Atlant

Unit type: heavy shuttle
Manufacturer: Consolidated Shipwright, Inc.
Dimensions: length 44.8 meters, width 12.1 meters, height 16.4 meters
Armament: none
Powerplant: 4 x thermal battery unit
Propulsion: 2 x rocket engine
Hangar capacity: 1 mobile suit

Typically used for transfer of cargo between colonies and the moon, Atlant-class shuttles are archetypal "space trucks" analogous to articulated tractor-trailers on Earth in terms of usage and role in commerce. While many shuttles of similar capacity and ability exist and can be seen with frequence in major trade lanes, the Atlant is particularly well known thanks to its very large cargo bay. While designed to be removed easily, essentially an enlarged expression of intermodal containers, the bay is also capable of storing a single standard-size mobile suit, making ships of this type popular among "freelance pilots."

For a ship that was never specifically designed for use with mobile suits, the Atlant is surprising functional at it. The main cargo bay is designed to clamshell open at the top, permitting the embarked mobile suit easy exit. When closed, it can also be fully pressurized, allowing maintenance work to be performed without the encumberance of a normal suit. There is also still usually sufficient space left over for the proper tools, spare parts, and extra ammunition as well, although this can vary depending on the size of the stored mobile weapon.