New thread on Serenity's engines

POSTED BY: RaptorX
UPDATED: Monday, February 16, 2004 00:53
VIEWED: 13458
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SNEAKER98

Thursday, February 12, 2004 4:36 AM

Well, it's 400 years from now... stands to reason there might be something unseen at work ;) But yes... I'm so glad there weren't "tech problems" (other then that dang compression coil ;) ) I honestly can't watch star trek anymore because it's just so bland and tasteless...

"I do the job... and then I get paid. Go run your little world."
-Malcolm Reynolds

GUNRUNNER

Thursday, February 12, 2004 5:18 AM

Just some random thoughts from me….

Well today our space probes use hyperbolic flight paths because they can't carry enough fuel to burn their engines for very long. Serenity on the other hand probably can burn they engines for much much longer so they could do a more direct path between two worlds. I read somewhere that if you could maintain one G of speed you could travel to Mars in a matter of hours.

As for atmospheric flight if they used the power of the ship's space engine (Which must generarate a lot of energy) to drive the two jets they could probably use just them for atmo flight. Since Serenity's jets can tilt they can provide both thrust and lift, so they would only need the pair of engines they have. If you put enough power behind it you can get a brick to fly. (I think that was said of the F-4 Phantom once.)

SNEAKER98

Thursday, February 12, 2004 5:24 AM

Hmm... you know what it probably is? Constant thrust forward pushing the ship faster and faster... then reverse thrust to push the ship back to an "atmospheric capable" speed. We saw the reavers do this in the first episode... I mean, just because we don't see the engine doing things doesnt mean it isnt... that initial "cloud" could just be exhaust from starting the fusion reactio or something like that. then it's constant thrust for quite some time, then reverse thrust to negate the velocity and slow down the ship so it wouldnt incinerate in the atmosphere.

I mean, I doubt fuel is too much of a problem.. 400 years from now it'll be much more efficient.

"I do the job... and then I get paid. Go run your little world."
-Malcolm Reynolds

MOMAW

Thursday, February 12, 2004 5:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
An 'anti-gravity' field would eliminate the resistance that creates the vibration effect you see in Wash's arms when he's doing those neato manuvers.

Not true? Anti-grav would make you not fall out of the sky, but you're still moving through the atmosphere. Something as bulky and awkward as Serenity, lots of turbulence.

I don't think the ship actually has anti-grav, just being nitpicky.

HOTPOINT

Thursday, February 12, 2004 10:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
An 'anti-gravity' field would eliminate the resistance that creates the vibration effect you see in Wash's arms when he's doing those neato manuvers.

Unless the presense of a major Gravity Well (like a moon or planet) has a major effect on the drive so it doesn't work properly in one? Entering a Gravity well definitely has an effect on the ship's "Gravity Engine"

The terraforming in Firefly also seems to include Gravity Manipulation so that a "small moon" produces a one-gee field. This might also account for effects on a hypothetical "Gravity drive" when you're near a terraformed world. The local Gravity manipulation plays havoc with your engines

Anyhow even with Gravity accounted for you'd still have Inertia to contend with whilst making manoevers surely?

Just a few of my random thoughts on the matter.

...................................
Hurrah, hurrah, when things are at their worst
With cries of “Death or Glory” comes the mighty Twenty-First

CALHOUN

Thursday, February 12, 2004 12:32 PM

I think Serenity does have an "anti gravity" field you guys are speaking of, but I think "inertial compensator or damper" is probably a more apt description.

The only way the crew could survive the "crazy ivan" manoeuvre is the presense of some form of inertial nullification.

I see the vibrations and bumps (Wash's hands shaking on the stick, Mal and Inara gettin jolted around etc) as evidence of the strain on the inertial compensator.

If there is no inertial compensator and the crew wasnt turned into a thin red smear on the rear wall every time they went for a hard burn they would certainly be paste during the "crazy ivan"

Anyhoows thats my 20cents worth.

:)

RAPTORX

Thursday, February 12, 2004 2:22 PM

That's alot of response to my post!

I think for the most part everyone is right. They just need a push to get going, then a push in the opposite direction to slow down. The whole "slingshot" idea works too. They could plot a course that would utilize a nearby planet or other spacial body with it's own gravity to give Serenity an even bigger push while saving fuel at the same time.

But if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you.

JASONZZZ

Thursday, February 12, 2004 4:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GunRunner:
Just some random thoughts from me….

Well today our space probes use hyperbolic flight paths because they can't carry enough fuel to burn their engines for very long. Serenity on the other hand probably can burn they engines for much much longer so they could do a more direct path between two worlds. I read somewhere that if you could maintain one G of speed you could travel to Mars in a matter of hours.

At it's further point, mars is 378 million kms. At 1G constant acceleration, you can reach it in 77.15 hrs (Of course you will be blowing by it at little less than 3 million meters per second or about 6 million miles per hour) At it's closest pt 78 million kms, and again at 1G constant acceleration, you can reach it at 35+ hrs (you would attain the speed of around 1.2 million meters per second or 2.7 million miles per hour)

not bad.

Quote:
Originally posted by GunRunner:

As for atmospheric flight if they used the power of the ship's space engine (Which must generarate a lot of energy) to drive the two jets they could probably use just them for atmo flight. Since Serenity's jets can tilt they can provide both thrust and lift, so they would only need the pair of engines they have. If you put enough power behind it you can get a brick to fly. (I think that was said of the F-4 Phantom once.)

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GROUNDED

Thursday, February 12, 2004 7:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hotpoint:

The terraforming in Firefly also seems to include Gravity Manipulation so that a "small moon" produces a one-gee field. This might also account for effects on a hypothetical "Gravity drive" when you're near a terraformed world. The local Gravity manipulation plays havoc with your engines

The gravitational field of a body is defined by its mass - not its volume. Thus a 'small moon' can generate a one-gee field as long as its density is high enough to compensate for its smaller-than-Earth volume.

On the other hand, the floaty things in Trash do pose a bit of a problem...

HOTPOINT

Thursday, February 12, 2004 7:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Grounded:
The gravitational field of a body is defined by its mass - not its volume. Thus a 'small moon' can generate a one-gee field as long as its density is high enough to compensate for its smaller-than-Earth volume.

Yes but if we're sticking by the single solar system theory what's the chances of so many worlds having a one-gee field?

Getting that many planets & moons in stable orbits within the stars "Goldilocks" zone is already a hell of a challenge without serious gravity manipulation I would have thought?

...................................
Hurrah, hurrah, when things are at their worst
With cries of “Death or Glory” comes the mighty Twenty-First

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