Habitability Type
Introduction, Scope, and Responsibility
Habitability Type is a rating assigned to potentially habitable planets by the UPCO, categorizing them by their habitability criteria. This rating is accompanied by recommended actions for planet settlement. These recommendations are provided in UBCC Code 1.4.25.1-9, and all responsibility for the content of these recommendations falls under the jurisdiction of the UBCC.
This is not an extensive list of all criteria which should be evaluated before making critical decisions regarding planet settlement. The purpose of this classification is to provide a simple at-a-glance description of a planet's habitability conditions. The UPCS is not liable for any decisions made based on a planet's assigned habitability type.
Criteria
Each criteria is ranked on a scale from 1-5. Habitability type is assigned based on criteria scores.
- Star stability
- Orbital position
- Size/mass
- Atmospheric conditions
- Magnetic field
- Liquid water
- Essential nutrients
- Gravity well
Type 1
Planet scores a 5 on all habitability criteria. This planet resembles ancient Earth conditions.
Recommended for large scale and long term permanent settlement.
Type 2
Planet scores high in most categories, except for atmospheric conditions and/or liquid water and/or essential nutrients. This planet could be terraformed to meet type 1 criteria.
Recommended for small scale permanent settlement.
Type 3
Planet scores a 5 on all criteria, but 1 or 2 on star stability. This is a planet that has perfect conditions to sustain life, but is not advised for permanent settlement as its conditions are likely to change drastically within the next few thousand years.
Recommended for temporary settlement.
Type 4
Planet scores 4 or more on all criteria, but 3 on orbital position. This planet is livable, but with constant extreme hot or cold conditions - requiring protective gear at all times.
Recommended for small scale settlement, permanent or temporary.
Type 5
Planet scores low on size/mass and magnetic field, resulting in low atmosphere retention and low protection from radiation, solar winds, and hazardous asteroids/space debris. This planet could not be terraformed to meet type 1 or 2 conditions.
Recommended for small scale settlement, temporary or permanent.
Type 6
Planet scores low on size/mass, resulting in too low or too high gravity force to make settlement viable.
Not recommended for settlement.
Type 7
Planet scores a 1 in all categories except gravity well. This planet is devoid of any characteristics which would make settlement viable.
Not recommended for settlement.
Type 8
Planet scores low on gravity well conditions, meaning the effect of gravitational time dilation would significantly effect the efficiency of settlement growth in coordinate time.
Not recommended for settlement.
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