Building The Gen1 USS Enterprise, Really

[BTE-Dan]

And now for some fun thinking outside the box about what we could do in space when ignoring the issues of politics and funding ...

The BuildTheEnterprise (BTE) website describes how to build the first USS Enterprise spaceship, based on technologies within our reach, over the next twenty years.

It has 1g gravity, shielding for missions away from earth, can hold a 1000 people, and can enable the building of large underground bases on Mars and the moon also with 1g gravity. So what are we waiting for?

www.buildtheenterprise.org

Cheers,
BTE-Dan

 

[sojourner]

Looks like you're also ignoring physics.

 

[Knight Templar]

The website is interesting as a thought experiment. What your planning though really is not "building the Enterprise".

It is building a giant, sublight interplanetary spaceship to travel around the Sol system that resembles superficially the famous Star Trek starship.

 

[sojourner]

And it wouldn't be able to move in a straight line.

 

[Elder Knight]

Arthur C. Clarke pointed out that we used to think that our spaceships would be sleek needles, but the actual things are more like milk bottles.

Too bad.

 

[sojourner]

Well, comparing fictional ships that can span interstellar distances to the little life boats we have that barely make it off the planet isn't really apt is it?

 

[Knight Templar]

Well, comparing fictional ships that can span interstellar distances to the little life boats we have that barely make it off the planet isn't really apt is it?

Well, there has been some serious thought by actual scientists that from one perspective, a long slender starship might make sense.

That being to minimize frontal aspect so as to minimize the impact area for particles of matter. Some scientists have even suggested the Star Wars Star Destroyer shape as making the most sense.

 

[sojourner]

^And that would be a more apt comparison.

 

[Oblivion165]

They should really focus on a space tether to transport all of those materials versus the chemical launch system they have in place.

Much less $$

 

[BTE-Dan]

And it wouldn't be able to move in a straight line.

There needs to be a counter wheel to cancel the momentum of the gravity wheel. Or one of the engines must have more thrust than the others. I should probably add something on the site about this. Someone else brought up the same point.

 

[sojourner]

^Or a more sane idea would be to put the wheel on the center of mass perpendicular to the direction of motion. And while you're at it balance the engines around the center of mass as well.

 

[anh165]

Sounds good, but where are the photon torpedoes?

 

[Ghost Bones]

I like this. I like the ambition and the thought that's gone into it. And that it's shaped like that ship off the Star Track show.