The members of a ship's crew are called spacers. They have various occupational specialities and pay grade based on performance and seniority.

Common Training

All spacers receive common training in procedures, communication, damage control and safety equipment use, including the use of Emergency Spacesuits and working in conditions of weightlessness. Many spacers will be additionally qualified for EVA, meaning that they have had training in actually working routinely in unpressurised environments and using an Activity Spacesuit with a Personal Thruster Unit, rather than just being able to don an ES and conduct basic evacuation1 and damage control procedures while wearing it. Spacers often cross-train in specialities beside their primary one, as doing so is rewarded with credit toward advancement.

Speciality Training

Spacers aboard the Zheng He are divided into four broad categories. (Warships have two more such ratings, but they aren't represented on the unarmed survey ships.)

  1. Not usually off the ship, but rather to some still-pressurized compartment (1)