GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam is the titular mobile suit of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER. The unit is piloted by Sol Ryuune L'ange and sub-piloted by Selene McGriff.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The GSX-401FW Stargazer is a civilian developed mobile suit designed to explore the regions of space beyond Mars's orbit. To accomplish this task the mobile suit is designed with two unique features. First, because of the vast reaches of space, the speed of light limit, and the limited space of a cockpit, it is impossible for a human pilot to complete the Stargazer's deep space exploration mission. For this reason, the Stargazer's two-seater cockpit is of modular design that can be replaced with an advanced A.I (artificial intelligence) computer that would control the mobile suit. The A.I. itself is a learning computer that uses inputted pilot data to learn proper piloting behavior. This data is acquired from human pilots piloting the Stargazer. To bring out its maximum potential the A.I. requires piloting data that adds up to ten-thousand hours.

The second important feature is its Voiture Lumiere propulsion system. Stargazer's version of the Voiture Lumiere is designed specifically for interplanetary propulsion, it works by catching solar wind on a curtain of light generated by the ring on its back and converts its energy into a strong light pressure which is then used as thrust. Alternatively, the system can also convert energy from a power beam fired from an external source instead of solar wind to propel the suit. When in use, the system causes interruption to the spatial structure of the surroundings. The ability of the Stargazer to deflect and capture incoming beam shots to create a field of shootable beam cutters during the battle with Phantom Pain is likely to an unintended side effect of this spatial structure interruption. The back-mounted ring structure also serves as a movable thruster, it can be separated and move according to the suit's need, granting the Stargazer exceptional mobility.

The black seams around the MS are capable of glowing and are a subsystem of the Voiture Lumiere. They are connected to the ring at the back and help to adjust the MS's thrust balance. The Stargazer also has a nanomachine repair system and does not have any weaponry as it is designed as a non-combat unit. However, it can use the beam pistol utilized by the UT-1D Civilian Astray DSSD Custom for self-defense.

Armaments

• KMS71/J Beam Pistol

A beam pistol designed by DSSD. It has a unique variable output system and focuses more on rate of fire rather than effective range or power. However, one of its shot still can destroy a MS when it hit the suit's vital places.

Special Equipment & Features

• A.I.

Designed as an exploration mobile suit, the Stargazer can be outfitted with a removable Artificial Intelligence unit in the area where usually the cockpit is placed. Surprisingly, the A.I is similar in structure to a human brain and can learn from recorded operational data of pilots. The end goal is to have the A.I take over the full control of the MS for the exploration mission.

• Nanomachine Repair System

Since the suit is designed for long journeys without any access to maintenance and/or repair facilities, the Stargazer is equipped with the nanomachine repair system. As its name suggests, maintenance and the repair of a certain degree of damage is carried out automatically by nano-sized machines.

• "Voiture Lumiere" Propulsion System

The most important technological item on the Stargazer is the "Voiture Lumiere" (or "solar sail") interplanetary propulsion system, which uses the concept of catching and converting solar winds' energy to propel the suit. A power beam fired from a DSSD satellite, "Apollon A", can alternatively be used instead of the solar winds. The back-mounted ring captures these winds or the power beam with its thin curtain of light particles and uses a special conversion process to convert them into a strong light pressure which is then used as thrust. The system also allows Stargazer to build up speed over time as it travels between planets. Following Newton's laws of motion, the Stargazer will accelerate indefinitely as long as it keeps moving. Variants of the "Voiture Lumiere" system is utilized by the GSF-YAM01 Δ Astray, ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam, ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam, MMF-JG73L Turn Δ and MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame Kai.

• Operating System

The Stargazer uses the advanced Guider UNmanned Deployment Autonomic Manipulation operation support system, created for space research purpose. However, its performance in combat situations is comparable to that of a combat MS's OS.

History

In late CE 73, the Deep Space Survey and Development Organization (DSSD) developed an advanced space exploration mobile suit, the Stargazer. As part of its exploration mission, the Stargazer was intended to be unmanned and controlled by Artificial Intelligence. This would allow the single mobile suit to reach the depths of the solar system beyond the already colonized Mars.

In October CE 73, the Stargazer was stationed at a DSSD station on Earth when terrorists dropped the remains of the Junius Seven PLANT on Earth, in an incident which is later known as "Break the World". The tidal surge caused by falling pieces engulfed a coastal city and threatened the DSSD station, but the Stargazer was safely launched into space. The development of the Stargazer continued with short-range tests of its "Voiture Lumiere" system at the DSSD Troya station.

Later, the Earth Alliance's secret Phantom Pain unit launched an attack on the DSSD station to seize the Stargazer's AI unit. To fend off the attack, DSSD researchers Selene McGriff and Sol Ryuune L'ange boarded the suit and sent the Stargazer into battle. Thanks to its ability to reflect beam weapon fire, the suit destroyed several of the Phantom Pain's GAT-01A2R Slaughter Daggers, until it is confronted by Sven Cal Bayang and his GAT-X105E+AQM/E-X09S Strike Noir. The Stargazer again used its beam capture ability and created a field of shootable beam cutters around it, causing some damage to the Strike Noir. Selene then ejected Sol from the cockpit and used the satellite's power beam, to propel both the Stargazer and the Strike Noir out of the Earth Sphere in the vicinity of Venus. Afterward, Selene rescued Sven and used the last bit of the Strike Noir's energy to power the Stargazer for its long journey back to Earth. About 27 days and 21 hours later, the Stargazer reached the Earth Sphere and is found by Sol, both of its pilots having survived.

Picture Gallery

Black and white Lineart

Docking in shuttle

Undergoing testing

Art from Gundam Perfect File

S-Rank Stargazer in SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online

As seen in SD Gundam G Generation World

SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Gunpla

1/144 HG SEED "GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam" (2006): box art

SD Gundam BB Senshi "GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam" (2007): box art

Notes & Trivia

• Stargazer Gundam is possibly a reference to the U.S.S. Stargazer from Star Trek: The Next Generation. They were both built for Deep-Space Exploration, rather than direct combat, yet had Defensive Combat capabilities. Also, the Voiture Lumiere's propulsion and beam capture abilities show similarities to the Picard Maneuver, a legendary tactic, invented by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, which made the U.S.S. Stargazer, and its captain, famous.
• The ZGMF-X11A Regenerate Gundam's Lightcraft Propulsion system is similar to Stargazer Gundam's Voiture Lumiere system as, like the Stargazer and Apollon A, the Regenerate can use energy from GENESIS Alpha to increase its speed.
• Lines spoken by Selene while piloting the Stargazer suggests that the suit is designed with a nuclear reactor but has no N-Jammer Canceller. As a result, the suit has to rely on a battery pack which can only power it for 17 minutes. The fact that the Stargazer needs energy from the damaged Strike Noir near the end seems to imply that the suit was not installed with the nuclear reactor when launched.
  • The nuclear reactor design is likely because Stargazer was intended for Deep-Space Exploration and used Solar Wind to power it propulsion primarily. When the Stargazer gets far enough from Earth, it could be out of range of the Neutron Jammers' effects and can use its nuclear reactor without any problem.
• Stargazer's AI unit which is capable of auto-pilot may be a reference to the Mobile Dolls in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. If the Earth Alliance were to successfully capture the AI unit and put it into mass production for their MS, similar scenario as the Gundam Wing may happen.
• Since Stargazer was not designed for combat and was minimally armed, some video games give it additional weapons for gameplay purposes. For example, Alliance vs. ZAFT II Plus gives it a set of remotely detonated "Flash Mines" and a beam shield.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny, however, the Stargazer can become an unexpected powerhouse with full tuning and the right pilot skills according to some fans:
  • Its basic equipment is still the KMS71/J Beam Pistol but can also use the beam capture system cutters as a melee weapon that is best for hit-and-run attacks.
  • The Voiture Lumiere system is used to charge SP quickly at the minor cost of being temporarily immobile.
  • The SP Special Attack is also unique in the sense that Stargazer will be temporarily surrounded by long-lasting beam cutters that cause stagger effects on enemy MS with just one hit.

External links

• GSX-401FW Stargazer on MAHQ.net
• GSX-401FW Stargazer on Wikipedia.org (scroll down)

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER Mechanics
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Earth Alliance
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit GAT-01A2R 105 Slaughter Dagger | GAT-X103AP Verde Buster Gundam | GAT-X105E Strike Noir Gundam | GAT-X1022 Blu Duel Gundam | GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam
Land Vehicle Linear Gun Tank
Land Battleship Hannibal-class
Aircraft / Spacecraft EA Helicopter | F-7D Spearhead | Launch
Transporter / Supply Ship VTOL Transport
Cruiser / Mother Ship Girty Lue-class
ZAFT
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit TFA-4DE GAZuOOT | TMF/A-802 BuCUE | TMF/A-802W2 Kerberos BuCUE Hound | ZGMF-1000/A1 Gunner ZAKU Warrior | ZGMF-1000/K Slash ZAKU Warrior | ZGMF-1000/M Blaze ZAKU Warrior | ZGMF-1017 GINN
DSSD
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam | UT-1D Civilian Astray DSSD Custom
Aircraft / Spacecraft DSSD Shuttle
Terrorists
Mobile Weapon
Mobile Suit ZGMF-1017 GINN Insurgent Type