Thermal Sensor

This article contains information relevant to both the C# and VB6 versions of Aurora. Where differences exist, they are noted in the appropriate sections.

Whatever it is, it's hot, hot, hot.
Image: ESA

A Thermal Sensor is a passive sensor component that allows detection of ships, missiles and colonies without emitting radiation itself.

Overview

Thermal sensors work by detecting and tracking objects which give off thermal signature, such as engines on enemy ships and missiles, or the population on colonies. A Thermal Sensor is a passive sensor, which means that it gives you situational awareness without giving away your position. However, its contacts cannot be used by the Fire Control for targeting - you need an active sensor contact for that.

The range at which a contact can be detected is given by:

C# range = SQRT(Passive Sensor Strength * Target Signature ) * 250,000 km
VB6 range = Passive Sensor Strength * Target Signature Strength * 1000 km 
Passive Sensor Strength = Size * Thermal Sensitivity tech

Larger sensors are more useful in both versions of the game, but smaller sensors are much more powerful in C#, and larger ones are much more powerful in VB6.

Like all electronic systems, thermal sensors are vulnerable to High-Powered Microwave attack.

Usage

Thermal sensors are used to detect enemy targets. Thermal signatures tend to be weaker than EM signatures, meaning that their effective detection range is shorter than EM Sensors. However, virtually everything has a thermal signature, unlike EM signatures (which can easily be avoided), so the all-round ability to detect almost anything sentient makes thermal sensors an excellent addition to survey and scout vessels.

In C#, thermal sensors of size 1 HS or less are commercial components, while any that are larger than 1 HS are military components. Ships have no innate sensors, so they can only detect thermal signatures if they mount a dedicated thermal sensor.

In VB6, all thermal sensors are military components. To allow commercial vessels some basic vision, every ship has a default thermal rating of 1, which can be increased by the addition of a dedicated thermal sensor.

Statistics

The cost of a sensor is equal to its sensitivity, multiplied by a factor based on the Electronic Hardening value. In C# the cost is 100% Uridium, and in VB6, it's 75% Uridium and 25% Duranium.

A sensor of size 1 HS or greater has 1 HTK, and a sensor of size smaller than 1 has 0 HTK. The crew need is size*2, rounded normally.

Thermal Sensor Sensitivity

Base Sensitivity

Sensitivity	5	6	8	11	14	18	24	32	40	50	60	75
RP cost	1,000	2,000	4,000	8,000	15,000	30,000	60,000	120,000	250,000	500,000	1,000,000	2,000,000

Electronic Hardening

Electronic Hardening is used to resist the effects of High-Powered Microwave weapons. The Electronic Hardening technologies differ between versions.

Electronic Hardening (C#)

Hardening	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Chance of Destruction (%)	100	70	50	30	20	10	5
RP cost	Free	2,500	5,000	10,000	20,000	40,000	80,000
Sensor cost	Free	+15%	+25%	+35%	+50%	+75%	+100%

Electronic Hardening (VB6)

Hardening	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Chance of Destruction (%)	100	70	50	40	30	25	20	15	10
RP cost	1,000	2,500	5,000	10,000	20,000	40,000	75,000	150,000	300,000

List of Components

Engines and Power Plants: Engine • Fuel Storage • Jump Engine • Power Plants
Beam Weaponry: Beam Fire Control • Lasers • Particle Beams • Mesons • High-Powered Microwave • Plasma Carronade • Railguns • Gauss Cannons
Missile Weaponry: Missile Fire Control • Missile Launchers • Magazines
Defensive Systems: Armor • Shields • CIWS • Sensor Jammer • Fire Control Jammer • Missile Jammer • Decoy Launcher • Cloaking Device
Maintenance and Repairs: Engineering Spaces • Maintenance Storage Bay • Damage Control • Maintenance module
Carriers and Fighters: Hangar deck • Fighter Pod Bay
Sensors: Active Sensor • EM Sensor • Thermal Sensor • Geological Survey Sensors • Gravitational Survey Sensors • ELINT Modules
Command and Control: Bridge • Flag Bridge • Auxiliary Control • Science Department • Main Engineering • Combat Information Centre • Primary Flight Control
Transportation: Cargo Hold • Troop Transport Bay • Cryogenic Transport • Passenger Accommodation
Logistics: Cargo Shuttle Bay • Refuelling System • Ordnance Transfer System • Tractor Beam
Production: Orbital Mining Module • Sorium Harvester • Terraforming Module • Jump Point Stabilisation Module • Salvage Module