Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Years
- Thread starter Seraphim
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Tribble Herder
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Yeah, nice idea. Might actually work.
Now if we can just get these NASA-gutting Luddites out of the way, we might even get it.
Yeah, nice idea. Might actually work.
Now if we can just get these NASA-gutting Luddites out of the way, we might even get it.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Unless it needs to go at Warp speed, what exactly are the advantages of using the Enterprise's hull shape (designed for subspace field dynamics)? The nacelle pylons would be so incredibly fragile using today's material engineering I'd be amazed if the ship didn't bend in half when you engage the 'auxiliary thrusters'. Also they're off the centreline of the ship, so firing them's pretty much going to cause the ship to pinwheel.
Secondly, the rotating ring idea is neat, but it seems to be a huge waste of materials to fill in the remaining space? One rotating ring sets up all kinds of issues - specifically the angular momentum will make the hull counterrotate like a helicopter without a tailrotor unless there's constant thruster action to counteract it (hopelessly inefficient). Better is to have two counter-rotating rings, to cancel out the effects!
Seems like this guy has some fine (if largely unoriginal) ideas on spacecraft design, but sadly he's way to obsessed with making it look like the Enterprise to create a practical design...
Unless it needs to go at Warp speed, what exactly are the advantages of using the Enterprise's hull shape (designed for subspace field dynamics)? The nacelle pylons would be so incredibly fragile using today's material engineering I'd be amazed if the ship didn't bend in half when you engage the 'auxiliary thrusters'. Also they're off the centreline of the ship, so firing them's pretty much going to cause the ship to pinwheel.
Secondly, the rotating ring idea is neat, but it seems to be a huge waste of materials to fill in the remaining space? One rotating ring sets up all kinds of issues - specifically the angular momentum will make the hull counterrotate like a helicopter without a tailrotor unless there's constant thruster action to counteract it (hopelessly inefficient). Better is to have two counter-rotating rings, to cancel out the effects!
Seems like this guy has some fine (if largely unoriginal) ideas on spacecraft design, but sadly he's way to obsessed with making it look like the Enterprise to create a practical design...
Ian Keldon
Fleet Captain
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Space will always be there...right now we need that funding for more important things like housing the homeless, feeding the hungry and healing the sick.
Space will always be there...right now we need that funding for more important things like housing the homeless, feeding the hungry and healing the sick.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Yeah..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O'neil_cylinder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_torus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernal_sphere
^^ Build those first then talk about moving one around..
Yeah..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O'neil_cylinder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_torus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernal_sphere
^^ Build those first then talk about moving one around..
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
We should seriously consider rounding up the homeless and the hungry and having them shipped to the moon.
Tribble Herder
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
We'll never get anywhere so long as we let the Luddites call the tune. All that'll happen is our space capability will whither away to nothing, billions will be flushed down a bunch of social program ratholes, and the oh-so-important social ills STILL won't be solved.
NASA needs to make the argument that going into space will solve all those problems down here on Earth. After all, we're still reaping the rewards from Apollo, imagine how much we'll advance in the attempt to get to Mars.
We'll never get anywhere so long as we let the Luddites call the tune. All that'll happen is our space capability will whither away to nothing, billions will be flushed down a bunch of social program ratholes, and the oh-so-important social ills STILL won't be solved.
NASA needs to make the argument that going into space will solve all those problems down here on Earth. After all, we're still reaping the rewards from Apollo, imagine how much we'll advance in the attempt to get to Mars.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
The sick will always be here, the hungry will always be here, the homeless will always be here, too.
Let's not ever do anything except administer to the needy to the exclusion of all else.
The sick will always be here, the hungry will always be here, the homeless will always be here, too.
Let's not ever do anything except administer to the needy to the exclusion of all else.
Tribble Herder
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
And watch research and development come to a screeching halt for the foreseeable future.
And watch research and development come to a screeching halt for the foreseeable future.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
I don't think the ship will go into a pinwheel when the main engines are fire. It most likely stay in space and will never land. The rotating ring will be built within the saucer hull. It will not extend to ceiling and floor of the saucer hull and the ring will be connected to the center of the saucer hull by spokes, which plumbing, wiring, ladders and turbolift will come through.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
It's so ridiculous. The Enterprise looks as it does because it is supposed to have a deflector dish and antimatter nacelles and phaser banks and turbolifts and antigravity and a shuttlebay and all the rest.
If it's not built with those things, but rather with current-day technology, then there is no point in making it look just like the starship--not if the intent is a functioning space vehicle.
Unless you've got a warp drive, why build the warp nacelles? For looks?
If this was for Vegas for the tourist attraction, okay, build a full-size Enterprise replica. That's super great.
If this fellow wants to get a real spacecraft to explore the solar system, an Enterprise facsimile is not a good choice.
It's so ridiculous. The Enterprise looks as it does because it is supposed to have a deflector dish and antimatter nacelles and phaser banks and turbolifts and antigravity and a shuttlebay and all the rest.
If it's not built with those things, but rather with current-day technology, then there is no point in making it look just like the starship--not if the intent is a functioning space vehicle.
Unless you've got a warp drive, why build the warp nacelles? For looks?
If this was for Vegas for the tourist attraction, okay, build a full-size Enterprise replica. That's super great.
If this fellow wants to get a real spacecraft to explore the solar system, an Enterprise facsimile is not a good choice.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
You need to read up on your basic physics.
You need to read up on your basic physics.
Damn I'm glad they didn't say this to Columbus.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
I think they should build the Omega class starship from Babylon 5 or something like it Or the SS. Enterprise. Instead of building the Constitution class Enterprise. Anyway, there are construction problems in building the the Constitution class Enterprise.
I think they should build the Omega class starship from Babylon 5 or something like it Or the SS. Enterprise. Instead of building the Constitution class Enterprise. Anyway, there are construction problems in building the the Constitution class Enterprise.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
If he can even sell you on the Enterprise (which all admire), how will he sell you on something else? Hmmm? The public has to buy into this $1T project.
If he can even sell you on the Enterprise (which all admire), how will he sell you on something else? Hmmm? The public has to buy into this $1T project.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Yes, yes he was. Now, what was your point?
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Just because Kay Bailey Hutchinson thinks NASA is a glorified pork barrel doesn't make her a luddite.
What luddites? So far nobody's raised any coherent objection to the development of space exploration technology in and of itself. What people (well, actually handful of self-interested politicians) are objecting to is the fact that that technology isn't being developed by their own constituents.
Just because Kay Bailey Hutchinson thinks NASA is a glorified pork barrel doesn't make her a luddite.
That's what I mean. We should setup a program to round up all the poor/hungry/underachievers in our own society, give them a space suit and a cargo container and send em to the moon. They'll either build a new community and a new pocket of wealth up there by pioneering its resources, or they'll starve to death. Either way, problem solved.
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
The Omega, in turn, was based on the Cosmonaut Alexi Leonov from 2010. Not exactly a starship, but as science fiction goes it's one of the more realistic depictions of what a fictional spacecraft could look like (given the written-about but never seen external propellant tanks).
Tribble Herder
Lieutenant Commander
Re: Engineer Thinks We Could Build a Real Starship Enterprise in 20 Ye
Since Hutchinson represents Texas, home to the Johnson Space Center, she should be ashamed of herself if she doesn't see the value of a vibrant space program. Fortunately, she's not running for reelection.
Since Hutchinson represents Texas, home to the Johnson Space Center, she should be ashamed of herself if she doesn't see the value of a vibrant space program. Fortunately, she's not running for reelection.
