Launch tubes are extensively used on battlestars as a means of launching Vipers and other similar craft.
A Galactica type battlestar has a total of 80 launch tubes, forty per flight pod. They are divided into five groups of eight tubes each. The launch tubes fit one Viper at a time. Four launch tubes are controlled by a launch supervisor who are in turn managed by the Landing Signal Officer. Centrally located, the launch supervisor can observe two launch tubes on either side of the control station thru a wide view port. After running the preliminary checks on the Viper, the launch supervisor presses the launch button and a magnetic catapult throws the Viper out at great speed.
The following quote depicts the standard launch sequence (in this case for a launch of the Blackbird):
- Starbuck: Instruments... in the green. Fuel pressure... nominal.
- Dualla: Apollo, Starbuck. Blackbird flight is cleared for launch.
- Starbuck: Run-up.
- Aaron Kelly: Maglock secure, initiate launch sequence.
- Starbuck: Oh, don't blow up on me, you bastard.
- Kelly: You are clear for launch.
- Dualla: Blackbird is away.
The launch tubes are separated from the hangar deck by large airtight metal doors. When these doors close after the ship is in the tube, the doors at the end of the tube open, allowing the tube to open up into space. Ships are returned to the hangar deck from the landing bay via elevators.
Alert Fighters are kept in the tubes at all times just in case a threat appears and the CAP cannot reach it in time or require reinforcements.
The launch tubes are also used to allow the dead a military space funeral when there is no earth in which to bury them. (Act of Contrition)
Battlestar Galactica
On Galactica only the port launch tubes are operational. The starboard hangar deck was converted into a gift shop to go with the planned museum in the starboard landing bay bay prior to the destruction of the Twelve Colonies. However, the starboard landing bay is depressurized due to the crashlanding of a Cylon Heavy Raider through the windowed enclosure when Galactica holds off a Cylon force while attempting to recalculate the coordinates of the Fleet (Scattered).
Following humanity's exodus from New Caprica, the launch tubes are used as impromptu courtrooms by The Circle, a group commissioned by President Tom Zarek to try, convict and sentence humans who collaborated with the Cylons during their occupation of New Caprica. The Circle would execute convicted collaborators by depressurizing the launch tubes and letting the criminals be vented into space (Collaborators).
See Also
Notes
- "Final Cut" is a rare episode in which the camera actually follows Vipers as they are wheeled from the middle of the hangar deck and loaded into launch tubes, then take off.