This is topic What makes a torpedo fire? in forum Starships & Technology at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.


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Posted by Rogue Starship (Member # 756) on :
 
I was thinkin last night about what the mechanism for making a torpedo go at warp speed. Or in "Enterprise" what makes it go fast?
Magnets?
A burst of Matter/antimatter?

Suggestions?

RS
 
Posted by Rogue Starship (Member # 756) on :
 
Crap...I am very special...would you like to shake my hand???

Would some one pls like to delete the first post and not this one....thank you.

*slaps himself hard with a skillet iron*
*ouch*

RS
 
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
 
In the later series, the initial launch is probably magnetic. After that, any warp flight would most likely require a M/AM reaction and onboard systems to generate a warp field. The Tech Manual probably has details on this.
 
Posted by Grokca (Member # 722) on :
 
First you stack a bunch of torpedos, make sure you give enough space for them to breathe, preferably in a cross pattern or teepee, then you pour large quantities of gasoline on them. Stand back strike a match and throw it on the stack.
Presto, a torpedo fire.
 
Posted by NeghVar (Member # 62) on :
 
AFAIK...from the TNG Tech Manual...

They use some sort of magnetic linear accelerator to propel them out of the launching tube. And in order to have a torp go warp speed, it must be fired while the ship is at warp speed.

Later!
Art
 
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
 
Here's a better question, what makes them glow red? or white or green or whatever...?
 
Posted by Antagonist (Member # 484) on :
 
I believe that the tech manual states it is actually the torpedoe's own guidance thrusters firing, but don't quote me on that.
 
Posted by Ryan McReynolds (Member # 28) on :
 
According to my one direct e-mail with Mike Okuda, circa 1994 (yes, I was a mere lad of 14 then), the torpedo glow is from the warp sustainer engine; i.e., the same glow that one sees on nacelles.
 
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
 
I thought torpedoe was expelled from the tube with compressed gas, not magnets.
 
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
 
That sounds unreasonably inefficient. Wasting all that gas every time you want to fire a torpedo? And having to repressurize before you can fire again? We have the ability now to fire things really quickly w/ magnetic propulsion (a/k/a railguns). I doubt that technology would be lost in the future.
 
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
 
Yes, but one of the reason why photon torpedoes are torpedoes instead of missiles could be because it uses compressed gas to launch them. Also, the magnetic fields used in a rail gun could disrupt the electronics of the torpedoe, maybe even interfere with the antimatter containment fields.
 
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
 
I think it's generally held that guided projectile weapons in the Trek universe are called "torpedoes" rather "missiles" solely due to Starfleet sticking to naval rather than air force terminology. The launch mechanism is essentially irrelevant in their naming in real life, too... IIRC there are assorted prototype torpedoes that are rocket-powered and therefore essentially misiles turned 90 degrees.

(Aside: I know Bernd's grumbled that somehow the NX-01 weapons should be called missiles as proof of their more primitive nature, an argument that's gone right over my head, I'm afraid)
 


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