Nicolas de Nicolay tour

The vacc suit ready rack between the airlock iris valve and the module lower deck cargo door holds four Asiranedii Vactech VSD Heavy-Duty Vacc Suits. The GTL12 vacc suits are a one size fits most design which uses mechanical counterpressure extremities with subpressure supported torso construction.

Each vacc suit consists of a one piece suit which is made up of an inner suit which provides counterpressure support and temperature regulation to the user. The outer skin is made of a tough protective fabric which provides radiation protection and abrasion protection. This fabric includes an outer cameo layer which can be used for camouflage, but is most often used to tag individuals for identification by making the suit a unique brightly visible color. The inner and outer suits are laminated together and may be treated as a single unit. It takes about one minute for an experienced spacer to put on a vacc suit.
A waste relief system allows for extended wear. The suit is self sealing against most small punctures. Patches, normally carried in one of the pockets can be used for larger punctures.

The VSD Vacc Suit has been modified to work with the GP Multipurpose Rigid Helmet. The helmet is provided with a heads up display (HUD). A water reservoir holding one quart of liquid and a concentrated food system is included. The helmet contains a 15 minute reserve tank and a rebreather unit, which extends the tank to 150 minutes. A C cell powers the helmet systems when no Life Support Pack (LSP) is being used. The helmet also contains a short range communicator (10 miles) and a computer. A sensor visor with video pickup allows for recording or transmitting. The helmet also contains an integrated multi-spectrum flashlight. The helmet can also be used with a hazardous atmosphere HILO rebreather/filter assembly unit in atmospheres which do not require a pressure suit and with a standard skin suit.

The Life Support Pack provides heat, cooling and energy for long term suit use and extends the vacc suits ability to function in extreme environments. The LSP contains a 10 lbs air tank with a rebreather which extends the useful life to 20 hours. It also contains a reactionless thruster to allow flight, though it is typically used in space. The LSP is powered by a pair of C cells. The LSP harness contains two lifeline hook D-rings.
The suit gloves are counterpressure designs intended to maximize user dexterity. Each boot contains a grav plate to allow the user to walk along the outer hull of a vessel in microgravity. Each plate is powered by an A cell or the LSP if installed. They are not designed to operate in a gravity field.

Workpods

With 6 hours of life support, the 5-ston workpod provides a much more comfortable alternative to the strenuous experience of heavy work in a vacc suit. The workpod is equipped with two robotic arms allowing the driver to manipulate parts and materials. The roomy cabin is equipped with grav plates, allowing the driver to operate at a significant fraction of normal gravity. The shock seat contains a portable fresher, making bodily waste disposal easy and more comfortable than the waste evacuation system of most vacc suits.

Contrgrav lifters and reactionless thrusters give the pod maneuverability. A 16,589 MW rechargeable energy bank provides power. Six hours of life support provided.
The Nicolas de Nicolay's workpods are provided with an upgraded astrogation suite to allow better free space navigational capabilities. Also included is a short range (10 mile) communication system and a number of digital cameras for full visibility.

The robot arms contain modular sockets to accommodate various tools, such as welders, wrenches, cutters or drills.

The workpod has a grav towing hitch which allows it to tow a Grav Lifter or even another unpowered workpod.
Workpods are used for many different tasks aboard the NdN. From Module swapping among embarked craft to hull repair and external equipment maintenance. Many of the crew are proficient workpod operators.

Nicolas de Nicolay tour Vehicle Bay

The Vehicle Bay holds several Workpods and a Grav Lifter. Workpods are one-person vehicle alternatives to working in a vacc suit. NdN has a number of them aboard. Some are stored in the Vehicle Bay on Deck E. The rest are stored in a Workpod bay on Deck H.

Also stored in the Vehicle Bay is a Grav Lifter. This is a contragrav lifter attached to a grappler. It expands to accommodate a Module or cargo container. It can be operated by radio link or using a remote terminal on a 10-yard fiber-optics cable. But is it most often operated by a user in a hitched workpod. Each pair of gapple sets can lift 48-stons. NdN has a six carriage set which can lift 144-stons.
The NdN has six modules on board. Two are normally attached to the Multimission Scout Ships which are docke aft. One is connected to the Stealth Modular Cutter stored on Deck F-G. Three are in a module bay on Deck F-G. The Module loading bay on Deck E is used to access Module Storage and cargo areas.

The Grav Lifter expands to fit the module. It can then be swapped for one of the modules in the module bay, or swapped for the module on another embarked craft. Module handling evolutions can only be carried out in orbit or under 0 acceleration.

Nicolas de Nicolay tour

 Virtual familiarization tour Nicolas de Nicolay

We will enter the NdN through the main airlock on Deck E. When docked at a Highport the normal access to the vessels is through the main airlock.

The airlock is typically connected to the highport via a passage tube. The passage tube operates at free fall. Under most circumstances the outer door will be open during the stay at the highport. The inner door may be open during regular working hours. It will typically be closed after hours. An inport deck officer will be station at the airlock. Typical airlock watch on a major IISS vessel will consist of a deck officer and a security officer. Both will typically be armed with a side arm. Use the Adaptapanel on the door to signal the deck officer. Once your biometric data is entered into the security computer your palm print will be able to open the iris valve.

Once through the inner door, to the right there will be a vacc suit storage rack.  Beyond are the module loading hatches. The corridor opens into the Vehicle Bay. Workpods and a Grav Lifter are stored in the bay. To the left an iris valve opens to the corridor leading aft. Next is the hatch to the cargo hold.