Tractor Beams on Enterprise-D

[Enabran]

I think it is possible. First of all the size of the main shuttle bay is pretty huge, plus couldn't Data in all his button pressing, first have added a bunch of extra air, or some other gas to the shuttle bay to create a stronger decompression effect?

 

[Timo]

I guess the big issue is us not knowing what systems remain available when "main systems" are down. One would expect propulsion, weapons and shields to be lost (for the dramatic effect if not for any justifiable treknobabble reason). But one would also think tractor beams would be gone, yet they still work, at least to some degree. Gravity works; bay doors work. Would pumps or replicators? Why not some sort of gyroscopes, for spinning the ship even if she cannot move away from that spot? Why don't steering rockets work when they intuitively appear a simpler and more robust technology than tractor beams? Etc.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[publiusr]

Are we sure that the tractor beam's... nozzle isn't designed to move on the hull, like a wagon on rails, and that we could be talking of the same beam only in a different position? I mean that would make more sense to have one source that moves from place to place than to have several, especially if you are going to use only one at a time, would it not?

I doubt it since I assume it would require a substantial power source connected to it. Also there was no apparent way for something that big to move around on the hull.

How big is it?

It may not even have to have a nozzle.

I'm reading about the smart skin wich may be on a Gen 6 fighter
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/us-f-a-xx-and-f-x-6th-gen-aircraft-news-thread.t7126/

I'm wondering if the whole surface of something might wind up being like the phaser track-rings on the Ent D.

Everything is the emitter.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

It would make it multidirectional and very fast.