The Eagle Transporter is a fictional spacecraft and the iconic image of the 1970's television series Space 1999. The Eagles serve as the primary spacecraft of Moonbase Alpha, which has a fleet of them. The Eagles are primarily used to explore alien planets, defend the moonbase from attack, and to transport supplies and other items to and from the Moon. The Eagle was designed by special-effects wizard Brian Johnson his design was clearly influenced by the pacesetting 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In turn, the Eagle spacecraft influenced the spaceship designs of Star Wars and other science fiction films and television series.

The Eagles are constructed by the Engineering and Technical section of Moonbase Alpha using materials and components either shipped from Earth or manufactured on the Moon. The latter is usually proposed as a rationale for the perceived seemingly endless supply of Eagles despite their frequent losses in numerous episodes.

Completely modular, the crafts are divided into three basic sections: the command module, the service pod, and the superstructure -- containing the landing gears, access corridor, aft compartment and the main propulsion system. The command module also has an escape hatch as revealed in the episode Devil's Planet, although it is unknown whether this is an original design feature or an adaptation that was designed by Moonbase Alpha. As noted below, all Eagles are equipped with artificial gravity.

Konami Eagles and Hawk

Several types could be used, depending on the mission.

• Passenger - The standard passenger module, it is usually unarmed and used solely to transport moonbase personnel. Passenger Eagles have a transport module which provides maximum seating space.

• Recon - Sometimes known as Survey Eagles, this type typically has a computer bank on the starboard side of the ship. Recon Eagles are used to explore alien planets and regions of space; the sophisticated computer bank is used to obtain, store, and analyze data gathered from the planet being studied: contents of atmosphere, valuable minerals or resources, life signs, etc.

• VIP Eagle - Seen only in the episode Breakaway, the orange VIP Eagle was used by Lunar Commissioner Gerald Simmonds; it is primarily a passenger Eagle used to transport high-ranking officials.

• Rescue Eagles - These Eagles are recognisable by their vertical red stripes. Rescue Eagles are equipped with a variety of rescue and life-saving equipment which can be used in emergencies.

• Transport/Supply Eagles - These Eagles are used to transport supplies and equipment rather than passengers. Their transport modules are designed to carry equipment and have limited seating space for passengers.

• Docking Eagle - Usually a standard Eagle fitted with an extendable airlock to enable docking with another craft in space. This was seen in the episode Collision Course when John Koenig had to dock with Alan Carter's damaged Eagle.

• Freighter Eagle - These specialized Eagles are used to transport dangerous nuclear waste to Nuclear Disposal Areas 1 & 2; unlike supply or transport Eagles they are heavily shielded to protect their crews from radiation. The waste canisters are carried in a 'pallet' type pod which links to a conveyer belt at the disposal areas.

• Laboratory Eagles - A specialized Eagle which carries equipment of a more scientific nature than the Recon Eagle, they are usually fitted with additional airlocks for decontamination purposes, and appear to have small but well-equipped laboratories on board.

• Winch-Winch Pods can be attached to Eagles and used for a variety of purposes. Most notably they were used to attempt to disperse the nuclear waste containers in Disposal Area 2 in Breakaway. They are not to be confused with Freighter Eagles. Winch pods can be either in the form of a grab, as seen in Collision Course when Nuclear charges were planted on an asteroid, or a magnetic winch, used for other purposes like removing the Command module of a crashed Eagle in Missing Link.

• Fighters - Although Eagles are not primarily designed for combat, they can be equipped with laser cannon and missiles for defensive purposes. When Moonbase Alpha broke away from Earth, several Eagles were equipped with weapons and used to defend the moonbase from potential alien attacks. Specialised Eagles were designated as 'Combat Eagles' in The Metamorph

  

Several types of equipment could be attached to an Eagle, depending on the mission.

• Winches

• Docking tube

• Top boosters

• Side boosters

• Vertical grab

• Horizontal grab

• Harness

• Re-entry glider

• Refuelling boom

• Top mounted retractable laser cannon

• Moonbuggy

The Eagles are powered by four nuclear fusion rockets and carry fuel reserves for 48 hours of flight. Artificial gravity force fields built into the Eagle enable it to accelerate up to 15% of the speed of light, giving it a maximum range (with extra fuel reserves) of several light-days.

The Eagle also has the capability to enter the atmosphere of a normal-gravity planet and then land using its chemically-fueled landing rockets, and take off and return to Moonbase Alpha.

The onboard computer system can handle guidance, astronavigation and interpretation of sensor data; it can even be flown using remote control from Moonbase Alpha and guided safely down for a landing.

Although the Eagle was not designed for use as a military vessel, some Eagles on Moonbase Alpha are fitted with a laser gun as standard equipment and an arsenal of space-to-space missiles. However the episode War Games suggests that only some of Alpha's many Eagles are armed. It is suggested in the series that Eagles were mainly designed for transport, reconnaissance, and scientific surveys. In the episode War Games the Eagles are badly outmatched by the Mark IX Hawk, which were designed specifically for combat. The Hawks were faster, more maneuverable, and better-armed than the Eagles, although a skilled Eagle pilot such as Alan Carter was still able to destroy several Hawks in the battle to defend Moonbase Alpha.

In addition to weapons mounted on the Eagles themselves, various pods carry a rack of stun guns and a single laser rifle for the use of the crew.

EAGLE ONE

Eagles are piloted by an astronaut (Eagle Pilot) with a rank of no less than Captain. Although the Eagle can easily be handled by a single Eagle Pilot, the right seat in the Eagle cockpit is routinely occupied by a copilot, although this varies according to mission profile.

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