when did serenity get weapons???
POSTED BY: wytchcroft
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 17:55
VIEWED: 13084
PAGE 3 of 6
Quote:
Originally posted by nbz:
On the other hand the "turbine" engines that Serenity has would not work too well, if they are based of any current design.
For a show where science made the producers head hurt, it got a lot right.
and the "fuel" would probably have to be of an interesting mix too.
Not exactly on topic, but as for engine design:
"Performance and Powerplants:
Primarily powered by 2 wing mounted Smith & Davis SD-2595 (95,000 lb) turbofan and solar induction engines, she can achieve a maximum airspeed of mach 2 (1484 mph) at 1000 Meters EBSL (Earth Based Sea Level,) and mach 30 (22270 mph) at 100,000 Meters (62 miles) EBSL. During the transitional phase from atmospheric to orbital flight the fan blades rotate to collect photons emitted by a solar source to feed the engines keeping the relative thrust ratio comparable to it's atmospheric rating.
The “Firefly” engine, a Smith & Davis SD-4631 photon reaction drive, was developed on the same principles that drive fusion in a star, (4 1H + 2 e --> 4He + 2 neutrinos + 6 photons.) The reaction produces enough thrust to propel the ship to 643,738 kph (400,000 mph) taking it approximately 16 days to travel 1 AU. (The Astronomical Unit is the distance from the Earth to the Sun, 149,597,871 kilometers.) Although very reliable, this reaction produces large volumes of plasma as hot as the surface of a star. Thermal panels on the outside of the engine dissipate the plasma and heat that builds up during the process typically glowing in a yellowish hue as they cool down."
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Quote:
Not exactly on topic, but as for engine design:
I am never on topic, so no worries. If anyone asks, blame me.
I think that only answers the reverse.
turbines when leaving atmo, and then switches to solar induction.
On entering atmo, no idea how the turbines would work. (but I notice they are called "turbofans" not turbines... may be a clue)
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I'm pretty sure the reason Vera needed air (not O2 necessarily) to fire was because with nothing to press against, the auto-loading mechanism would jam up, as all the gas from the explosion would be able to pass out the barrel without difficulty.
A non-automatic weapon, like a revolver, wouldn't have this problem.
There's two kinds of people in this world: those with loaded guns, and those who dig.
Now DIG.
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Regarding firing a weapon in space: Joss comments in the OMR commentary track that they made a mistake. They received the advice that Vera would require oxygen and as such filmed it like that. Once production finished on the episode they found out otherwise at which point it was too late to re-film.
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And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer
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Quote:
Originally posted by nvghostrider:
Oh, my lord. There you are.
Propellent (such as gunpowder) requires oxygen as an accellerant to fully force the projectile from the casing throught the barrel of a fire arm. Also, oxygen is required to complete the gas mixture that cycles both gas piston and blowback firearm actions.
Wrong, I am sad to say, on all three points.
Gunpowder does include it's own oxidizer. http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006051903625
Gas action explained here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-operated_reloading
Blowback action explained here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_%28arms%29
You will note that in neither case is any outside atmosphere being utilized or required.
David
'Geeks can't admit that anything worthwhile was invented before 1981. Soon, "making cocoa" will be called "milk hacking."' - Lore Sjoberg
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Quote:
Originally posted by TPage:
Regarding firing a weapon in space: Joss comments in the OMR commentary track that they made a mistake. They received the advice that Vera would require oxygen and as such filmed it like that. Once production finished on the episode they found out otherwise at which point it was too late to re-film.
You sure? I thought I heard the opposite...
Probably need to re watch it. *sigh* work work work.
@DAVESHAYNE: I think Stampede may have hit the nail on the head. Since you seem to know a lot about this subject, is that true? (EDIT - from your links I assume you mean it is not correct?)
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It's been a while since I listened to the commentary. So I may be mixing my facts up.
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And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer
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Okay, I forgot being able to fire a weapon under water. (Yeah, I'm too lazy to check out the links but oh well, you're right, I'm wrong. You're the the best golfer, I'm the worst. You are extremely attractive and me, not so much. 
)
So yeah, the scary part is that the projectile fired in outerspace will never lose its momentum or trajectory unless influenced by an outside force. So if Serenity were to make a quick run in the same direction Jayne fired and suddenly stopped for some reason than Jayne might have actually shot Serenity on accident?
Maybe not. Jayne didn't miss.
Okay, just talking out my ass now.
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Quote:
It's been a while since I listened to the commentary. So I may be mixing my facts up.
Probably me that is confused. Thought I would listen to the commentary of Safe to make sure. Popped in the DVD. It has no commentary for Safe. Might had read it somewhere then. Probably the Visual Companion.
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Try watching the commentary for Our Mrs. Reynolds. Right around the time Jayne fires Vera if I remember correctly.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer
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