I never understood the “divert power from life support” trope of Star Trek.
I mean, how much power could that possibly be?
We essentially already sustained prolonged life support by using a tiny batch of primitive batteries and fuels cells during multi-day trips to reach the moon in the sixties.
With efficient 23th century tech, life support should be almost self-sustaining using ambient waste heat or something.
Always has been one of the major suspension-of-disbelief efforts for me…
There is an episode where Voyager is looking for a fuel source because they are dangerously low.
They cram all the staff into two decks and pull all life support from the other thirteen. It only gets them an hour of propulsion at one-quarter impulse thrust.
It only gets them an hour of propulsion at one-quarter impulse thrust.
Which is basically classical atomic sublight rocket tech.
So some additional ability to just coast between planets when you are already in a star system.
Moreover, what exactly is the life support system doing that means near-instant death if you turn it off? Breathable air and heat should last for hours at least.
Exactly.
Not only is the power requirement pretty low in comparison, but the system should also show a really sluggish response, especially when considering the sheer air volume of the Enterprise.
Biggest issue would probably be heat buildup after some time
It’s just written in to add weight to a tense moment.
It’s just written in to add weight to a tense moment.
I know the reason why they did it.
Still annoys me slightly. Actually even more than the techno-babble that is mentioned by most as a somewhat annoying thing written in.
But I don’t watch Star Trek for its scientific accuracy, so it’s ok.
As already said: It is still manageable by suspension of disbelief to enjoy the strong aspects of the show, which mostly are not the specifics of the science-based things being shown (in contrast to the underlying ideas - those are often great!)
I realize now I should have answered the question differently. The life support uses power by a reverse band of takiyons to a flow emitter. This then spread across the ship via a neutrino wave to a tungsten pulse generator.
That’s why it uses so much power they have to divert it at times.
My own head-canon that I subconsciously develop while watching those parts of the show, is actually strikingly similar to what you just said! ;-)
Divert all power from inertial dampers to evasive manevers!
splat
Everyone knows you turn off your A/C in your car to get it to go faster!
If you have a shitbox, it can.
So, anything before 2010? Got it.
I wouldn’t know. I’ve never owned or drove regularly anything that was made after 99.
My old 2008 Ford Focus was like that. Really weird. Guess it was just harder on the system. Ah well. It’s in a better place now
It’s in a better place now
The Netherlands?
Ahahah! I wish. I had to sell it for scrap. The bottom was all rusted, and the frame was slightly bent. It kept leaking moisture inside.
The stereo sounded amazing though, for a stock one.
I don’t actually think that the scrap yard is a better place than your home/where you parked it. At least I hope for your sake it isn’t 😄
Economy cars don’t have a lot of spare horse power and the AC isn’t free to run. Combine that with poor maintain, that’s even less to work with. I can’t tell you how many otherwise technical people I know who don’t think to change their engine’s air filter.
That bridge is huge it would take hours or days for them to suffocate, also, how power hungry is that life support system that often is enough to make a difference? Do they use replicators instead of fans?
Data just looking back, unaffected.
The Picard Last Resort
How did Picard get all the way over there?
He did his bridge shake hula with EXTRA pizzazz!
