Jupiter spacecraft

The Jupiter 2, a Jupiter spacecraft

The Jupiter Spacecraft is a class of spacecraft used by the Alpha Centauri Colonist Program in Netflix's Lost in Space.

Specifications

The Jupiter Spacecraft are one of the two main Spacecraft used by the Alpha Centauri Colonist Program, the other being the Resolute. The Jupiter Spacecraft are designed to carry single family groups between the Resolute and Alpha Centauri. They are small, disc-shaped vehicles, capable of advanced orbit and de-orbit manoeuvres, as well as being equipped with Vertical Take Off and Landing technology. ("Impact"), ("Diamonds in the Sky").

Each Jupiter is adorned with orange, red, blue, or grey and white paint, and has its call-sign on the starboard side (e.g. Jupiter 2, "J2"). Each Jupiter used by families has custom space suits with the call-sign, and the name of each colonist aboard. ("Impact"). The Jupiter Transports are adorned with Black and white paint and are marked as Transports not Jupiters.

The Jupiter uses a methane-hybrid fuel, stored in two tanks, the primary and the reserve. ("Infestation"). Each Jupiter can use human waste to create more fuel, although in most cases, humans do not create enough waste to refuel in any reasonable amount of time. ("The Robinson's Were Here"). The Jupiter has several propulsion systems, including the two main aft engines, side-mounted landing engines, and manoeuvring rockets positioned all around the ship's exterior.

The Jupiter is highly automated, and in most cases flies without human intervention of any kind. Although, Jupiters are capable of manual control, and are even able to fly manually when nearly every redundant and main flight system is removed. ("Trajectory"). Don West described the Jupiter spacecraft as being over-engineered, with "redundant systems out the wazoo." ("Trajectory").

Safety, Security, and Life Support Systems

The Jupiter has highly advanced Safety, Security, and Life Support systems to keep the passengers safe. As an extension of the Resolute, many of its security systems are similar to and work in tandem with the Resolute Security Systems. They are as follows:

• Life Support: The Jupiter has a complete Life Support system that can recycle the air to make it breathable for months. The Life Support system is in the Engine Bay, and the one aboard the Jupiter 2 is nicknamed "Ceedra". It is known to be vulnerable to direct contact with water and methane. The Jupiter does not have artificial gravity, except when docked with the Resolute.
• RFID Sensors: The Jupiter, like the Resolute, uses a set of RFID chips implanted in the Colonist's Wrists to allow entry only to certain people.
• Emergency Mode: When the Jupiter detects a dangerous situation (like a gunshot), it will set off alarms, open all the doors, and shut down the main lighting in favour of red Emergency Pathway lighting for a swift evacuation.
• Complex Autopilot: The Jupiter Autopiloting system is on by default, and pilots the Jupiter at most times. When this system is fully enabled, the Jupiter will avoid any danger that could lead to a catastrophic failure, and even when it is disabled, it will not allow a human pilot to put it in harm's way. The only way to bypass this system is to disconnect it completely.
• Hub Lockdown: In the event that the Jupiter is not able to overcome damage, the Central Hub will lockdown and keep all passengers inside it completely safe. The Central Hub was designed to withstand a direct asteroid impact.

Amenities

The Jupiter Spacecrafts are designed for long-term habitation on Alpha Centauri, as part of the colony program, and as such have many amenities useful to the colonists, including:

• Main Deck Hub: This area is the main living space aboard the Jupiter, including a kitchen, table, and couches. ("Diamonds in the Sky"). The operation manuals and safety protocol handbooks are also stored here. The Hub can be locked down if required and is designed to withstand an asteroid striking the Jupiter. ("Danger, Will Robinson").
• Cockpit: This area contains all of the flight operations systems and the communications array. ("Diamonds in the Sky").
• Bedrooms: Aboard each Jupiter is a number of Bedrooms for the Colonists, each containing a bed, set of drawers and shelving for personal items.
• Medical Station: This area is used for any medical predicament aboard the Jupiter. It contains a lie-flat bed and shelving/containers for medical supplies. ("Diamonds in the Sky").
• Garage: This area contains the Jupiter's Chariot, a battery-powered All-Terrain Vehicle. It also houses a large amount of cargo that is not essential, such as spare parts, building materials, and non-essential tools. ("Transmission"). Below this deck is an area which houses the fuel lines, power cabling, and fuel intake valves. ("Infestation"). This is also the only area from which is engine bay can be accessed. It also houses an advanced 3D Printer which can create all manner of things (e.g. spare parts, custom tools, and medical devices), and exercise equipment.
• Engine Bay: This area contains the back-end of the main aft engines, which are accessible for maintenance. ("Diamonds in the Sky").
• Storage Closets: Scattered around each Jupiter is a number of Storage Closets housing essential equipment and resources (e.g. food, water, tools, etc.). ("Infestation").

Every Jupiter has a "Jupiter Expansion Protocol", which increases the interior space of the Jupiter for long-term habitation. The Jupiter is not capable of flight while the Expansion Protocol is in effect, although it can be reversed. ("The Robinson's Were Here").

Passengers aboard a Jupiter may eject from one of the two seats in the cockpit or any of the seats in the Main Hub. The seat and the passenger are forcefully ejected through the ceiling of the Jupiter, and a parachute is deployed. The Jupiter is usually functionally useless once an ejection has taken place, and in some cases will be completely destroyed during the ejection process. ("Impact"), ("Infestation"), ("Trajectory"). However, it is noted that in Season 3, Maureen and Judy Robinson were able to repair the damage caused by ejections and make the Jupiter flight capable again, although it should be noted that this would be nearly impossible without intimate knowledge of the Jupiter and its flight systems, like that possessed by Maureen.

Fate

Only 8 Jupiters from the 24th colonist group made it to Alpha Centauri, those being the Jupiters 12, 16, 5, 33, 9, 7, 2, and one unnamed Jupiter. In the wake of the impending Robot attack on Alpha Centauri, Maureen suggested using the vertical take-off and landing engines of 176 of the Jupiter spacecraft in order to generate spin to power the defense shield, following the loss of the turbines that had previously powered it. The plan was agreed to, even though it meant that the ships would be lost. Ultimately, the plan was for naught, as the Robots managed to slip through a hole in the defense shield before it could be fully raised. It is unclear if the Jupiters were repaired or if more were built to replace the ones that were lost. ("Trust")

Known Jupiter spacecraft

Jupiter Series

• Jupiter 1
• Jupiter 2
• Jupiter 3
• Jupiter 4
• Jupiter 5
• Jupiter 6
• Jupiter 7
• Jupiter 8
• Jupiter 9
• Jupiter 10
• Jupiter 11
• Jupiter 12
• Jupiter 13
• Jupiter 14
• Jupiter 15
• Jupiter 16
• Jupiter 17
• Jupiter 18
• Jupiter 19
• Jupiter 20
• Jupiter 21
• Jupiter 22
• Jupiter 23
• Jupiter 24
• Jupiter 25
• Jupiter 26
• Jupiter 27
• Jupiter 28
• Jupiter 29
• Jupiter 30
• Jupiter 31
• Jupiter 32
• Jupiter 33
• Jupiter 34
• Jupiter 35
• Jupiter 36
• Jupiter 37
• Jupiter 38
• Jupiter 39
• Jupiter 40
• Jupiter 41
• Jupiter 42
• Jupiter 43
• Jupiter 44
• Jupiter 45
• Jupiter 46
• Jupiter 47
• Jupiter 48
• Jupiter 49
• Jupiter 50
• Jupiter 51
• Jupiter 52
• Jupiter 53
• Jupiter 54
• Jupiter 55
• Jupiter 56
• Jupiter 57
• Jupiter 58
• Jupiter 59
• Jupiter 60
• Jupiter 61
• Jupiter 62
• Jupiter 63
• Jupiter 64
• Jupiter 65
• Jupiter 66
• Jupiter 67
• Jupiter 68
• Jupiter 69
• Jupiter 70
• Jupiter 71
• Jupiter 72
• Jupiter 73
• Jupiter 74
• Jupiter 75
• Jupiter 76
• Jupiter 77
• Jupiter 78
• Jupiter 79
• Jupiter 80
• Jupiter 81
• Jupiter 82
• Jupiter 83
• Jupiter 84
• Jupiter 85
• Jupiter 86
• Jupiter 87
• Jupiter 88
• Jupiter 89
• Jupiter 90
• Jupiter 91
• Jupiter 92
• Jupiter 93

Transport Series

• Transport 5
• Transport 6
• Transport 7
• Transport 8

Behind the scenes

• The orange colouration on some of the spacecraft is a nod to the favourite colour of Irwin Allen, the creator of the Original Lost in Space.

References

Jupiter class spacecraft of Netflix's Lost in Space

Jupiter 2 • Jupiter 4 • Jupiter 11 • Jupiter 14 • Jupiter 17
Jupiter 18 • Jupiter 22 • Jupiter 30 • Jupiter 44