RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship designs in Sci Fi

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 7:31:27 AM

ARIES83

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Perhaps not the best spaceship, but definitely one of the best sci-fi series!

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 10:34:33 AM

JeffBC

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Sadly, the reality of the situation would seem to point to spherical as the most sensible design. If the drive system needs separation from the life support zone then you'd expect two sphericals separated by a tube of some sort. What you absolutely wouldn't expect is oddball shapes that look like water or atmospheric craft. That's my rational analysis.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 11:25:02 AM

ARIES83

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Have you considered the stealth fighter type of scenario? The original stealth fighter barely flew yet there were other considerations which dictated design.

One major factor I see working against the advent of giant anal beads in space, is cost.
A sphere would probably be one of the most challenging things to engineer/ build.

A sphere would also probably be one of the most difficult shapes to deal with from a docking/ hard point, point of view.

A sphere is an efficient structural shape though, not a popular choice when you start factoring in other considerations.

Cylindrical, is another story.

Re-reading that... I guess that makes my vote for, "giant space dildos".

< Message edited by ARIES83 -- 3/23/2014 11:47:09 AM >

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 11:29:23 AM

JKat

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I have to add my vote as "Round". It's the most sensible and efficient, and no problem to build with large-scale 3d printing/replication/etc.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 12:32:26 PM

MasterCaneman

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quote:

ORIGINAL: littlewonder

It might be bigger on the inside but at least the rooms are well thought out.

This came to me last night after I saw this, and like every other SF design, it has one glaring flaw....

WHERE ARE THE FRIGGIN' BATHROOMS?

Seriously, every ship design and layout I've seen omits this one crucial facility. Or do people in the future not have to go?

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 12:34:14 PM

JeffBC

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ARIES83
One major factor I see working against the advent of giant anal beads in space, is cost.

Re-reading that... I guess that makes my vote for, "giant space dildos".

Reasonably speaking, I think this is where I shake my head and roll my eyes at you kinksters.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 12:38:22 PM

MasterCaneman

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quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffBC

quote:

ORIGINAL: ARIES83
One major factor I see working against the advent of giant anal beads in space, is cost.

Re-reading that... I guess that makes my vote for, "giant space dildos".

Reasonably speaking, I think this is where I shake my head and roll my eyes at you kinksters.

Well, the rocket formula does specify a 14:1 ratio cylinder with a conical head as the ideal shape, which closely tallies with the general layout there...

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 12:54:01 PM

ARIES83

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman

quote:

ORIGINAL: littlewonder

It might be bigger on the inside but at least the rooms are well thought out.

This came to me last night after I saw this, and like every other SF design, it has one glaring flaw....

WHERE ARE THE FRIGGIN' BATHROOMS?

Seriously, every ship design and layout I've seen omits this one crucial facility. Or do people in the future not have to go?

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 2:50:18 PM

ShaharThorne

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The closet is to the left of the kitchen...

Damn, Doctor Nine needs to lead Rose to the closet...the TARDIS is THAT BIG!

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 3:24:36 PM

FrostedFlake

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The chameleon circuit seems to be working in this episode.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 3:38:49 PM

ShaharThorne

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Frosty, I am laughing so hard, the Velcro on my back brace is trying to unhook.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 6:57:15 PM

littlewonder

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What about the ISV from Avatar?

It has two anti-matter engines and while the ship itself is too delicate to land, it send out smaller ships called Valkyries, to land on Pandora.

http://james-camerons-avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Interstellar_Vehicle_Venture_Star

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 8:26:56 PM

Marc2b

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quote:

Perhaps not the best spaceship, but definitely one of the best sci-fi series!

Land of the Giants?

While I'd love to take a ride on any sci-fi ship, here's the one I'd most like to to take a trip on:

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 9:08:12 PM

ARIES83

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Yer, land of the giants.

I liked that ship from avatar to LW.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 9:14:15 PM

MasterCaneman

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc2b

quote:

Perhaps not the best spaceship, but definitely one of the best sci-fi series!

Land of the Giants?

While I'd love to take a ride on any sci-fi ship, here's the one I'd most like to to take a trip on:

"Aw man, I park better when I'm a little buzzed..."

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 10:08:00 PM

JeffBC

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc2b
While I'd love to take a ride on any sci-fi ship, here's the one I'd most like to to take a trip on:

Another vote for spherical... and incredibly wasted.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 10:12:36 PM

littlewonder

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A chart of every spaceship from every major sci-fi series

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 10:25:41 PM

MalcolmNathaniel

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I need to get access to a plotter so I can print that out and hang it on my wall.

Yes, I am that much of a geek.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 10:57:01 PM

FrostedFlake

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Mass fraction refers to the portion of a spacecraft NOT filled with engines and fuel. A significant mass fraction is a useful one, sufficient for controls and accommodations. The only interstellar craft with a significant mass fraction use a matter conversion drive. I don't know how it works, but let's suppose it does, draw a black box around it, label it "Magic", and fret no more.

Setting the controls to one gee and excitedly twiddling our thumbs for 347 days should, by straight-line back of the envelope calculation, bring us to C. But, Einstein says you can't do that. Because as you add speed, you also add mass. So you need more power to accelerate at the same rate. But, says I, it's a matter conversion drive. The fuel gets massiver too! Just as much massiver as the rest of the ship. The same percent is turned into power, so power out increases apace mass accumulation, without fiddling with the controls. So however heavy the ship gets, there is just enough power to push it ten meters per second faster, every second. So, without intervention, notice or drama, the ship should crash right through the light barrier leaving fragments of Universe scattered in the wake.

At that point, the ship, which might be the size of a Volkswagen bus, would have more mass than the rest of the Universe, added to the two Universes immediately contiguous. And the engines would be exactly that powerful.

Or so says the math.

I suspect there might be something wrong with it.

This got me a 'A' in basic physics.

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RE: A rational discussion on the merits of various ship... - 3/23/2014 11:40:29 PM

MalcolmNathaniel

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It's a wee bit more complicated.

Relativistic speeds work on an exponential scale. Relative to the spaceship the mass of the fuel is still the same.

I took "relativistic and quantum mechanics" in college and I still have trouble wrapping my head around some of the concepts, and I was the only student in the class that realized that quantum mechanics is mostly just a really good hack; it's a truth but it isn't a Truth.

You are right though that it would start connecting universes (maybe - it's one theory.) If you hit the speed of light you become a black hole. Then all of our mathematical models go right out the window. Under the effects of a black hole our math is useless - even the laws of physics don't apply. Actually (does a little math in head) if you even get close to the speed of light you become a black hole.

Interesting points:

1) Black holes do project light; virtual particles created exactly at the event horizon have one half drawn to the hole and the other expelled. This is not the venue to discuss what virtual particles are. It requires a lot of math, diagrams and bizarre thinking. You should just trust me and Stephen Hawking on this.

2) Falling into a black hole you would experience a process called, and I am not making this up, spaghettification. See? I wasn't kidding.

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