Budgeting for a Atlas Heavy Freighter: price, fuel and crew

If you are drawing up a fleet budget, here is a plain-language guide to the Atlas Heavy Freighter. The base commissioning fee is ₡410 million.

Fuel: the drive runs on Helium-3 fusion pellets at about 6.8 tonnes per 100 AU. Over a 85 AU mission profile that is a modest, predictable number.

People: 3 pilots plus support staff, for 7 aboard in total. Halcyon's training campuses can certify new flight crew in weeks rather than months.

Cargo: up to 52,000 tonnes. Size: 612 m. Top speed: 240 km/s. Put those into your route model and the case for this Bulk freighter usually makes itself.