GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam

The GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam is a unique mobile suit featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer OVA. Developed by the Deep Space Survey and Development Organization (DSSD), the Stargazer Gundam was primarily designed for deep space exploration, intended for missions that extended beyond Mars’s orbit. Standing at 18.94 meters tall and weighing 76.22 metric tons, the Stargazer is equipped with the innovative “Voiture Lumiere” propulsion system. This system uses a ring-shaped structure to capture solar wind or energy beams, which are then converted into thrust, allowing the Gundam to accelerate indefinitely as long as it continues to move. This makes the Stargazer particularly well-suited for long-duration space travel.

Unlike many other Gundams in the Gundam universe, the Stargazer is a non-combat unit, emphasizing exploration rather than warfare. It features a modular cockpit that can be replaced with an advanced AI system capable of learning from pilot data, enabling the Gundam to operate autonomously during extended missions. Additionally, the Stargazer is equipped with a nanomachine repair system, allowing it to perform self-maintenance during long space journeys.

In the OVA, the Stargazer is piloted by Sol Ryuune L’ange, a 16-year-old Coordinator, with Selene McGriff, a 28-year-old DSSD engineer, acting as co-pilot. After a failed assault by Phantom Pain forces, the Gundam is propelled into space, and the pilots enter hibernation. They are later rescued, and Sol continues to operate the Stargazer Gundam, fulfilling its mission. The Stargazer’s design and function make it a remarkable asset for space exploration, representing the ideals of peaceful scientific advancement within the Gundam universe.