Aboard the Daedalus, compartment A5 is the Cargo Transfer Lock – the intersection between the cargo bay and the pressurized top deck of the ship. It also provides direct access to the reactor and contains access points for the air and water purification systems. As the cargo elevator seal is imperfect, West elects to keep the compartment depressurized, which makes compartment A4 the ship’s primary airlock.

Development Notes: The Cargo Transfer Lock was the first interior compartment of the Daedalus to be modeled, and is the only environment to have used a radiosity solution for rendering. In 2014 it was upgraded for use with current rendering techniques for its appearance in Air, where it is barely visible through hatch glass.