 Small craft are space vessels smaller than a full-sized starship and include such craft as shuttlecraft, shuttlepods, runabouts and other vessels; sometimes capable of warp velocities but often only impulse capable. Such vessels range from the primitive (eg the Space Shuttle orbiter of late 20th century Earth's NASA) to the extremely advanced (eg the Aeon class timeship from the 29th century Timefleet). Not all small craft are manned. Some are autonomous drones or probes, but manned small craft may carry up to a dozen persons. Probes and drones are obviously computer- or remotely-controlled, while manned craft are usually but not always piloted. Piloted small craft are often controlled by one or two crew with the remaining personnel being mission crew or passengers. Small passenger craft on the larger end of the spectrum may even carry up to a few dozen persons, often on short duration trips.
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