posted
According to Sternbach, who after all designed the thing, Voyager's warp core does away with the idea of a central reaction chamber. Instead, the whole core is a reaction chamber, with a thin layer of dilithium seperating it into two or more parts.
------------------ "Just because you're floating doesn't mean you haven't drowned." -- They Might Be Giants
posted
As devoted as I am to the Intrepid-Class, here's some food for thought:
At the time the Intrepid was introduced, she was considered to be the fastest, the most maneuverable, and certainly the most advanced Federation starship we have seen. Design-wise, she was the first vessel to break away from the traditional "saucer/neck/body" configuration of past starships. Then as the next "Next Generation" movie was in the works, a newer, more powerful starship was needed. The Sovereign was born, sporting elongated nacelles and considered to be top of the line. And then came along the Prometheus, again faster, again more capable then the ones we've already been introduced.
My point is that any new ship (of great importance) will always top that of the one we've seen before. Just because the Sovereign and the Prometheus have longer nacelles and can go faster than the Intrepid doesn't necessarily mean that longer is better. All it does is to prove that prominent new starships (regardless of nacelle length) are a little faster and a little more advanced.
posted
Perhaps they discovered that building long nacelles (i.e. Sovereign) is easier than and just as effective as whatever they had to do to cram the Intrepid warp engines into those tiny nacelles.
------------------ "Maybe they're trying to breed them..." -guy in my math class, suggesting a reason for there being two overhead projectors in the classroom
posted
Maybe they used the same efficient Intrepid nacelle coils, but just increased the number, maybe at the time of the intrepid - there was something stopping them using more than the number given in the intrepid with out loosing efficiency.
------------------ "All is full of love, all around you" - Bj�rk
posted
It's possible that Voy's special/different warp core works best with those small nacelles. The variable geometry wings/pylons might also have something to do with it.
Hmmm, the Intrepid-class has three warp engine related aspects that no other starship has -
no M/ARC warp core, variable geometry nacelle pylons, and rather relatively short nacelles.
Hopefully the VOY Tech Manual will clear this issue up.
------------------ "Forgive me if I don't share your euphoria!" (Weyoun to Dukat, DS9 'Tears of the Prophets') Dax's Ships of STAR TREK
[This message has been edited by Dax (edited September 06, 1999).]
posted
I think that the nacelles are so short to increase maneuverability. It might be difficult to maneuver through the bandland's plasma storms with huge sovereign type nacelles sticking out the back. Imagine trying to carry a 10 foot long 2x4 around in your house.
------------------ A-"Dippidy Doo." Q-"What forms on your dippity early in the morning?"--Johnny Carson
posted
In response to the same set as used in the ST TMP, are you sure they used the same set? I know that E-D used the enterprise A halls and then Voyager reused these halls, and the ten forward as the mess hall etc. The warpcore is a reuse. Am I correct with all of this?
IP: Logged
posted
Hmm... I always thought that the warp core from the Enterprise refit was modified to become the warp core for the Enterprise-A and then to become the core for the Enterprise-D. I guess the studio made another warp core after ST: TMP.
------------------ "It's not right, but it's okay. I'm gonna make it anyway. Pack your bags, up and leave. Don't you dare come running back to me.
It's not right, but it's okay. I'm gonna make it anyway. Close the door behind, leave your key. I'd rather be alone than unhappy."
posted
Technically, when artist John Eaves whom designed the Enterprise-E was working on it, he said he wanted to give it the longer nacelles. Here's what he says in the Star Trek TNG: Sketch Book...
"So I gave the saucer an oval shape, and designed it so that it was longer than it was wide. I really liked the older, longer nacelles, and returned to that, in order to give the ship balance."
Okay, so this doesn't count inside the Star Trek universe, I just wanted to point that out. As to the reason in the show..I have no idea.
------------------ "Let's make sure that history never forgets the name...Enterprise." Federation Starship Datalink
posted
The Ent-A core (seen in ST:VI) was a reuse of the Ent-D core. I think the D core was built from scratch. The Refit core (ST:TMP) might have been kept in storage until VOY.
It is strange that the Refit Ent and the Ent-A had completely different cores, even though they are the same class.
Oh, I'm glad John Eaves knows what looks good. He's definately one of my favourite Trek illustrators (Probert was excellent, too).
------------------ "Forgive me if I don't share your euphoria!" (Weyoun to Dukat, DS9 'Tears of the Prophets') Dax's Ships of STAR TREK
posted
Different cores doesn't seem like a problem. If they can swap out bridges with ease, swapping in an old core for a newer and better core shouldn't be that tough
posted
In the words of the Evil One: Style, baby, style!
They just give them differing nacelle lengths to drive you obsessives cracked. I can picture Sternbach and Okuda, sitting back with some empty boxes of fags at their feet, wondering what they can do to make your lives more miserable.
"I know, let's introduce the USS Now Orleans...but it's a RUNABOUT!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Seriously, it's all a matter of what Berman and co. like, at the time. From "a fried chicken in a pan" to "just give it something that moves", it's their momentary taste that defines what our starships look like.
------------------ The unexplained phenomenon that crippled the U.S.S. Unimpeachable -- Gaseous Anomaly... What anomalises gaseously.
posted
The359: I honestly can't see how a Ent-D type core could work in the Ent-A (assuming the engineering hull internal structure is the same as the Refit Ent). A lot of internals would have to be rearranged. This is very technical to properly explain but I know what I'm on about.
------------------ "Forgive me if I don't share your euphoria!" (Weyoun to Dukat, DS9 'Tears of the Prophets') Dax's Ships of STAR TREK
posted
Well, swapping the E-A core with the E-D core would be pretty dumb, but the point is, cores can easily be replaced. I mean, if ships dump their cores, and they blow up, you should be able to just slip one in, and why not make it a slightly more modern one? So it might require some modification to the connection hardpoints and wires and everything. It's just like a computer program. Easily swap it out for an upgrade
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