Drop Capsules

Drop Capsules (TL10)

A drop capsule is a re-entry capsule protected by an ablative shield, allowing an occupant or cargo canister to be safely dropped from a spaceship in low orbit. It takes two minutes to load a drop capsule. The capsule must be launched from a vehicle bay or missile launcher on a trajectory that will de-orbit it.

Re-entry is handled by an autopilot. After a series of braking parachutes have reduced descent speed, the capsule breaks up a mile or so above the surface. A conventional parachute, parawing, or grav belt can then be used. The drop capsule is not reusable. A drop capsule's split DR is DR 100 ablative armor (all of which is usually gone after the re-entry) on its underside, plus DR 20 from its composite body. LC3.