Well, after the very successful expedition last year (sept 2017 - feb 2018) that took me to Beagle Point and back (and paid for my Anaconda), I've spent the time in between mostly working to fit the new Anaconda for its long range expedition mission.
I haven't decided where I'll go, or what route I'll take, but so far I'm looking at heading out to the outer edge of the Formidine Rift, catching up with some previously visited landmarks on the way, before turning "left" and making my way anticlockwise around the outer edge of the galaxy.
That said, my unofficial aims for this mission are as follows:
I haven't decided on a return deadline but I've tentatively pencilled in 12 months for this expedition. Christmas 2018 departure for a Christmas 2019 return. And why not hey? The last one was six months and that was in an AspEx.
So about the new ship. Well, she's an Anaconda. She has quite a few more engineered systems than Starchild does, as well as a guardian FSD Booster. So as a result her jump range is 63Ly, compared to Starchild's 33Ly.
She's fitted with a massive fuel scoop, which means she can scoop 1245 (I think) tons of fuel each second, so while she uses a lot of fuel (a 60ly jump will use between a fifth and a sixth of her fuel tank), she can refill very fast.
In case I get bored flying a big lumbering Anaconda out there, I'm taking along two fighters. An F-63 and a Javelin. I don't anticipate ever needing to use them to defend my ship, and I know that a fighter bay subtracts from my jump range by a fair amount, but hey, I built the ship for speed and comfort. For that reason, and because I don't know how long I'll be out in the black, I also have four SRVs, in case some naughtiness happens to one or two of them.
For more resilience and safety, she carries two 5A AFMUs and a 3C Limpet controller. This will let me take care of system and hull damage that I get along the way, so hopefully we'll go a long way together.
The expedition launched very early this morning and I'd gotten to the NGC7822 nebula before I went to sleep. After conducting something of a shakedown cruise and getting to grips with the FSS and surface scanner, I'm now about to head outwards into the Formidine Rift.
Wish me luck, I'll keep you updated, enjoy the video!
[video=youtube_share;gKyVl9rd49A]https://youtu.be/gKyVl9rd49A[/video]
I haven't decided where I'll go, or what route I'll take, but so far I'm looking at heading out to the outer edge of the Formidine Rift, catching up with some previously visited landmarks on the way, before turning "left" and making my way anticlockwise around the outer edge of the galaxy.
That said, my unofficial aims for this mission are as follows:
- Return to Sagittarius A*. This will be my third visit.
- Return to Beagle Point. This will be my second visit.
- Visit all 42 galactic regions.
- (Hopefully!) Find some really cool stuff out there.
I haven't decided on a return deadline but I've tentatively pencilled in 12 months for this expedition. Christmas 2018 departure for a Christmas 2019 return. And why not hey? The last one was six months and that was in an AspEx.
So about the new ship. Well, she's an Anaconda. She has quite a few more engineered systems than Starchild does, as well as a guardian FSD Booster. So as a result her jump range is 63Ly, compared to Starchild's 33Ly.
She's fitted with a massive fuel scoop, which means she can scoop 1245 (I think) tons of fuel each second, so while she uses a lot of fuel (a 60ly jump will use between a fifth and a sixth of her fuel tank), she can refill very fast.
In case I get bored flying a big lumbering Anaconda out there, I'm taking along two fighters. An F-63 and a Javelin. I don't anticipate ever needing to use them to defend my ship, and I know that a fighter bay subtracts from my jump range by a fair amount, but hey, I built the ship for speed and comfort. For that reason, and because I don't know how long I'll be out in the black, I also have four SRVs, in case some naughtiness happens to one or two of them.
For more resilience and safety, she carries two 5A AFMUs and a 3C Limpet controller. This will let me take care of system and hull damage that I get along the way, so hopefully we'll go a long way together.
The expedition launched very early this morning and I'd gotten to the NGC7822 nebula before I went to sleep. After conducting something of a shakedown cruise and getting to grips with the FSS and surface scanner, I'm now about to head outwards into the Formidine Rift.
Wish me luck, I'll keep you updated, enjoy the video!
[video=youtube_share;gKyVl9rd49A]https://youtu.be/gKyVl9rd49A[/video]
