Tien Lu
Civilian passenger shuttle used during the Second Neo Zeon War.
The Tien Lu was a civilian passenger shuttle that operated between Earth and space during the Second Neo Zeon War in UC 0093.
History
The Tien Lu operated commercial passenger services between Earth and the lunar colonies, launching from Hong Kong using a mass driver system. The shuttle was equipped with a sophisticated launch system that utilised a booster sled ejected in the upper atmosphere, along with additional booster rockets to achieve orbital velocity.
During the Second Neo Zeon War in April UC 0093, the Tien Lu was chartered to transport Earth Federation official Adenauer Paraya from Earth to space. The flight became perilous when the shuttle passed dangerously close to the asteroid Fifth Luna, which Neo Zeon forces had dropped towards the Federation capital of Lhasa in Tibet.
The Tien Lu subsequently strayed near an active battle zone between Londo Bell forces and Neo Zeon mobile suits. Unable to safely reach its intended destination, the shuttle’s passengers were evacuated and transferred to the Ra Cailum for their safety.
Design
The Tien Lu was designed as a civilian passenger transport, featuring comfortable accommodations for paying customers travelling between Earth and the space colonies. The shuttle lacked any military armaments, relying instead on escort vessels or established safe corridors for protection during wartime.
The vessel employed a multi-stage launch system that began with a mass driver launch from Hong Kong. During ascent, the shuttle utilised a booster sled that was jettisoned in the upper atmosphere, followed by the separation of additional booster rocket stages to achieve the necessary velocity for orbital insertion.
The shuttle was equipped with standard civilian sensors and navigation equipment suitable for routine passenger transport operations. Its design prioritised passenger comfort and operational efficiency over defensive capabilities.
Behind the scenes
The Tien Lu appeared briefly in the 1988 film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, serving to illustrate the civilian impact of the renewed conflict between the Earth Federation and Neo Zeon forces.
Appearances
External links
- Tien Lu on MAHQ