Dropship
Encyclopedia
A Dropship is a fictional transport vehicle featured frequently in science fiction
, in particular Military Science Fiction
and Space Opera
genres. A dropship is a common fictional spacecraft archetype, generally depicted as designed to drop troops and equipment onto a planetary surface from an orbiting carrier
or mothership. Notable examples of dropships include the "Retrieval Boats" from Robert A. Heinlein
's novel Starship Troopers
and the UD4L Cheyenne from the 1986 film Aliens
.
Although spacecraft designed to operate in space and fly within Earth's atmosphere have been constructed (the NASA
Space Shuttle
being a prime example), a dropship is commonly defined by both its military
nature and support from a larger, non-atmospheric Mothership.
and space flight
(or, in some examples, underwater travel
), differing from craft only capable of flight in one of those mediums. The roles of Dropships are generally military in nature, including landing troops
or equipment on a planet. Dropships featured tend to be portrayed as heavily armed and armoured, providing protection for troops from surface fire, similar to helicopters currently employed by military forces.
Differing depictions of dropships either tend toward strictly functional to those more artistic or organic in operation. Often Dropships are designed using current technology or principles in mind, such as Scramjet
engines, VTOL
and Lifting Bodies
. The UD4L Cheyenne from the 1986 film Aliens
was designed with both the AH-1 Cobra
attack helicopter and the F-4 Phantom fighter jet as a basis. Commonly space-flight principles including Delta-V
, Orbital insertion and Aerobraking
are used to describe the flight-characteristics of Dropships.
Dropships are shown to serve a similar role to modern day utility/transports, typically helicopters or tiltrotor aircraft. Vehicles such as the UH-60 Blackhawk or the MV-22 Osprey, also capable of deploying men and equipment whilst maintaining fire support. Currently no real-world examples of Dropships exist, although research into their application has and continues to be explored by military forces around the world (see Militarisation of space
).
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, in particular Military Science Fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
and Space Opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
genres. A dropship is a common fictional spacecraft archetype, generally depicted as designed to drop troops and equipment onto a planetary surface from an orbiting carrier
Carrier
Carrier may refer to:- Science :* Carrier wave, a waveform suitable for modulation by an information-bearing signal* Charge carrier, an unbound particle carrying an electric charge* a mathematical Set over which an algebraic structure is defined...
or mothership. Notable examples of dropships include the "Retrieval Boats" from Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
's novel Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
and the UD4L Cheyenne from the 1986 film Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
.
Although spacecraft designed to operate in space and fly within Earth's atmosphere have been constructed (the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
being a prime example), a dropship is commonly defined by both its military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
nature and support from a larger, non-atmospheric Mothership.
Features
Dropship descriptions vary greatly from source to source, but are defined by a central core of attributes. Dropships typically possess short range, designed only to work in conjunction with a larger orbiting mothership, itself possibly too large or ill suited to land on the surface. Dropships are usually capable of both atmosphericAircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
and space flight
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
(or, in some examples, underwater travel
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
), differing from craft only capable of flight in one of those mediums. The roles of Dropships are generally military in nature, including landing troops
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
or equipment on a planet. Dropships featured tend to be portrayed as heavily armed and armoured, providing protection for troops from surface fire, similar to helicopters currently employed by military forces.
Differing depictions of dropships either tend toward strictly functional to those more artistic or organic in operation. Often Dropships are designed using current technology or principles in mind, such as Scramjet
Scramjet
A scramjet is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow...
engines, VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
and Lifting Bodies
Lifting body
A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing...
. The UD4L Cheyenne from the 1986 film Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
was designed with both the AH-1 Cobra
AH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
attack helicopter and the F-4 Phantom fighter jet as a basis. Commonly space-flight principles including Delta-V
Delta-v
In astrodynamics a Δv or delta-v is a scalar which takes units of speed. It is a measure of the amount of "effort" that is needed to change from one trajectory to another by making an orbital maneuver....
, Orbital insertion and Aerobraking
Aerobraking
Aerobraking is a spaceflight maneuver that reduces the high point of an elliptical orbit by flying the vehicle through the atmosphere at the low point of the orbit . The resulting drag slows the spacecraft...
are used to describe the flight-characteristics of Dropships.
Dropships are shown to serve a similar role to modern day utility/transports, typically helicopters or tiltrotor aircraft. Vehicles such as the UH-60 Blackhawk or the MV-22 Osprey, also capable of deploying men and equipment whilst maintaining fire support. Currently no real-world examples of Dropships exist, although research into their application has and continues to be explored by military forces around the world (see Militarisation of space
Militarisation of space
The militarisation of space is the placement and development of weaponry and military technology in outer space.-History:Acquisition of high grounds for military advantage has been a perennial feature of military campaigns. For thousands of years, military tacticians have exploited the concept of...
).
See also
- Space battleshipSpace battleshipFictional capital military spacecraft are spacefaring warships most often found in science fiction, which play similar roles to contemporary warships, though real spacecraft are used for military purposes...
- Mother shipMother shipA mother ship is a vessel or aircraft that carries a smaller vessel or aircraft that operates independently from it. Examples include bombers converted to carry experimental aircraft to altitudes where they can conduct their research , or ships that carry small submarines to an area of ocean to be...
- StarfighterStarfighter"Starfighter" is a science fiction term used to describe small, fast, usually one-manned craft designed for armed combat .The appearance and use of fictional starfighters is often modeled on fighter aircraft, with little regard for the actual physics of spaceflight...