Airlocks
Airlocks are small chambers that separate two different environments and allow the passage of people between these different environments. Generally they contain two airtight doors and a means to equilibrate the environment of the chamber to match whatever area is being entered. Fictional airlocks may sperate the interior of a spaceship from space or may separate the interior of an undersea habitation unit from the waters of the ocean. They may be paired with a decontamination chamber, especially if located on an off-world research station or alien planet. Airlocks are home to mutinied ship captains, alien creatures, and deep space raiders preparing to board.
| Synonyms: locks |
| Example Mythonyms: Door 3 |
Designing Fictional Airlocks
Overview
When designing airlocks, consider the controls that operate it and where they are located. Often in narratives, airlocks are a means to dispose of an unlucky person or an unwanted creature into space. They may also serve as a temporary jail cell. This may mean that the controls are located outside of the chamber itself.
Design
- Size and Scale: Airlocks can range from cramped, single-person chambers for emergency use to massive cargo bays large enough to accommodate entire spaceships.
- Shape and Configuration: Circular, cylindrical, and rectangular airlocks are common, but designers often employ more unusual shapes to suit the aesthetic or function of the fictional setting.
- Automation and Control Systems: Depending on the technological level of the universe, airlocks might be entirely automated or require manual operation through a complex control panel. Biometric scanners or access codes could be implemented for added security.
- Observation Windows: Large, reinforced windows are a recurring feature, allowing characters (and the audience) to peer into the alien environment or the vast emptiness of space.
Narrative Events
- Sites of suspense: Malfunctioning airlocks or breaches can create life-or-death situations, raising the stakes for the characters.
- Limbo zones: The transitionary space of an airlock can represent a character’s physical and psychological journey between worlds.
- Stages for dramatic reveals: The first glimpse of an alien landscape or a new crew member might be through the window of an airlock.
