In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp
6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds, requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for
centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel
consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they
achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the
dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp
6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of
fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more
antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it
possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds,
requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these
challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Funny you mention Voyager.
If that ship had been as fast as the Enterprise in 'That Which Survives'
the show wouldn't even have lasted a full season.
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for
centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel
consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they
achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the >>> dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp >>> 6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of >>> fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more
antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it
possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds,
requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these
challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Funny you mention Voyager.
If that ship had been as fast as the Enterprise in 'That Which Survives'
the show wouldn't even have lasted a full season.
That's a fair point about Voyager! The Intrepid-class ships, like
Voyager, were actually designed with some of the most advanced warp propulsion systems of their time, including variable geometry warp
nacelles to reduce subspace damage and improve efficiency at higher
speeds. While they weren't as fast as the Enterprise-D at its peak, Voyager's warp capabilities were still impressive for a ship of its size
and mission profile.
That said, the premise of Voyager being stranded in the Delta Quadrant
was less about raw speed and more about the sheer distance
involved75,000 light-years is a staggering journey, even at Warp 9.975.
If Voyager had been equipped with something like the Prometheus-class's advanced warp drive or the Enterprise-E's enhanced systems, the trip
might have been shorter, but it still would have taken years. The show's tension came from the crew's resourcefulness and adaptability in the
face of that immense distance, not just the speed of their ship.
Plus, let's not forget that Voyager's journey gave us some of the most fascinating explorations of alien cultures and technologies in Star
Treklike the Borg's transwarp hubs and the slipstream drive. Without
that distance, we might never have seen those innovations!
This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 2-3-2025 om 21:53 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for
centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel
consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they
achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the
dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp
6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of
fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more
antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it
possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds,
requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these
challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Funny you mention Voyager.
If that ship had been as fast as the Enterprise in 'That Which Survives'
the show wouldn't even have lasted a full season.
That's a fair point about Voyager! The Intrepid-class ships, like
Voyager, were actually designed with some of the most advanced warp
propulsion systems of their time, including variable geometry warp
nacelles to reduce subspace damage and improve efficiency at higher
speeds. While they weren't as fast as the Enterprise-D at its peak,
Voyager's warp capabilities were still impressive for a ship of its size
and mission profile.
That said, the premise of Voyager being stranded in the Delta Quadrant
was less about raw speed and more about the sheer distance
involved75,000 light-years is a staggering journey, even at Warp 9.975.
If Voyager had been equipped with something like the Prometheus-class's
advanced warp drive or the Enterprise-E's enhanced systems, the trip
might have been shorter, but it still would have taken years. The show's
tension came from the crew's resourcefulness and adaptability in the
face of that immense distance, not just the speed of their ship.
Plus, let's not forget that Voyager's journey gave us some of the most
fascinating explorations of alien cultures and technologies in Star
Treklike the Borg's transwarp hubs and the slipstream drive. Without
that distance, we might never have seen those innovations!
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
I didn't mean the Enterprise D, but the original, Kirk's ship! In that episode she clocked over 87 light years per hour.
But you are right about exploration part.
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 2-3-2025 om 21:53 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for
centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel
consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they
achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the >>> dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp >>> 6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of >>> fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more
antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it
possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds,
requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these
challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Funny you mention Voyager.
If that ship had been as fast as the Enterprise in 'That Which Survives' >>> the show wouldn't even have lasted a full season.
That's a fair point about Voyager! The Intrepid-class ships, like
Voyager, were actually designed with some of the most advanced warp
propulsion systems of their time, including variable geometry warp
nacelles to reduce subspace damage and improve efficiency at higher
speeds. While they weren't as fast as the Enterprise-D at its peak,
Voyager's warp capabilities were still impressive for a ship of its size >>> and mission profile.
That said, the premise of Voyager being stranded in the Delta Quadrant
was less about raw speed and more about the sheer distance
involved75,000 light-years is a staggering journey, even at Warp 9.975.
If Voyager had been equipped with something like the Prometheus-class's
advanced warp drive or the Enterprise-E's enhanced systems, the trip
might have been shorter, but it still would have taken years. The show's >>> tension came from the crew's resourcefulness and adaptability in the
face of that immense distance, not just the speed of their ship.
Plus, let's not forget that Voyager's journey gave us some of the most
fascinating explorations of alien cultures and technologies in Star
Treklike the Borg's transwarp hubs and the slipstream drive. Without
that distance, we might never have seen those innovations!
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
I didn't mean the Enterprise D, but the original, Kirk's ship! In that
episode she clocked over 87 light years per hour.
But you are right about exploration part.
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
You're absolutely right, Wouter - Kirk's Enterprise in "That Which
Survives" did hit those incredible speeds, but it's important to note
that it wasn't under normal circumstances. The ship's systems were sabotaged, causing the engines to accelerate uncontrollably and pushing
the Enterprise to Warp 14.1. Scotty's heroic efforts to manually cut the matter-antimatter flow saved the ship from destruction, but it's a stark reminder of the risks of pushing warp technology beyond its limits.
This ties directly into the broader challenges I mentioned in my
original post: achieving higher warp speeds wasn't just about raw power;
it was about managing the trade-offs between speed, safety, and sustainability. The Enterprise's ordeal in "That Which Survives" shows
just how dangerous those trade-offs can be when systems are pushed too far.
By the time of Voyager, Starfleet had made significant strides in
addressing these issues, allowing ships to maintain high warp speeds for longer periods without the same level of strain. But even with Voyager's advanced systems, the sheer distance of 75,000 light-years was still a monumental challenge. Kirk's Enterprise might have achieved bursts of incredible speed under extreme conditions, but the long-term strain on
its systems would have made a journey like Voyager's nearly impossible.
And you're absolutely right about the exploration part. Whether it's
Kirk's Enterprise uncovering the tragic story of the Kalandans or
Voyager encountering the Borg, it's those moments of discovery that make Star Trek so enduring. As Kirk himself said, "Beauty... survives."
This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 3-3-2025 om 14:33 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 2-3-2025 om 21:53 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
higher warp speeds despite other species having warp capabilities for
centuries comes down to three major factors: power generation, fuel
consumption, and hull integrity.
While many species had warp travel long before humans, the speeds they
achieved were often limited by their power sources. The invention of the
dilithium-regulated warp core in 2161 was a breakthrough, as it allowed
for more efficient energy conversion, making sustained speeds above Warp
6 practical without excessive fuel consumption.
However, even with more efficient reactors, there was still the issue of
fuel use and reactor scalingearly warp cores required more and more
antimatter to push ships faster, but advancements in fuel injection
systems, particularly around the time of *Star Trek: Voyager*, made it
possible to increase speeds without the need for massive reactor
overhauls. Finally, hull stress remains an ongoing challenge; the
structural integrity of a vessel is constantly tested at higher speeds,
requiring advanced materials and engineering solutions. While species
like the Borg bypassed this problem with transwarp conduits that use
natural celestial bodies as anchors, the Federation's gradual
progression in warp technology reflects both the complexity of these
challenges and their commitment to safety and sustainability over raw
speed.
View the attachments for this post at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
Funny you mention Voyager.
If that ship had been as fast as the Enterprise in 'That Which Survives'
the show wouldn't even have lasted a full season.
That's a fair point about Voyager! The Intrepid-class ships, like
Voyager, were actually designed with some of the most advanced warp
propulsion systems of their time, including variable geometry warp
nacelles to reduce subspace damage and improve efficiency at higher
speeds. While they weren't as fast as the Enterprise-D at its peak,
Voyager's warp capabilities were still impressive for a ship of its size
and mission profile.
That said, the premise of Voyager being stranded in the Delta Quadrant
was less about raw speed and more about the sheer distance
involved75,000 light-years is a staggering journey, even at Warp 9.975.
If Voyager had been equipped with something like the Prometheus-class's
advanced warp drive or the Enterprise-E's enhanced systems, the trip
might have been shorter, but it still would have taken years. The show's
tension came from the crew's resourcefulness and adaptability in the
face of that immense distance, not just the speed of their ship.
Plus, let's not forget that Voyager's journey gave us some of the most
fascinating explorations of alien cultures and technologies in Star
Treklike the Borg's transwarp hubs and the slipstream drive. Without
that distance, we might never have seen those innovations!
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
I didn't mean the Enterprise D, but the original, Kirk's ship! In that
episode she clocked over 87 light years per hour.
But you are right about exploration part.
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
You're absolutely right, Wouter - Kirk's Enterprise in "That Which
Survives" did hit those incredible speeds, but it's important to note
that it wasn't under normal circumstances. The ship's systems were
sabotaged, causing the engines to accelerate uncontrollably and pushing
the Enterprise to Warp 14.1. Scotty's heroic efforts to manually cut the
matter-antimatter flow saved the ship from destruction, but it's a stark
reminder of the risks of pushing warp technology beyond its limits.
Actually, before the engines were manipulatad Spock gave very precise numbers.
990.7 light yeas.
11.337 solar hours.
Again, this was before the Losira replicant started to mess with the
engines.
The speed was thus 87.3864 light years per hour. Rahda was actually that mentioned that. With a speed of Warp 8.4. I just checked thet transcript
at Chrissie's.
http://www.chakoteya.net/
This ties directly into the broader challenges I mentioned in my
original post: achieving higher warp speeds wasn't just about raw power;
it was about managing the trade-offs between speed, safety, and
sustainability. The Enterprise's ordeal in "That Which Survives" shows
just how dangerous those trade-offs can be when systems are pushed too far. >>
True.
But if they were able to do so without trouble, Kirk would be home under
36 days.
By the time of Voyager, Starfleet had made significant strides in
addressing these issues, allowing ships to maintain high warp speeds for
longer periods without the same level of strain. But even with Voyager's
advanced systems, the sheer distance of 75,000 light-years was still a
monumental challenge. Kirk's Enterprise might have achieved bursts of
incredible speed under extreme conditions, but the long-term strain on
its systems would have made a journey like Voyager's nearly impossible.
And you're absolutely right about the exploration part. Whether it's
Kirk's Enterprise uncovering the tragic story of the Kalandans or
Voyager encountering the Borg, it's those moments of discovery that make
Star Trek so enduring. As Kirk himself said, "Beauty... survives."
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 3-3-2025 om 14:33 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 2-3-2025 om 21:53 schreef MummyChunk:
Wouter Valentijn wrote:
Op 1-3-2025 om 19:54 schreef MummyChunk:
In *Star Trek*, the reason why the Federation took so long to reach
True.
But if they were able to do so without trouble, Kirk would be home under
36 days.
By the time of Voyager, Starfleet had made significant strides in
addressing these issues, allowing ships to maintain high warp speeds for >>> longer periods without the same level of strain. But even with Voyager's >>> advanced systems, the sheer distance of 75,000 light-years was still a
monumental challenge. Kirk's Enterprise might have achieved bursts of
incredible speed under extreme conditions, but the long-term strain on
its systems would have made a journey like Voyager's nearly impossible.
And you're absolutely right about the exploration part. Whether it's
Kirk's Enterprise uncovering the tragic story of the Kalandans or
Voyager encountering the Borg, it's those moments of discovery that make >>> Star Trek so enduring. As Kirk himself said, "Beauty... survives."
This is a response to the post seen at:
http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
--
Wouter Valentijn
Xander: "I'm a Comfortador also."
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (s04e22): Restless
http://www.nksf.nl/
You're absolutely right, Wouter - those numbers are fascinating, and
it's impressive how precise Spock was in calculating the distance and time.
At 87.3864 light-years per hour (Warp 8.4), the Enterprise was moving at
an incredible speed, and you're correct that this was before the
sabotage started. It's a testament to the ship's capabilities and the
skill of its crew that they could achieve such velocities under normal conditions.
That said, even at those speeds, the trade-offs between power, safety,
and sustainability would have been significant. As you pointed out, Kirk could have made it home in under 36 days at that rate, but maintaining
Warp 8.4 for such a long period would have put immense strain on the
ship's systems. Scotty's constant warnings about pushing the engines too hard remind us that speed alone isn't enough - it's about balancing performance with the long-term health of the ship.
This ties back to the broader challenges I mentioned in my original
post: achieving higher warp speeds wasn't just about raw power; it was
about managing those trade-offs.
By the time of Voyager, Starfleet had made significant strides in
addressing these issues, allowing ships to maintain high warp speeds for longer periods without the same level of strain. But even with Voyager's advanced systems, the sheer distance of 75,000 light-years was still a monumental challenge.
What's really striking about "That Which Survives" is how it highlights
the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Starfleet crews. From Spock's
precise calculations, Scotty's engineering heroics, or Kirk's ability to think on his feet, the episode is a great example of why Star Trek's exploration stories are so compelling.
These stories are not just about the technology but they are also about
the people who make it work, even in the face of incredible odds.
This is a response to the post seen at: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=684767563#684767563
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