Ramifications of phase-cloaking technology.

[Lazarus]

Looking back at the phase-cloaking technology introduced in 'The Pegasus' and never seen again, I wonder if Starfleet was a little too quick to stop research into this type of technology.

Yes, the cloaking aspect of the research was illegal and obviously shouldn't have been created by Starfleet. But what of the 'phase' aspect?

The abilities of such technology are phenomenal - a starship that becomes absolutely invulnerable when the phasing system is activated. A starship that can move through solid objects, asteroids, planets, presumably unaffected by gravity since it has no 'real-world' mass.

Defensively, a ship running with such a system in operation would be untouchable with conventional weapons - disruptor or phaser beams would pass right through, as would torpedoes or missiles.

Could, or should Starfleet have continued with their research in order to roll out phasing technology to their ships?

 

[Finn]

Phasing out would make one invisible, which is pretty much cloaking...

 

[JoeFromEarth]

Lazarus[/URL]]The abilities of such technology are phenomenal - a starship that becomes absolutely invulnerable when the phasing system is activated. A starship that can move through solid objects, asteroids, planets, presumably unaffected by gravity since it has no 'real-world' mass.

If this were true, then a phased ship (probably) couldn't go to warp. Also, you could just have your missiles phase as/after you shoot them, since obviously phased matter can interact with other phased matter.

 

[STR]

The abilities of such technology are phenomenal - a starship that becomes absolutely invulnerable when the phasing system is activated. A starship that can move through solid objects, asteroids, planets, presumably unaffected by gravity since it has no 'real-world' mass.

Defensively, a ship running with such a system in operation would be untouchable with conventional weapons - disruptor or phaser beams would pass right through, as would torpedoes or missiles.

Until someone develops a counter. Something tells me it would be easier to phase a torpedo for a few minutes than a starship for days at a time. So yeah, you've got an invulnerable ship...for about a month. What's that going to buy starfleet?

Great idea, fun possibilities, but as a weapons system I think there's better routes.