View source for Columbia (Individual Altair-class spacecraft)

{{otheruses|the Western Alliance spacecraft|other uses|Columbia}}

{{infoBoxIndividualSpacecraft
| image      = As_columbia.jpg
| vesselname = Columbia
| prevname   =
| type       = 
| class      = [[Altair (Transport)|Altair]]
| prevclass  = 
| servicesince = 
| serviceuntil = 
}}
'''''Columbia''''' was the first fusion-powered interplanetary spacecraft launched by the [[Western Alliance]].<ref> ''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', pp. 6–7</ref>

==History==
The advent of fusion power in [[2020]], led to the first fusion-powered interplanetary spacecraft, the AS ''Columbia''.

The ''Columbia'' was the fourth ''[[Altair (Transport)|Altair]]''-class transport and even though she was already eight years old. In [[2026]], she was refitted to use the newly-developed fusion drive instead of the traditional chemical reaction propulsion systems of her sister ships, the [[Altair (Individual Altair-class spacecraft)|AS ''Altair'']] and [[Procyon (Individual Altair-class spacecraft)|AS ''Procyon'']].<ref name="D&Jp7">''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', p. 7: "Rise of the Western Alliance"</ref> Using an "open-air" architecture allowed major components to be easily attached to the skeletal structure of the spacecraft.  This allowed easy modifications for her experimental maiden voyage to [[Terra|Mars]].

The AS ''Columbia'' launched with a crew of twelve from [[Crippen Station]] on 12 October [[2027]]. Taking one-tenth the time of any previous ship, the AS ''Columbia'' reached Mars orbit in under fourteen days. The success of the ''Columbia'' led to the [[Magellan Program]].

In [[3057]], the [[Outworlds Alliance]] founded his first military academy, naming it ''Columbia Academy'' in honor of the pioneer ship.<ref name=MPS:p140>''Major Periphery States'' p. 140: "Columbia Academy"</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]''

[[Category: Individual Altair-class Transports]]