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I'm working on an idea of how a planet could store large numbers of cargo containers (think modern day shipping containers) in space.

The idea is that space is at such a premium on the planet, the large volume of goods they produce are transported into space and stored their until the arrival of a warp capable vessel to collect them (a container yard in space effectively).

I am wondering, given the tech of the IoM, how feasible would this be. Having squadrons of gunships to protect them wouldn't be too much of an issue.

But what is to stop them simply floating away, being hit by stellar debris (micro meteors and such like) and other such potentially common mishaps?

Also, what other things would need to be taken into consideration if a planet was to do this?

Stick them inside hollowed out asteroids that have been towed to orbit for mineral extraction protection from simple raiders and micro meteorites with different shipping companies owning them

hmm, that could work, but would require that the asteroid have a stable orbit.

Orbits are easy. Once you get things spinning where they belong, they tend to stay there.

To keep them from floating away you've got inertia (they won't move unless some force causes them too) and gravity (e.g. a stable orbit).

Debris will cause some damage, but it may not matter depending on what it is. Space is pretty empty so some loss is probably acceptable. Radiation could also cause issues.

IoM also has teleportation technology. The planet could have an ancient teleporter (that can't be moved for reasons) that they use to just beam things into space.

Getting them into space wouldn't be a problem for my planet - It produces large numbers of small transport and cargo ships (the sort designed to get people and equipment from a ship to a planets surface and back again, so nothing interstellar) for the Imperial Navy.

As for the cargo, Supplies for the Imperial Guard (Everything from Las Guns and boots up to Leman Russ Battle Tanks)

icn1982 wrote:
hmm, that could work, but would require that the asteroid have a stable orbit.

A couple of ship engines strategically placed around the asteroid used as thrusters for minor course corrections, some weak shield generators that's good enough to protect against micro meteorites.

Don't forget, this is gothic themed fiction and inefficiency is built into every Imperial system. So, for your stockyard, you need a massively oversized array of space stations with cavernous bays in order to hold these containers. It would also require the infrastructure to house the servitors that move the containers in and out of docked ships. Containers must be stacked no more than four high in rooms that can handle stacks eight times that. It must also have an atmosphere so the lowly administratum lackey can roam the stacks taking inventory of what is actually present and where it is to be sent.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 Breotan wrote:
Don't forget, this is gothic themed fiction and inefficiency is built into every Imperial system. So, for your stockyard, you need a massively oversized array of space stations with cavernous bays in order to hold these containers. It would also require the infrastructure to house the servitors that move the containers in and out of docked ships. Containers must be stacked no more than four high in rooms that can handle stacks eight times that. It must also have an atmosphere so the lowly administratum lackey can roam the stacks taking inventory of what is actually present and where it is to be sent.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The idea was that they weren't in a space station, but effectively left floating/adrift in space. But with regards to inefficiency (and may actually work with the background I am going for), would be for them not to be left in orbit around the planet, but to be left at various 'storage locations' around the system. An obvious inefficiency with this is that as the planet travels in its orbit, these storage locations will be further or closer to the planet (depending on where it is in its orbit).

I am also considering the idea of some form of orbital space station/platform/moon being used for this purpose. I quite like the idea of a hollow asteroid (or several), using barely understood tech to create some form of atmosphere . These again could be stationary at various points around the system.

Or simple, cheap "space tugs", each with a couple hundred containers attached. Just the way shipping containers are moved/held by ships today.

 Elbows wrote:
Or simple, cheap "space tugs", each with a couple hundred containers attached. Just the way shipping containers are moved/held by ships today.

I did actually think about that and seriously considered it. I ended up going down the route of various hollow asteroids for my fluff.