Primary:
Lattassa,
spectral class K3V. ICN S4K0407K3V. Mass 0.672 standard. Stellar diameter 0.703
standard. Luminosity 0.21 standard.
Planetary
System:
Six major bodies. One Inhabited world (Dutrissal, IV). Two gas giants in
IX
Dutrissal:
Mean orbital radius, 157.08 million kilometers (1.05 AU). Period, 479.39 days...
Two satellites ... Diameter, 17,579 kilometers. Density, 1.02. Mass, 1.99
standard. Mean surface gravity, 1.27 G. Rotation period: 17 hours, 25 minutes,
54 seconds. Axial Inclination, 10°8'7.1" Albedo, .19. ... Surface
atmospheric pressure, 2.2atm; composition, hydrogen-methane-ammonia mix. Rated
INSIDIOUS, defeating all personal protective measures within 2-12 hours. EXTREME
CAUTION ADVISED. Atmosphere highly dangerous to human life. Hydrographic
percentage, 47%, composition, liquid ammonia. Mean surface temperature, -33°C.
Remarks:
A small research colony working with experiments on low temperature
superconductors has been established on Dutrissal; the system is otherwise
unattractive and uninhabited. Orbital starport facilities are maintained by the
Institute of Science and Technology on Duncinae
(Reavers' Deep 1624), which is also responsible for the research station. Work
there is hazardous and boring at the same time; boring due to the isolation of
the station, hazardous because of the dangers posed by the world's lethal
atmosphere.
The hydrogen which makes up a significant percentage of that atmosphere is
highly insidious in nature. Shielding on buildings and ships will defeat the
atmosphere, but suits and small vehicles cannot be built to prevent hydrogen
diffusion, a process whereby atoms of hydrogen migrate directly through fabric,
plastics and even metals which may be perfectly air-tight.
This poses a great danger, for hydrogen and oxygen mixed in air will combine,
explosively, if a spark or flame should ignite it. Suits or vehicles with
electronic circuitry have been known to suffer destructive explosions as a
result of this process; suit work is highly dangerous under these conditions.
Nor can the rate of hydrogen diffusion and buildup be gauged with any accuracy.
The Institute offers high risk/high pay employment at the station for scientist
(particularly those with Gravitics skill, as the ultimate aim of the research is
to increase the efficiency of gravitic drives and modules through the use of
supercooled conductive circuits), support personnel (cooks, vehicle operators,
vacc suit-trained workers, computer technicians, etc.), and even security
guards. Two or three incidents of attempted theft of computer files and/or
sabotage of the project have already taken place; it is thought that some
government or group in the subsector is interested in acquiring the
technological improvements being designed at the station to equip a starship or
fleet with improved drives (which, it is believed, could achieve a 30% increase
in efficiency over current state-of-the-art grav-based drive systems, allowing
accelerations of up to 7G in ships previously limited by power outputs to 6G
acceleration).