posted
The 'main hatch' in between two decks, and only on one side of the ship. How the poop would that look on the inside? I figure that the hatch was put in the middle of the edge of the hull, for simplicity... but, does it actually go to both decks? (unlikely) or is there a ramp going up to the center of the deck? Is there a deck-and-a-half hallway, to some sort of cargo area? Does ramops go up and down to the two deck levels? Does it go right into a suite of turbo lifts?
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Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
I'm asking about THIS PARTICULAR split level house, with the front door on the mezzanine between the main floor and the basement.
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Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
One could speculate that the gangway machinery is rather bulky and requires half a deck's worth of free space above and below. After all, if this is a relic of obsolete traditions anyway, then perhaps it is intended to do what the comparable fixture aboard the NX-01 does: directly interface with other vessels, including alien ones.
It could be that the main gangway in fact is the most versatile docking adapter aboard the ship, and can extend out like an airport boarding tube if needed. It is well positioned for its role, at the outer extremity of the ship (and of other designs as well, like the Miranda class).
It can probably be assumed that the TOS ship and the E-D had comparable fixtures, just better camouflaged. We did see the E-D dock to DS9 using some sort of a saucer rim fixture (although this time, it was starboard - a step away from tradition and towards pragmatism, with a bilaterally symmetric layout?). Perhaps once again, the main gangway was better suited for freedom-kissing alien docking adapters than any of the other docking ports aboard the ship.
Alternately, there is only one deck on the NCC-1701 rim, like the windows and the gangway suggest.
posted
One would have port and starboard docking ports for the best of reasons: redundancy in case of damage. (Nonetheless Timo, thanks for the trivia gem).
Since the 1701 (refit) is just that - a refit (not rebuilt) 1701, one can assume that the deck layouts are similar. Thus two decks in the outer perimeter of the saucer.
The apparent lack of saucer docking ports on the 1701 could be explained by the relatively poor film resolution of TOS - or simply a desire to eliminate an obvious target.
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Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Treknophyle: The apparent lack of saucer docking ports on the 1701 could be explained by the relatively poor film resolution of TOS - or simply a desire to eliminate an obvious target.
I don't think that the organisation that puts the bridge of every single ship it builds on the very top, in a bulging bit, covered in lights, is particularly concerned about eliminating obvious targets.
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I agree w/the consensus that the most likely arrangement is for it to be set in the middle w/a possible "docking clamp" arrangement set up for afixing to other ships that don't have the standard docking port on Star Fleet vessels. However, I figured it was a large staging/greeting area, not unlike I seem to recall seeing in "Mr. Scott's Guide" or perhaps it was a fan-produced work. Anyhow, there was a ramp that led up a central corridor, as well as I seem to recall a small cargo bay not far up the corridor from the docking port area.
Makes the most sense for me.
Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Reverend: For what it's worth, this is how I picture it.
I figure that the upperdeck acts as a viewing balcony of sorts.
Don't' forget that the lower of these two decks is indented rather severely because of the concave underside of the saucer. That being the case, I'd suspect that ultimately the gangway would connnect to the deck above.
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Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Ok, lets try that again. How about three ramps? one going straight on and up, the other two going too the left and down, and to the right and down (as you exit the airlock).
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