Starship Museums: why?

[BillJ]

Here we see the Cerritos and the Merced next to the massive Generation Ship they were tasked with carefully towing to a starbase.

And here we see the Cerritos on her own, towing a massive Orion Destroyer thar was without engine function.

No, neither were shown at warp, but we can assume, given what we know, that they used warp drive to arrive at their locations.

Two examples of 1 or 2 Starships towing something of significant size.

I can already see the reply in my mind, "those aren't that big!"

 

[HotRod]

I can already see the reply in my mind, "those aren't that big!"

Exactly what I expect to hear.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Here we see the Cerritos and the Merced next to the massive Generation Ship they were tasked with carefully towing to a starbase.

And here we see the Cerritos on her own, towing a massive Orion Destroyer thar was without engine function.

No, neither were shown at warp, but we can assume, given what we know, that they used warp drive to arrive at their locations.

Two examples of 1 or 2 Starships towing something of significant size.

This I do not object to, because you took the time and effort to cite.
On the one hand, I can argue that it's exaggerated, because animated.
On the other hand, you can argue - canon to the live-action shows.
Thanks for this! S1, yees?

 

[BillJ]

@Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, you really like those frowny faces!

 

[HotRod]

On the one hand, I can argue that it's exaggerated, because animated.

I fail to see how it being animated has anything to do with the argument. If anything, Lower Decks has probably been better at depicting the scale of Starships than any other series.

On the other hand, you can argue - canon to the live-action shows.

There's no argument. It's canon.

Thanks for this! S1, yees?

Season 1, Episode 4 and Season 4, Episode 10.

 

[Tuskin38]

Lower Decks showing something is just as valid as the live action shows doing something, it's considered canon.

 

[BillJ]

I fail to see how it being animated has anything to do with the argument. If anything, Lower Decks has probably been better at depicting the scale of Starships than any other series.

Technically, starting in roughly 1995, all the effects were CGI animations.

 

[JoseNoodles]

I chalk this up to bad writing. Matalas thinks a starship's only good for 10-20 years. Stupid.

Admiral Morrow in STIII thought the Enterprise needed to be retired "after 20 years", even though the refit completely changed the ship. Even with the damage from ST II, I didn't think the ship couldn't be repaired and serve another 10-20 years at least. In the Anti-Time Future, the Enteprise-D was going to be retired before Riker "saved" it, far short of its supposed 100 year operational time. It's not (just) Matalas, it's many writers who think 20-30 years is long time for an advanced starship to be operating before being decommissioned.

 

[evilchumlee]

Admiral Morrow in STIII thought the Enterprise needed to be retired "after 20 years", even though the refit completely changed the ship. Even with the damage from ST II, I didn't think the ship couldn't be repaired and serve another 10-20 years at least. In the Anti-Time Future, the Enteprise-D was going to be retired before Riker "saved" it, far short of its supposed 100 year operational time. It's not (just) Matalas, it's many writers who think 20-30 years is long time for an advanced starship to be operating before being decommissioned.

In all fairness though, with rapid technology development, a 30 year old ship is practically ancient.

 

[Dukhat]

In all fairness though, with rapid technology development, a 30 year old ship is practically ancient.

So how do you explain all the Excelsiors, Mirandas, Oberths and Constellations still in service during TNG/DS9/VOY?

 

[fireproof78]

Admiral Morrow in STIII thought the Enterprise needed to be retired "after 20 years", even though the refit completely changed the ship. Even with the damage from ST II, I didn't think the ship couldn't be repaired and serve another 10-20 years at least. In the Anti-Time Future, the Enteprise-D was going to be retired before Riker "saved" it, far short of its supposed 100 year operational time. It's not (just) Matalas, it's many writers who think 20-30 years is long time for an advanced starship to be operating before being decommissioned.

How fast can technology adapt and change? I recall starting out grad school ten years ago and thinking, "Eh, maybe I'll get a smart phone." They were expensive, not really worth my time. Now, they are nearly everywhere, the kids I see in the schools all have their own, and there is a rapid push towards updating all the time.

Tech right now advances quickly. Now, add in multiple member worlds, and updates to security and infrastructure. Does it seem unreasonable?

 

[Nerys Myk]

So how do you explain all the Excelsiors, Mirandas, Oberths and Constellations still in service during TNG/DS9/VOY?

They really should have just put a new greeble on the models and called them a new class.

 

[BillJ]

In all fairness though, with rapid technology development, a 30 year old ship is practically ancient.

That is what refits are for. And, at some point, technology will plateau. Especially considering we see very little growth or innovation between the 22nd and 32nd centuries.

 

[The Wormhole]

They really should have just put a new greeble on the models and called them a new class.

TNG did do that with the Miranda class, turning it into the Soyuz class. For that matter, Lower Decks would later do that with the Excelsior, calling it the Obena class.

 

[Dukhat]

TNG did do that with the Miranda class, turning it into the Soyuz class. For that matter, Lower Decks would later do that with the Excelsior, calling it the Obena class.

The Obena wasn’t just an Excelsior with greebles. It’s larger, has an elliptical saucer, and its proportions are different.

 

[The Wormhole]

Oh, I was thinking when we did see an Excelsior on Lower Decks, they just took the Obena and switched the nacelles. Or at least, that's what EAS claims.

Don't start, I already feel bad enough for visiting EAS in recent times.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

How fast can technology adapt and change? I recall starting out grad school ten years ago and thinking, "Eh, maybe I'll get a smart phone." They were expensive, not really worth my time. Now, they are nearly everywhere, the kids I see in the schools all have their own, and there is a rapid push towards updating all the time.

Tech right now advances quickly. Now, add in multiple member worlds, and updates to security and infrastructure. Does it seem unreasonable?

I come at it from this angle: imagine how much time, people, and resources are invested in this massive construct. It's not floating in water. It's in open space. Why retire if it can continue to be upgraded? When it truly becomes outdated, why not pull back for more mundane routine missions? Why mothball if still in working order?

 

[fireproof78]

I come at it from this angle: imagine how much time, people, and resources are invested in this massive construct. It's not floating in water. It's in open space. Why retire if it can continue to be upgraded? When it truly becomes outdated, why not pull back for more mundane routine missions? Why mothball if still in working order?

And that's the difference between us and them. They are not concerned with time or resources. It's a post scarcity culture. PR, image, and the betterment of humanity are more important.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

And that's the difference between us and them. They are not concerned with time or resources. It's a post scarcity culture. PR, image, and the betterment of humanity are more important.

While true, it still requires manpower, people have to design these things, things have to be made to be replicated or designed in a computer to be replicated. Some things can be replicated, somethings may be better quality not replicated. Post-scarcity, but that doesn't mean infinite resources.

 

[fireproof78]

While true, it still requires manpower, people have to design these things, things have to be made to be replicated or designed in a computer to be replicated. Some things can be replicated, somethings may be better quality not replicated. Post-scarcity, but that doesn't mean infinite resources.

That means a different attitude towards material goods. It means that something takes more precedence that "Whelp, still works."