Spacedock

Post by **Mikey** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:32 pm

It's best not to ask. Some things, man was not meant to know.

Bryan Moore · Post by **Bryan Moore** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:33 pm

Let's get really techno-dork for a second. How much atmosphere are we talking about being able to pressurize? It would seem like the amount of air it would take to fill that whole big spacedock (nevermind the super-spacedocks we see that can fit the Galaxy) would be an astronomical consumption of energy as well as damned inefficient (it all bleeds out into space every time the door opens?)

The options could be:
Pressurize it all and refill when ships come and go.
Place a forcefield between the ships/spacedock that could keep the other pressure in.
Pressurize within forcefields only where needed.

But how much air are we talking about? Anyone with math wanna make a guess at this Fermi problem?

Blackstar the Chakat · Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:43 pm

Bryan Moore wrote:Let's get really techno-dork for a second. How much atmosphere are we talking about being able to pressurize? It would seem like the amount of air it would take to fill that whole big spacedock (nevermind the super-spacedocks we see that can fit the Galaxy) would be an astronomical consumption of energy as well as damned inefficient (it all bleeds out into space every time the door opens?)

The options could be:
Pressurize it all and refill when ships come and go.
Place a forcefield between the ships/spacedock that could keep the other pressure in.
Pressurize within forcefields only where needed.

But how much air are we talking about? Anyone with math wanna make a guess at this Fermi problem?

well, we say in Voyager that the forcefields can easily open just enough to form-fit the launching craft. It's quite reasonable to assume the Spacedock would have one of these. Although we can assume that it wasn't part of the original design seeing as it wasn't in use in STIII. It would be a logical addition.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:57 pm

The biggest problem I can see with the theory isn't containing the atmosphere - they could do that with a brig or shuttlebay-style forcefield over the main doors, but the effect of the atmosphere itself. I don't want to think of the sort of pressure wave a Connie at 1/4 impulse would cause.

Blackstar the Chakat · Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:11 pm

Captain Seafort wrote:The biggest problem I can see with the theory isn't containing the atmosphere - they could do that with a brig or shuttlebay-style forcefield over the main doors, but the effect of the atmosphere itself. I don't want to think of the sort of pressure wave a Connie at 1/4 impulse would cause.

I'd think they have a speed limit in Spacedock. thrusters only I believe is the rule.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:14 pm

ChakatBlackstar wrote:I'd think they have a speed limit in Spacedock. thrusters only I believe is the rule.

A speed limit Jim Kirk at least has a habit of ignoring - see ST6 for example. There was also the case in ST3 in which both the E-nil and the Excelsior went to 1/4 impulse. With Kirk it's understandable - he's never been a stickler for the rules and he was tealing a starship. Styles on the othr hand, does seem to be a stickler for the rules.

Post by **Mikey** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:39 pm

Well, they'd probably have to have both a limit AND a precaution for all personnel, craft, and movable structures to be clear before ANY ship movement is allowed.

Post by **Teaos** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:00 am

(it all bleeds out into space every time the door opens?)

I would imagin a forcefield pops up to stop that. Like the one that poped up to stop the hull breach in Generations when Kirk got sucked away.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:05 am

Teaos wrote: I would imagin a forcefield pops up to stop that. Like the one that poped up to stop the hull breach in Generations when Kirk got sucked away.

We never saw that in TOS until then though. The Big E's shuttle bay had to depressurise and they had emergency bulkheads.

You'd think the stream of crap out of the impulse engine would be dangerous in dock though.

Post by **Mikey** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:16 am

What exactly is impulse exhaust? If it's plasma, which most things seem to be in 'Trek (

,) then it should be a fairly simple matter for 'Trek tech to de-ionize it/filter it.

Tholian_Avenger · Post by **Tholian_Avenger** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:45 pm

What is the largest thing moved by Starfleet warp engines?

What is the largest thing moved by Starfleet tractor beams?

Can something be tractored while at warp?

Post by **Teaos** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:35 am

To my knowledge the largest thing moved my warp is the GCS. The biggest thing tractored is probably a commet. I doubt you could do it while at warp.

Post by **Tsukiyumi** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:50 am

In the episode with the "Picard manuver", Riker used a tractor beam to catch the Stargazer as it came out of warp, but I don't remember any instance of tractor use at warp speed. I may be forgetting something, though.

Captain Picard's Hair · Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:02 am

We have heard of disabled starships being towed to a starbase; this would have to be done at warp if you intend to arrive within the decade.

Post by **Tsukiyumi** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:13 am

Captain Picard's Hair wrote:We have heard of disabled starships being towed to a starbase; this would have to be done at warp if you intend to arrive within the decade.

Good thinking, CPH. Even if we haven't seen it on-screen, all reasonable logic says they must have warp-towing capability.