From: 0juan_e@spcvxb.spc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.tech
Subject: Re: Warp coils and hull design
Date: 29 Jul 92 04:31:32 GMT
Organization: St. Peter's College, US

In article <1992Jul24.203625.19166@ncsu.edu>, jhpace1@eos.ncsu.edu (High-Tech Crazie) writes:
> 
> According to the ST:TNG Tech. Manual, the warp nacelles on ST:TNG are a combin-
> ation Bussard hydrogen collectors and warp field coils.  If the field coils
> do not decide what the shape of the starship's hull is supposed to be, why 
> hasn't anyone in the Federation come out with a cylinder ship with alternating
> warp coils/other stuff in the hull?
>                                                            )  
>                   )               foward Warp Field------   )
>    ------------)-----------------------------------          )
>    |    #   )      #          #          #        /           )
>    |    #    )     #          # (Bridge) #       |    <--- sensor dish
>    |    #   )      #          #          #        \          )
>    ------------------------------------------------         )
>         ^              ^^                                 )
>         |              ||                                )
>      warp coils    normal hull                          )
>                (weapon blisters, observation points,    the size of the
>                 shuttlecraft and docking doors, etc)    transport ships
>                                                         in "Dune"  !  :)
> 
> With this design, you could "piece" together a ship, replace entire sections
> and coils at a time, and alternately use different coils to travel longer at
> warp speeds when necessary.  Every 3 coil-areas could have its' own engineering
> section, etc.
> 
> Any ideas on this?
> 

Yup,

    According to every ST Tech book (including the STNG Teech Manual),
the reason why the warp nacelles are placed away from the hull is because
the the warp fields are designed to displace and "warp" normal "space" away
from the ship using form of quantum energy.  This effects of this energy
is harmless to living tissue provided that it is not directed at it;  If you
have the misfortune of being in the same area with such energies at play, then
one would experience the danger of being in mid-transit on a transporter, 
ready to materialize, then along comes a huge power surge to ruin your day.  
To shield against this type of danger, with the warp coils inside
the hull, would require shielding of such magnitude, that the ship would 
probably be hard-press to maintain and envelope of warp 5.7 (according to 
your drawing), to protect the crew from the field energy and effect.

Also your design (not to be critical), would subject the sensors to dealing
with not only overcoming the usual EM interference but the foward projecting
warp field from behind.

                                   Thanks,
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E     Capt. Ned of St. Peter's College                                        E
D	                                                                      D
N        -I would risk feeling bad, if I could enjoy my desert.               N
E                                                                             E
D          =Lt.Cmmdr. Data, STNG episode: HERO WORSHIP                        D
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