Q&A · 3:59:32-4:00:29

How large could a one-person space fighter be?

Crew size alone does not determine a space fighter's dimensions or its usefulness to a much larger carrier.

Question

Does the argument that large spacecraft are better make small crewed fighters useless?

Short answer

Small combatants can still be useful, and a one-person spacecraft might be bomber-sized or larger. Carrier scale and manoeuvrability matter.

Notes

A one-person space fighter need not be the size of a present-day fighter aircraft. It could be as large as a B-1 bomber or larger. Its usefulness depends partly on the scale of the spaceship carrying it and on the smaller craft's manoeuvrability. The analogy therefore leaves room for useful small combatants without assuming that they share the dimensions of modern aircraft.