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Re: starship-design: Interstellar Exploration Ship Design
In a message dated 1/16/00 10:25:12 PM, lparker@cacaphony.net writes:
>Untitled StationeryLong ago we were discussing crew complements and
>
>structure for an Explorer class vessel and I made the suggestion that we
>
>should perhaps look to submarines for clues on the endurance of such a
>crew
>
>and to aircraft carriers for the rest. We all agreed that even though these
>
>weren't terribly good analogies, it seems these are the closest we have.
>
>
>
>After watching a program last month on carrier battle group operations,
>I
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>think our problem is even worse than I thought. Although I knew that in
>many
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>ways a carrier was self-sufficient, it seems that in many others it is
>not.
>
>I was not aware of just how much resupply goes on at sea. An aircraft
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>carrier, for all its size leaves port stuffed to the bulkheads with
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>consumable supplies which _get this_ all have to be replaced while underway!
>
>
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>We are talking a six month deployment here...not six years or even sixty
>
>years. I am beginning to have serious doubts about slow ships (0.3c or
>
>less). I no longer believe it is possible to stuff enough food onboard
>for
>
>an Explorer class vessel. So we are back to growing it enroute. Or a MUCH
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>faster vessel.
>
>
>
>Warp Drive When?
>
>
>
>Lee
In the analysis I did on the Explorer Class, it could carry all the suplies
it would need. We were assuming a thousand or so people (as I remember) and
weren't volume constrianed. You could carry 25 of primary (grocery storish)
food and another couple decades of dehydrated.
Not having to feed 10,000 people and a hundred or so very active aircraftis a
big advantage. When we get to the target system and operate fleets of
explorer craft, they will start burning through spares, even with best
avalible on board manufacturing gear. After a couple of years of ops those
craft will be burned out, but by then its time to come home.
Kelly