Range Questions

[glock27]

Hypothetically, about how far could a standard starship outfitted with a M/ARA warp core travel, in light years, without requiring refuel or repair?

Given a "full tank of gas", as it were, how far could a starship get before running out. I'm assuming we'd have to factor in the amount of matter and antimatter being stored, as well as the typical life cycle of components like the dilithium matrix and such. But, I'm an admitted noob, and I know there is a lot more I am forgetting to take into consideration.

 

[sojourner]

Pretty much as far as the writer wants it to.

 

[blssdwlf]

Pretty much as far as the writer wants it to.

^Yep.

In TOS, a modified Enterprise was going to undertake a 300 year journey to the Andromeda galaxy.

In TNG, a lost Enterprise-D was about to head home from another galaxy and take many years to do it as well.

 

[The Inquisitor]

Depends on weather the bussard collectors are working and how much hydrogen is kicking about in the local vicinity. If there's enough material for them to collect and convert into fuel I should imagine this would extend any range by quite some distance.

Im not certain how efficient they are or exactly how much fuel they can acquire in any given amount of time.

 

[SWHouston]

I think it could be indefinite.

Given the availability of parts, a spare Rock in the
Closet, information, time and personnel, one could
keep on going.

Ref:
In ENT, the alternate Enterprise was generational.

 

[matthunter]

According to the TNG Tech Manual, the E-D was capable of independent operation for a maximum of 3 years, although typical operations would not have had the ship running at warp speed the entire time.