What does a Nimbus Gas Skimmer really cost?

The sticker price for a Nimbus Gas Skimmer is ₡235 million, but the cost of owning a Gas-giant skimmer over its lifetime depends on much more. This breakdown covers the main line items.

Fuel is usually the biggest recurring expense. The Nimbus Gas Skimmer burns Hydrogen scooped in situ (fusion ramjet) at about 0.6 tonnes per 100 AU, so a full 30 AU round trip is predictable to budget for.

Crew is next. You will need 2 pilots and 6 people in total, and those salaries, training and life-support consumables add up over a decade of service.

Maintenance on a 240 m hull at a Halcyon yard runs to a few percent of the purchase price each year. Since its first flight on March 2185, the class has kept its maintenance costs low.