So was the viewscreen always a big window(s)...
- Thread starter Jiraiya
- Start date
I guess that depends on what the window is made out of. Just as an example, I used to work on KC-10's in the US Air Force. There is a big window at the back of the plane on the bottom where the guys doing the refueling sit and look out of to do their job.. That window is considerably thicker and stronger than the skin of the aircraft. For instance, back in the late 80's, one of these aircraft caught on fire on the ground, there was someone in that compartment that was trapped back there and died from smoke inhalation. It was discovered that he had attempted to use the crash axe to break through that window and had barely put a scratch in it, it's thought that if he had tried to use it to cut through the skin of the aircraft that he may have survived.
Putting the bridge in a bubble on top of the saucer makes it really susceptible to decompression, and they did that in 1964. We have no way of knowing what the materials its all made of are supposedly capable of, so there's no reason to think that a window will make the situation worse.
I read somewhere that the designers thought that a window at least offered a suggestion of a reason for putting the bridge in such an exposed location.
I read somewhere that the designers thought that a window at least offered a suggestion of a reason for putting the bridge in such an exposed location.
Just because a substance is transparent to visible light doesn't mean it's necessarily weaker than other materials.
It makes more sense than youd think.Remember, its not made of glass, and theres a shield that would protect that window just like any other part of the ship.As Nemesis proves , having a solid panel with a viewscreen doesnt offer any more protection.
I remember seeing some TOS concept art somewhere, where the viewscreen was humongous. In all probability, they decided against it due to the cost it would involve.
Wasn't aware thaere was an atmospheric containment field in the 23rd century. I thought that was advanced 24th Century tech.
J
Yeah...it's not a real window. In STNG at one point, Captain Picard tells Geordie to go and "have a real look" -- which meant the observation lounge. Those apparently are real windows. Maybe transparent aluminum. However, I always think that Geordie was not the best candidate for a "real look," since Geordie sees differently than other humans through his VISOR.
I recall the Observation lounge windows specifically referred to as being made of transparent aluminum.
If I'm thinking of the same episode, that was the very reason Picard wanted to Geordi to have a "real look," because he could see more than the average human.
Conducted a spectral analysis, using his VISOR, in fact.
http://www.chakoteya.net/NextGen/109.htm
Unfortunate about most of the rest of the episode, though.
So why not build the whole darn ship out of it?
or did I just miss that factoid over the last 4+ decades.
I am not so sure of the practicality of such a design, doesn't that make the bridge module really susceptible (sp?) to decompression in battle situations.
J
while the bridge wasnt a window there were other windows on the tos enterprise.
Why would you?
Would you want a whole series just like the scene in TNG's "Where No One Has Gone Before" where Picard steps out of the turbolift into space?
My quibble is with Picard's line. It wasn't a real look, IMO. But on the other hand, I don't know what else he could say...
Wonder Woman would be the captain.
I find it unlikely that Geordi's visor could see something the ship's scanners/sensors could not. Otherwise they should start bolting visors to the hull...
Similar threads
