectored exhaust and by two vernier thrusters built into the booster's lower sides. As the VF-1 needed to convert into a GERWALK configuration in order to mount the booster and because the weight was concentrated to the rear, the vehicle could not use a runway. Instead, a tracked launch platform was developed which launched the craft from a rail. After detachment from the Valkyrie, the booster could be recovered by shuttle and reused.

The booster was never meant for combat launches; only for ferry flights. As such it saw much service in the UNS during the initial post-Space War I era, when a lack of space in the few operational cargo shuttles made the booster system the most economic way of ferrying a VF-1 to orbiting Zentraedi and UNS capital ships and space stations.

Served with the UNS from 2009 until 2020. In the 2050 era, the Atmospheric-Escape Booster System is occasionally used by Colony Defense, UNS Reserve and Anti-UN Forces as a last resort means of getting their VF-1s to orbit.

Statistical Data

  • Length: 13.6m
  • Width: 4.2m
  • Height: 9.1m
  • Weight: 24.5 metric tons (dry, stand-alone), 161.2 metric tons (fueled, with Valkyrie attached).

Atmospheric Escape Booster System Mk II

Extrapolated from the following image of the High Angels - High Altitude Defence Fighter Squadron.

The initial version proved to be usefully only for transporting VFs to orbit. For tactical purposes, the UNS deemed this to be unsound. They immediately set to work making a FAST packed VF be able to reach orbit and then proceed on a mission.

Response times were deemed to be too slow to get any vehicle from Earth to orbit. However, the mission evolved to a high altitude/low orbit interceptor - striking when vehicles were at their most vulnerable during reentry. In this roll, the Mk II Rocket booster performed above and beyond expectation.

The Rocket Booster was also employed to increase the top speed of the standard FAST packs during space operations. It didn't allow the VF-1 to perform interplanetary operations. However, it allowed VFs stationed at the Apollo Moon Base to fly at extremely high speed and assist UNS forces under attack in L3 (Factory Satellite) or in Earth orbit.

The Mk II Rocket Booster is still employed, especially by colony governments that wish to save on expensive reactant when they launch their vehicles into orbit.

This was the origin of the rocket boosters used on the VF-11 in Macross Plus (the Mk III Rocket Booster.)


Atmospheric Escape Booster System Mk III

Designed for use with the SVF-11.

Details pending.