Lifeboat
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
A lifeboat, also known as a lifepod[1][2] or escape pod, is a small spacecraft shuttle complement to larger space vessels.[3]
Role[edit]
Rather than being equipped for offense or defense,[4] lifeboats are used for short-range personnel transfers, ship hull surveys, and emergency evacuations. They tend to be fully rated for atmospheric entry, providing safe transport to a world's surface when necessary.[3] Escape pods, while similar to lifeboats, remain a distinct type of vehicle specialized for evacuation, and likely offer faster and individualized atmospheric entry capability in comparison.
In emergencies, drop pods may be used as an escape craft in a similar capacity for evacuation.[4][5][6] The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers use this as a point of pride, exaggerating lifeboat evacuations as "riding to the surface in air conditioned comfort, sipping wine, and nibbling on appetizers".[5] Additionally, there exists some level of animosity between pilots of both lifeboats and naval aviation dropships, with Carol Rawley reluctant to entrust her life to a "lifeboat jockey" and instead insisting on piloting her own D77 Pelican.[5] In some instances, a command shuttle may also function as a lifeboat.[7]
While they fulfil a similar role to shuttle pods,[8] lifeboats typically have little in the way of maneuverability, as they are not intended for extended atmospheric use, nor are they equipped with thrusters powerful enough to escape a planet's atmosphere. As such, most lifeboats that have launched and entered atmosphere cannot be used again.[9][10] Lifeboats often carry emergency rations for its occupants;[11] some lifeboats also carry other supplies like weapons.[3][12]
In an emergency situation, a spacecraft may eject occupied cryo chambers into space to serve as impromptu lifeboats. By necessity the occupant of the chamber is unconscious and frozen as long as the tube has power, meaning that they must be manually recovered and revived by an external actor.[13][14]
Human lifeboats[edit]
- Command shuttle: A type of vessel that transports senior officers and also doubles as a lifeboat for emergency evacuations.[7]
- Bumblebee: A common class of lifeboat shuttles operated by the UNSC Navy, with classifications based on their endurance levels.[3]
- Class-5 Bumblebee A heavily armored lifeboat that boasts a large rear bay. Notably carried aboard the prowler UNSC Vacuna.[15]
- SKT-9 Bumblebee: A medium-endurance lifeboat that features a pilot-operated guiding system. Notably carried on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn.[3]
- SKT-29 Bumblebee: A lifeboat that improved construction techniques, a better autopilot, safer boost thrusters, and more robust air-brakes.[3] Notably carried on the UNSC Infinity.[16]
- Lacewing-II: One of the most common class of lifeboats in production by the UNSC.[3]
- Queen Bee: One of the most common class of lifeboats in production by the UNSC.[3]
- RLT-85 Emergency Shuttlepod: A class of shuttlepod designed for emergency deployment. Notably carried on the UNSC Infinity.[16]
- SKT-13 shuttlecraft: A class of shuttlecraft that is larger than the SKT-9 Bumblebee.[17]
- SKT-21 shuttlecraft: A class of shuttlecraft that is adjacent to the SKT-9 Bumblebee.[18]
- UNSC escape pods
- Three man escape pods
- Unidentified escape pod
Covenant lifeboats[edit]
The Covenant employs escape pods, which can be found on missionary ships like the Minor Transgression[19] and frigates like the Radiant Arrow.[20] To support the diverse species within the Covenant hegemony, the escape pod's interior can generate an atmosphere for its occupants, such as methane for any Unggoy escapees.[19]
Production notes[edit]
Concept art for the Paris-class heavy frigate UNSC Andraste was depicted with "three man escape pods". These triangular pods can be seen on the Paris frigate, Halcyon-class light cruiser, and construction platforms in Halo: Reach, though have no currently-assigned canon name. They seem to be inspired by the Sovereign-type escape pods from Star Trek.
Gallery[edit]
Michael Baird walking past the ship's inoperable escape pods in Halo: Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian.
A Bumblebee lifeboat entering the atmosphere of Installation 04 in Halo: Combat Evolved.
A Bumblebee lifeboat deploying its air brakes and forward thrusters during its descent in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
The trail left behind by a Bumblebee lifeboat's landing in Halo Infinite.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
- Halo: The Flood
- Adjunct (Mentioned only)
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
- Halo: Contact Harvest
- Halo: Evolutions
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo 4
- Infinity Briefing Packet (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Envoy
- Halo: Silent Storm
- Halo Mythos
- Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Battle Born (Mentioned only)
- Halo Infinite
- Halo: The Television Series
- Halo: The Rubicon Protocol
- Halo: Precipice (Simulation only)
- Halo: Empty Throne
- Halo: Edge of Dawn (Mentioned only)
- Halo: The Eridanus Twelve (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Campaign Evolved
- Halo: Still Midnight (Mentioned only)
- Halo: Parasite's Wake
- Halo: Foehammer's Last Flight
Sources[edit]
- ^ Halo: First Strike (Definitive Edition), chapter 18
- ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, chapter 24
- ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 153
- ^ a b Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 1
- ^ a b c Halo: The Flood (Definitive Edition), chapter 1
- ^ Halo: Vertical Umbrage
- ^ a b Halo: Parasite's Wake, chapter 1
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 131
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 250
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 260
- ^ Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 3
- ^ Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, chapter 2
- ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 5
- ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 6
- ^ Halo: Envoy, chapter 5
- ^ a b Halo 4, Limited Edition: Infinity Briefing Packet
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 4
- ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Library: Bumblebee
- ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 12
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 3
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