{"data":{"id":19554,"title":"Whitley's Guide - 600i","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/19554-Whitleys-Guide-600i","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/19554","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/19554","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"},{"id":31942,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/68f2og2gz2mdq\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":4086735,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2023-06-28T14:54:30+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/31942","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/31942\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"This article originally appeared in Jump Point 7.1.\n600i-Class Multi-Role Luxury Vessel\nDEVELOPMENT HISTORY\nThe Case For Luxury\nThe recent launch of the 600i spacecraft line is the result of several years of internal strife at Origin Jumpworks and ultimately stems from a debate about the company\u2019s future. The early 2940s were marked by a massive increase in sales of Origin\u2019s 300 line (the 300i luxury touring craft in particular), which was largely the result of an effort by veteran CEO Jennifer Friskers to reduce prices and increase availability to a wider audience. The campaign paid off in the short term, rapidly increasing Origin\u2019s single-seat market and leading to a three-fold increase in 300-series production. While this success would be more than welcome anywhere in the galaxy, some within the company protested the move as \u201cappealing to the lowest common denominator.\u201d Furthermore, many saw the increase in production and the newly-widespread popularity of the 100 series as evidence that the company was following competitor Roberts Space Industries\u2019 lead rather than keeping to their own path. As sales of the 300 series grew, so did the internal accusations that the luxury brand was losing its exclusivity and that the short-term profits were diluting Origin\u2019s overall cachet.\n\nThe battle raged behind boardroom doors for several years until it came to a head in 2943, when the question of how to invest increased revenues from the 300i could no longer remain unanswered. Friskers\u2019 loyalists believed that the push for the 300 should be duplicated with the development of a new line of spacecraft intended to compete with Roberts Space Industries, which had itself just launched a luxury model in the form of the Constellation Phoenix. A group of younger executives, already unhappy with Friskers\u2019 four-decade hold over the company, saw this move as exactly what they feared most: the sea-change caused by the 300 campaign had become a permanent move away from the company\u2019s iconic luxury branding. The fight became briefly public as Chief Financial Officer Trent Goade was quoted in Fleet angrily insisting that his company would \u201cnever produce anything like that [expletive] city bus with a hot tub.\u201d The battle was finally joined as the younger executives pitched an opposing project for the same market sector: a multi-crew luxury spacecraft intended for the elite, developed in partnership with tastemaker brands with little or no consideration for the competition.\n\nAlthough no side of the debate got their own way entirely, favor fell heavily on the revivalists; the new Origin 600i was to be a luxury-focused vehicle targeted well above the sticker price of the RSI Constellation and built without the specific consideration for the alternate role variants that the competition and 300 lineup had so warmly embraced. The project took its name from Origin\u2019s historic 600 series, a line of Earth-built midsize transports the company championed in its early days, with the \u201ci\u201d added as a nod towards the specific luxury designation that had been built up around the current 300 lineup\u2019s flagship model.\n\nThe Great Workup\nWith the set of specifications chosen by Origin\u2019s executives, production of the 600i prototype began in earnest. Thanks to the revenue supplied by the 300 series, Origin\u2019s 600 design team went into the project with the most expansive R&D budget the company had ever approved. The aerospace team was charged with developing a spacecraft with an excess of style that spared no expense and that end users would be willing to pay a premium for. With its expansive budget, the project produced results at a staggering rate. Outsourced partners from around the Empire were brought in early to develop everything from essential ship components, such as custom-fitted weapon mounts, to dealer accessories that ranged from synthetic bedding materials to branded humidors. One R&D project struck gold, hitting on a new ultra-light material that would significantly reduce the overall mass of the vessel.\n\nWhile Friskers\u2019 faction was unable to secure the low-cost design they had hoped for, her team did have one more ace in the hole: modularity. Per spec, the 600i was to focus on luxury and comfort over optional roles at every turn. It was clear that the first release, already called the Touring edition, would do just that. The design specifications did not, however, prevent the inclusion of modularity. Friskers\u2019 team worked an end run around the board by secretly instructing longtime spacecraft designers loyal to their CEO to plan ways to integrate modularity into the design without impacting the ship\u2019s lines or interior styling. Armed with the same expansive R&D budget, the team added independently-constructed cores which could be focused towards different jobs while still staying within the confines of Origin\u2019s ultra-chic design aesthetic. The 600i would, in effect, have the ability to change its interior and functionality without impacting its exterior appearance. By the time this inclusion was apparent, it was too late to change anything without interrupting the aggressive development schedule. From the first prototype artifact, the 600i would feature the ability to pursue more roles than anyone had expected.\n\nFirst Flights\nDevelopment of the 600i prototype continued as other parts of the company began to explore the longer-range future for modularity, with a second development team building the experimental Explorer module that was approved for full-scale production. The initial launch would offer both Touring and Explorer models, a decision seen by many stock-watchers as a significant reversal of the \u201cluxury-first\u201d movement that began the project. Thanks to a combination of credits and the expertise of Origin\u2019s in-house development teams, the first flight article 600i was prepared for testing in just 18 months, launching from the New Austin laboratory in 2945 following a successful jump tunnel testing run.\n\nTest pilots discovered that the 600i prototype was the rarest of beasts: an absolute success from the first launch. Unlike almost every other production spacecraft, the 600i was visually indistinguishable from the concept. The ship was found to be as comfortable as intended and generally a joy to fly, with better-than-expected turning and acceleration. What\u2019s more, the Explorer module, which began testing six months later, was found to be genuinely effective as an exploration craft; Origin had produced a ship that would turn typically dangerous jobs into luxury experiences.\n\nProduction\nThe new 600i went into full-scale production for the 2947 model year, supported by an advertising campaign offering the ship as a luxury experience above all else. The Touring version was quickly a success, apparently capturing the zeitgeist with its highly-contemporary design. Perhaps to the surprise of Friskers and her supporters (or perhaps due to her work promoting the 300 series), the Touring sold above expectation. The 600i Explorer was also a hit, with the unusual nature of \u201cluxury exploration\u201d capturing public interest. Production of 600i Explorers was initially low but increased two-fold by the end of the year.\n\nThe only major issue with the 600i to date is an ongoing maintenance problem with the ship\u2019s lift systems. The issue came about only after several months of space service, making it more difficult for Origin\u2019s quality assurance teams to replicate. Engineers are currently developing an update which will either repair or replace the unreliable elevators with a simple dealership repair stop. Other systems continue to be highly praised by end users, especially the sleek, strut-free cockpit that offers an expansive view of the galaxy ahead.\n\nThe United Empire of Earth has also purchased two dozen 600is, each delivered without window openings, for rumored military conversion. It is not known exactly what role these spacecraft will play as none have been identified by spotters in the two years since delivery. Typical speculation runs the gamut from special operation target ships to armored VIP carriers, with the latter significantly more likely. Origin has remained tight-lipped about future updates to the 600i line. For now, sales of the 600i remain brisk and Origin is said to be particularly excited about the opportunity to celebrate the first new star system discovered by a 600i Explorer.","de_DE":"Dieser Artikel erschien urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 7.1.\nMehrzweck-Luxusschiff der 600i-Klasse\nENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE\nDas Argument f\u00fcr Luxus\nDie k\u00fcrzliche Einf\u00fchrung der 600i-Raumschiffserie ist das Ergebnis jahrelanger interner Streitigkeiten bei Origin Jumpworks und geht letztlich auf eine Debatte \u00fcber die Zukunft des Unternehmens zur\u00fcck. Die fr\u00fchen 2940er Jahre waren gepr\u00e4gt von einem massiven Anstieg der Verkaufszahlen der 300er-Linie von Origin (insbesondere der 300i-Luxus-Reiseflugzeuge), der gr\u00f6\u00dftenteils auf die Bem\u00fchungen der langj\u00e4hrigen Gesch\u00e4ftsf\u00fchrerin Jennifer Friskers zur\u00fcckzuf\u00fchren war, die Preise zu senken und die Verf\u00fcgbarkeit f\u00fcr ein breiteres Publikum zu erh\u00f6hen. Die Kampagne zahlte sich kurzfristig aus, indem sie Origins Markt f\u00fcr Einzelsitze schnell vergr\u00f6\u00dferte und zu einer Verdreifachung der Produktion der 300er-Serie f\u00fchrte. Obwohl dieser Erfolg \u00fcberall in der Galaxie mehr als willkommen w\u00e4re, protestierten einige innerhalb des Unternehmens gegen diesen Schritt als \"Appell an den kleinsten gemeinsamen Nenner\". Au\u00dferdem sahen viele in der Produktionssteigerung und der neuen Popularit\u00e4t der 100er Serie den Beweis daf\u00fcr, dass das Unternehmen dem Beispiel des Konkurrenten Roberts Space Industries folgte, anstatt seinen eigenen Weg zu gehen. Mit dem steigenden Absatz der 300er-Serie wurden auch die internen Vorw\u00fcrfe laut, dass die Luxusmarke ihre Exklusivit\u00e4t verliere und dass die kurzfristigen Gewinne das Ansehen von Origin insgesamt verw\u00e4ssern w\u00fcrden.\n\nDer Kampf tobte mehrere Jahre lang hinter den T\u00fcren der Vorstandsetagen, bis er sich 2943 zuspitzte, als die Frage, wie die gestiegenen Einnahmen aus der 300i-Serie investiert werden sollten, nicht l\u00e4nger unbeantwortet bleiben konnte. Friskers' Loyalisten waren der Meinung, dass der Vorsto\u00df f\u00fcr die 300 mit der Entwicklung einer neuen Reihe von Raumschiffen verdoppelt werden sollte, um mit Roberts Space Industries zu konkurrieren, das mit der Constellation Phoenix gerade selbst ein Luxusmodell auf den Markt gebracht hatte. Eine Gruppe j\u00fcngerer F\u00fchrungskr\u00e4fte, die bereits mit Friskers' vier Jahrzehnte w\u00e4hrender Kontrolle \u00fcber das Unternehmen unzufrieden waren, sahen in diesem Schritt genau das, was sie am meisten bef\u00fcrchteten: Der durch die 300-Kampagne ausgel\u00f6ste Umbruch war zu einer dauerhaften Abkehr von der kultigen Luxusmarke des Unternehmens geworden. Der Kampf wurde kurzzeitig \u00f6ffentlich, als Finanzvorstand Trent Goade in Fleet w\u00fctend darauf bestand, dass sein Unternehmen \"niemals so etwas wie diesen [Schimpfwort] Stadtbus mit einer Badewanne produzieren w\u00fcrde\". Der Streit wurde schlie\u00dflich beigelegt, als die j\u00fcngeren F\u00fchrungskr\u00e4fte ein gegens\u00e4tzliches Projekt f\u00fcr denselben Marktsektor vorstellten: ein Luxus-Raumschiff mit mehreren Besatzungsmitgliedern, das f\u00fcr die Elite bestimmt ist und in Zusammenarbeit mit geschmacksintensiven Marken entwickelt wird, ohne auf die Konkurrenz R\u00fccksicht zu nehmen.\n\nObwohl sich keine Seite in der Debatte ganz durchsetzen konnte, fiel die Entscheidung zugunsten der Revivalisten aus. Der neue Origin 600i sollte ein luxuri\u00f6ses Fahrzeug sein, das weit \u00fcber dem Aufkleberpreis der RSI Constellation liegen und ohne besondere R\u00fccksicht auf die alternativen Rollenvarianten gebaut werden sollte, die von der Konkurrenz und der 300er-Reihe so begeistert aufgenommen worden waren. Das Projekt erhielt seinen Namen von Origins historischer 600er-Serie, einer Reihe von auf der Erde gebauten Mittelklassetransportern, f\u00fcr die sich das Unternehmen in seinen Anfangstagen einsetzte, wobei das hinzugef\u00fcgte \"i\" eine Anspielung auf die spezielle Luxusbezeichnung war, die sich um das Flaggschiff der aktuellen 300er-Serie gebildet hatte.\n\nDie gro\u00dfe \u00dcberarbeitung\nNachdem die Origin-F\u00fchrungskr\u00e4fte die Spezifikationen festgelegt hatten, begann die Produktion des 600i-Prototyps ernsthaft. Dank der Einnahmen aus der 300er-Reihe ging das 600er-Designteam von Origin mit dem gr\u00f6\u00dften F&E-Budget in das Projekt, das das Unternehmen je genehmigt hatte. Das Raumfahrtteam hatte die Aufgabe, ein Raumschiff mit einem \u00dcberma\u00df an Stil zu entwickeln, das keine Kosten scheut und f\u00fcr das die Endnutzer bereit w\u00e4ren, einen Aufpreis zu zahlen. Das Projekt lieferte dank des hohen Budgets in atemberaubendem Tempo Ergebnisse. Schon fr\u00fch wurden externe Partner aus dem ganzen Imperium hinzugezogen, um alles zu entwickeln, von grundlegenden Schiffskomponenten wie ma\u00dfgeschneiderten Waffenhalterungen bis hin zu H\u00e4ndlerzubeh\u00f6r, das von synthetischen Bettwaren bis hin zu Humidoren mit Markenzeichen reichte. Ein Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekt war ein Volltreffer: ein neues, ultraleichtes Material, das die Gesamtmasse des Schiffes erheblich reduzieren w\u00fcrde.\n\nFriskers' Fraktion konnte sich zwar nicht das erhoffte kosteng\u00fcnstige Design sichern, aber ihr Team hatte noch ein Ass im \u00c4rmel: Modularit\u00e4t. Laut Spezifikation sollten Luxus und Komfort bei der 600i stets Vorrang vor optionalen Funktionen haben. Es war klar, dass die erste Version, die bereits Touring Edition genannt wurde, genau das tun w\u00fcrde. Die Designvorgaben verhinderten jedoch nicht die Einbeziehung der Modularit\u00e4t. Friskers' Team umging den Vorstand, indem es heimlich langj\u00e4hrige Raumschiffdesigner, die ihrem CEO treu ergeben waren, beauftragte, Wege zu finden, die Modularit\u00e4t in das Design zu integrieren, ohne die Linienf\u00fchrung oder das Innendesign des Schiffes zu beeintr\u00e4chtigen. Mit dem gleichen umfangreichen F&E-Budget f\u00fcgte das Team unabh\u00e4ngig voneinander konstruierte Kerne hinzu, die f\u00fcr verschiedene Aufgaben eingesetzt werden konnten, ohne die Grenzen von Origins ultra-schicker Design\u00e4sthetik zu \u00fcberschreiten. Der 600i konnte so sein Inneres und seine Funktionalit\u00e4t ver\u00e4ndern, ohne sein \u00c4u\u00dferes zu beeintr\u00e4chtigen. Als diese M\u00f6glichkeit erkannt wurde, war es bereits zu sp\u00e4t, um noch etwas zu \u00e4ndern, ohne den aggressiven Entwicklungszeitplan zu unterbrechen. Vom ersten Prototyp an konnte der 600i mehr Funktionen erf\u00fcllen, als man erwartet hatte.\n\nErste Fl\u00fcge\nDie Entwicklung des 600i-Prototyps wurde fortgesetzt, w\u00e4hrend andere Teile des Unternehmens begannen, die l\u00e4ngerfristige Zukunft der Modularit\u00e4t zu erforschen, wobei ein zweites Entwicklungsteam das experimentelle Explorer-Modul baute, das f\u00fcr die Serienproduktion zugelassen wurde. Bei der ersten Markteinf\u00fchrung sollten sowohl Touring- als auch Explorer-Modelle angeboten werden, eine Entscheidung, die von vielen Beobachtern als deutliche Abkehr von der \"Luxus-First\"-Bewegung gesehen wurde, mit der das Projekt begann. Dank einer Kombination aus Krediten und dem Fachwissen der hauseigenen Entwicklungsteams von Origin wurde der erste Flugartikel 600i in nur 18 Monaten f\u00fcr die Tests vorbereitet und startete nach einem erfolgreichen Sprungtunnel-Testlauf im Jahr 2945 vom Labor in New Austin.\n\nDie Testpiloten stellten fest, dass der 600i-Prototyp das seltenste aller Tiere war: ein absoluter Erfolg vom ersten Start an. Im Gegensatz zu fast allen anderen Serienraumschiffen war die 600i optisch nicht vom Konzept zu unterscheiden. Das Raumschiff erwies sich als so komfortabel wie beabsichtigt und machte generell Spa\u00df zu fliegen. Au\u00dferdem erwies sich das Explorer-Modul, das sechs Monate sp\u00e4ter in die Erprobung ging, als ein wirklich effektives Erkundungsschiff; Origin hatte ein Schiff gebaut, das typischerweise gef\u00e4hrliche Aufgaben in luxuri\u00f6se Erlebnisse verwandeln w\u00fcrde.\n\nProduktion\nDie neue 600i ging im Modelljahr 2947 in die Serienproduktion, unterst\u00fctzt von einer Werbekampagne, die das Schiff vor allem als Luxuserlebnis anpries. Die Touring-Version war schnell ein Erfolg und traf mit ihrem hochmodernen Design offensichtlich den Zeitgeist. Vielleicht zur \u00dcberraschung von Friskers und ihren Unterst\u00fctzern (oder vielleicht aufgrund ihrer Arbeit bei der Werbung f\u00fcr die 300er-Serie) verkaufte sich die Touring-Version besser als erwartet. Der 600i Explorer war ebenfalls ein Erfolg, da die ungew\u00f6hnliche Art der \"Luxus-Erkundung\" das Interesse der \u00d6ffentlichkeit weckte. Die Produktion des 600i Explorers war anfangs gering, stieg aber bis zum Ende des Jahres um das Doppelte an.\n\nDas einzige gr\u00f6\u00dfere Problem mit der 600i ist ein anhaltendes Wartungsproblem mit den Aufzugssystemen des Schiffs. Das Problem trat erst nach mehreren Monaten im Weltraum auf, was es f\u00fcr Origins Qualit\u00e4tssicherungsteams schwieriger macht, es zu beheben. Die Ingenieure entwickeln derzeit ein Update, mit dem die unzuverl\u00e4ssigen Aufz\u00fcge entweder repariert oder durch einen einfachen Reparaturstopp des H\u00e4ndlers ersetzt werden k\u00f6nnen. Andere Systeme werden von den Endnutzern weiterhin hoch gelobt, insbesondere das schlanke, verstrebungsfreie Cockpit, das einen weiten Blick auf die Galaxie vor uns bietet.\n\nDas Vereinigte Imperium der Erde hat au\u00dferdem zwei Dutzend 600is gekauft, die ohne Fenster\u00f6ffnungen geliefert wurden, um sie angeblich milit\u00e4risch umzur\u00fcsten. Es ist nicht genau bekannt, welche Rolle diese Raumfahrzeuge spielen werden, denn in den zwei Jahren seit der Auslieferung wurde keines von Sp\u00e4hern identifiziert. Typische Spekulationen reichen von Spezialeinsatzschiffen bis hin zu gepanzerten VIP-Transportern, wobei Letzteres deutlich wahrscheinlicher ist. Origin hat sich \u00fcber zuk\u00fcnftige Updates der 600i-Linie noch bedeckt gehalten. Im Moment l\u00e4uft der Verkauf der 600i sehr gut und Origin freut sich angeblich besonders \u00fcber die Gelegenheit, das erste neue Sternensystem zu feiern, das von einem 600i Explorer entdeckt wurde.","zh_CN":"This article originally appeared in Jump Point 7.1.\n600i-Class Multi-Role Luxury Vessel\nDEVELOPMENT HISTORY\nThe Case For Luxury\nThe recent launch of the 600i spacecraft line is the result of several years of internal strife at Origin Jumpworks and ultimately stems from a debate about the company\u2019s future. The early 2940s were marked by a massive increase in sales of Origin\u2019s 300 line (the 300i luxury touring craft in particular), which was largely the result of an effort by veteran CEO Jennifer Friskers to reduce prices and increase availability to a wider audience. The campaign paid off in the short term, rapidly increasing Origin\u2019s single-seat market and leading to a three-fold increase in 300-series production. While this success would be more than welcome anywhere in the galaxy, some within the company protested the move as \u201cappealing to the lowest common denominator.\u201d Furthermore, many saw the increase in production and the newly-widespread popularity of the 100 series as evidence that the company was following competitor Roberts Space Industries\u2019 lead rather than keeping to their own path. As sales of the 300 series grew, so did the internal accusations that the luxury brand was losing its exclusivity and that the short-term profits were diluting Origin\u2019s overall cachet.\n\nThe battle raged behind boardroom doors for several years until it came to a head in 2943, when the question of how to invest increased revenues from the 300i could no longer remain unanswered. Friskers\u2019 loyalists believed that the push for the 300 should be duplicated with the development of a new line of spacecraft intended to compete with Roberts Space Industries, which had itself just launched a luxury model in the form of the Constellation Phoenix. A group of younger executives, already unhappy with Friskers\u2019 four-decade hold over the company, saw this move as exactly what they feared most: the sea-change caused by the 300 campaign had become a permanent move away from the company\u2019s iconic luxury branding. The fight became briefly public as Chief Financial Officer Trent Goade was quoted in Fleet angrily insisting that his company would \u201cnever produce anything like that [expletive] city bus with a hot tub.\u201d The battle was finally joined as the younger executives pitched an opposing project for the same market sector: a multi-crew luxury spacecraft intended for the elite, developed in partnership with tastemaker brands with little or no consideration for the competition.\n\nAlthough no side of the debate got their own way entirely, favor fell heavily on the revivalists; the new Origin 600i was to be a luxury-focused vehicle targeted well above the sticker price of the RSI Constellation and built without the specific consideration for the alternate role variants that the competition and 300 lineup had so warmly embraced. The project took its name from Origin\u2019s historic 600 series, a line of Earth-built midsize transports the company championed in its early days, with the \u201ci\u201d added as a nod towards the specific luxury designation that had been built up around the current 300 lineup\u2019s flagship model.\n\nThe Great Workup\nWith the set of specifications chosen by Origin\u2019s executives, production of the 600i prototype began in earnest. Thanks to the revenue supplied by the 300 series, Origin\u2019s 600 design team went into the project with the most expansive R&D budget the company had ever approved. The aerospace team was charged with developing a spacecraft with an excess of style that spared no expense and that end users would be willing to pay a premium for. With its expansive budget, the project produced results at a staggering rate. Outsourced partners from around the Empire were brought in early to develop everything from essential ship components, such as custom-fitted weapon mounts, to dealer accessories that ranged from synthetic bedding materials to branded humidors. One R&D project struck gold, hitting on a new ultra-light material that would significantly reduce the overall mass of the vessel.\n\nWhile Friskers\u2019 faction was unable to secure the low-cost design they had hoped for, her team did have one more ace in the hole: modularity. Per spec, the 600i was to focus on luxury and comfort over optional roles at every turn. It was clear that the first release, already called the Touring edition, would do just that. The design specifications did not, however, prevent the inclusion of modularity. Friskers\u2019 team worked an end run around the board by secretly instructing longtime spacecraft designers loyal to their CEO to plan ways to integrate modularity into the design without impacting the ship\u2019s lines or interior styling. Armed with the same expansive R&D budget, the team added independently-constructed cores which could be focused towards different jobs while still staying within the confines of Origin\u2019s ultra-chic design aesthetic. The 600i would, in effect, have the ability to change its interior and functionality without impacting its exterior appearance. By the time this inclusion was apparent, it was too late to change anything without interrupting the aggressive development schedule. From the first prototype artifact, the 600i would feature the ability to pursue more roles than anyone had expected.\n\nFirst Flights\nDevelopment of the 600i prototype continued as other parts of the company began to explore the longer-range future for modularity, with a second development team building the experimental Explorer module that was approved for full-scale production. The initial launch would offer both Touring and Explorer models, a decision seen by many stock-watchers as a significant reversal of the \u201cluxury-first\u201d movement that began the project. Thanks to a combination of credits and the expertise of Origin\u2019s in-house development teams, the first flight article 600i was prepared for testing in just 18 months, launching from the New Austin laboratory in 2945 following a successful jump tunnel testing run.\n\nTest pilots discovered that the 600i prototype was the rarest of beasts: an absolute success from the first launch. Unlike almost every other production spacecraft, the 600i was visually indistinguishable from the concept. The ship was found to be as comfortable as intended and generally a joy to fly, with better-than-expected turning and acceleration. What\u2019s more, the Explorer module, which began testing six months later, was found to be genuinely effective as an exploration craft; Origin had produced a ship that would turn typically dangerous jobs into luxury experiences.\n\nProduction\nThe new 600i went into full-scale production for the 2947 model year, supported by an advertising campaign offering the ship as a luxury experience above all else. The Touring version was quickly a success, apparently capturing the zeitgeist with its highly-contemporary design. Perhaps to the surprise of Friskers and her supporters (or perhaps due to her work promoting the 300 series), the Touring sold above expectation. The 600i Explorer was also a hit, with the unusual nature of \u201cluxury exploration\u201d capturing public interest. Production of 600i Explorers was initially low but increased two-fold by the end of the year.\n\nThe only major issue with the 600i to date is an ongoing maintenance problem with the ship\u2019s lift systems. The issue came about only after several months of space service, making it more difficult for Origin\u2019s quality assurance teams to replicate. Engineers are currently developing an update which will either repair or replace the unreliable elevators with a simple dealership repair stop. Other systems continue to be highly praised by end users, especially the sleek, strut-free cockpit that offers an expansive view of the galaxy ahead.\n\nThe United Empire of Earth has also purchased two dozen 600is, each delivered without window openings, for rumored military conversion. It is not known exactly what role these spacecraft will play as none have been identified by spotters in the two years since delivery. Typical speculation runs the gamut from special operation target ships to armored VIP carriers, with the latter significantly more likely. Origin has remained tight-lipped about future updates to the 600i line. For now, sales of the 600i remain brisk and Origin is said to be particularly excited about the opportunity to celebrate the first new star system discovered by a 600i Explorer."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":133,"created_at":"2023-10-24T21:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"2 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 18:59:28","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":19553,"next_id":19555}}