Why does USS Discovery's saucer section spin?
In Episode 4 of Star Trek: Discovery we see that when Captain Lorca orders Black Alert to activate the Spore Drive, the two parts that form the saucer section start to spin, the outermost in a direction and the innermost in the opposite one1.
Here is what I mean:
Is it explained somewhere the (fictional) technical reason of this, apart being seemingly related to the aforementioned Spore Drive?2
I'm also interested in background information if it is available, since, AFAIK, no explanation was given in the show (yet).
1. Also, when the "jump" actually starts, the whole ship seems to spin around the front-rear axis, but maybe this is just a visual effect to denote a FTL inception, pretty much like Starships seemed to be "stretched" when entering Warp Speed in previous series.
2. Except, maybe, being the ultimate weapon against the dreaded Giant Space Pizza Monster?
star-trek spaceship star-trek-discovery
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
|
show 4 more comments
In Episode 4 of Star Trek: Discovery we see that when Captain Lorca orders Black Alert to activate the Spore Drive, the two parts that form the saucer section start to spin, the outermost in a direction and the innermost in the opposite one1.
Here is what I mean:
Is it explained somewhere the (fictional) technical reason of this, apart being seemingly related to the aforementioned Spore Drive?2
I'm also interested in background information if it is available, since, AFAIK, no explanation was given in the show (yet).
1. Also, when the "jump" actually starts, the whole ship seems to spin around the front-rear axis, but maybe this is just a visual effect to denote a FTL inception, pretty much like Starships seemed to be "stretched" when entering Warp Speed in previous series.
2. Except, maybe, being the ultimate weapon against the dreaded Giant Space Pizza Monster?
star-trek spaceship star-trek-discovery
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
3
The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
3
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
1
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
2
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
2
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18
|
show 4 more comments
In Episode 4 of Star Trek: Discovery we see that when Captain Lorca orders Black Alert to activate the Spore Drive, the two parts that form the saucer section start to spin, the outermost in a direction and the innermost in the opposite one1.
Here is what I mean:
Is it explained somewhere the (fictional) technical reason of this, apart being seemingly related to the aforementioned Spore Drive?2
I'm also interested in background information if it is available, since, AFAIK, no explanation was given in the show (yet).
1. Also, when the "jump" actually starts, the whole ship seems to spin around the front-rear axis, but maybe this is just a visual effect to denote a FTL inception, pretty much like Starships seemed to be "stretched" when entering Warp Speed in previous series.
2. Except, maybe, being the ultimate weapon against the dreaded Giant Space Pizza Monster?
star-trek spaceship star-trek-discovery
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
In Episode 4 of Star Trek: Discovery we see that when Captain Lorca orders Black Alert to activate the Spore Drive, the two parts that form the saucer section start to spin, the outermost in a direction and the innermost in the opposite one1.
Here is what I mean:
Is it explained somewhere the (fictional) technical reason of this, apart being seemingly related to the aforementioned Spore Drive?2
I'm also interested in background information if it is available, since, AFAIK, no explanation was given in the show (yet).
1. Also, when the "jump" actually starts, the whole ship seems to spin around the front-rear axis, but maybe this is just a visual effect to denote a FTL inception, pretty much like Starships seemed to be "stretched" when entering Warp Speed in previous series.
2. Except, maybe, being the ultimate weapon against the dreaded Giant Space Pizza Monster?
star-trek spaceship star-trek-discovery
star-trek spaceship star-trek-discovery
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
edited Oct 13 '17 at 8:05
Sekhemty
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
asked Oct 11 '17 at 22:57
SekhemtySekhemty
8,77744276
8,77744276
3
The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
3
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
1
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
2
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
2
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18
|
show 4 more comments
3
The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
3
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
1
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
2
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
2
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18
3
3
The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
3
3
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
1
1
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
2
2
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
2
2
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Well since rotating saucer is actually called "excess energy cavitation system" and we know its somehow related to the spore drive. My Guess: Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid, small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids"), that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. And excess energy is probably something like excess heat and that is the heat which is delivered to or withdrawn from the environment by an mixing process. So maybe there are similar effects when jumping back to normal space or while inside the Network maybe something like an rest energy on the hull that needs to be delivered to the surrounding space since it would otherwise harm the hull with an effect like the cavitation on modern turbines. The spinning of the jump itself is just an in universe optical illusion if you look at the lorca maneuver we get one shot from inside the discovery while jumping and there it doesn't spin around. The Idea of the Sporedrive itself is kind of strange but an organic quantum entanglement drive why not? There are many examples even today where nature found ways we can't rebuild with our technologies and we've seen in StarTrek living Crystals, organic space lifeforms which are able to go to warp, beings of pure energy and even gods like the Q so why shouldn't there be something like the Mycelnetwork?^^
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
add a comment |
Based on all the other movies I've seen, I'm pretty sure that it's just to look cool to people who watch the show...
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
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KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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2 Answers
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Well since rotating saucer is actually called "excess energy cavitation system" and we know its somehow related to the spore drive. My Guess: Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid, small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids"), that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. And excess energy is probably something like excess heat and that is the heat which is delivered to or withdrawn from the environment by an mixing process. So maybe there are similar effects when jumping back to normal space or while inside the Network maybe something like an rest energy on the hull that needs to be delivered to the surrounding space since it would otherwise harm the hull with an effect like the cavitation on modern turbines. The spinning of the jump itself is just an in universe optical illusion if you look at the lorca maneuver we get one shot from inside the discovery while jumping and there it doesn't spin around. The Idea of the Sporedrive itself is kind of strange but an organic quantum entanglement drive why not? There are many examples even today where nature found ways we can't rebuild with our technologies and we've seen in StarTrek living Crystals, organic space lifeforms which are able to go to warp, beings of pure energy and even gods like the Q so why shouldn't there be something like the Mycelnetwork?^^
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
add a comment |
Well since rotating saucer is actually called "excess energy cavitation system" and we know its somehow related to the spore drive. My Guess: Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid, small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids"), that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. And excess energy is probably something like excess heat and that is the heat which is delivered to or withdrawn from the environment by an mixing process. So maybe there are similar effects when jumping back to normal space or while inside the Network maybe something like an rest energy on the hull that needs to be delivered to the surrounding space since it would otherwise harm the hull with an effect like the cavitation on modern turbines. The spinning of the jump itself is just an in universe optical illusion if you look at the lorca maneuver we get one shot from inside the discovery while jumping and there it doesn't spin around. The Idea of the Sporedrive itself is kind of strange but an organic quantum entanglement drive why not? There are many examples even today where nature found ways we can't rebuild with our technologies and we've seen in StarTrek living Crystals, organic space lifeforms which are able to go to warp, beings of pure energy and even gods like the Q so why shouldn't there be something like the Mycelnetwork?^^
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
add a comment |
Well since rotating saucer is actually called "excess energy cavitation system" and we know its somehow related to the spore drive. My Guess: Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid, small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids"), that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. And excess energy is probably something like excess heat and that is the heat which is delivered to or withdrawn from the environment by an mixing process. So maybe there are similar effects when jumping back to normal space or while inside the Network maybe something like an rest energy on the hull that needs to be delivered to the surrounding space since it would otherwise harm the hull with an effect like the cavitation on modern turbines. The spinning of the jump itself is just an in universe optical illusion if you look at the lorca maneuver we get one shot from inside the discovery while jumping and there it doesn't spin around. The Idea of the Sporedrive itself is kind of strange but an organic quantum entanglement drive why not? There are many examples even today where nature found ways we can't rebuild with our technologies and we've seen in StarTrek living Crystals, organic space lifeforms which are able to go to warp, beings of pure energy and even gods like the Q so why shouldn't there be something like the Mycelnetwork?^^
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
Well since rotating saucer is actually called "excess energy cavitation system" and we know its somehow related to the spore drive. My Guess: Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid, small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids"), that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. And excess energy is probably something like excess heat and that is the heat which is delivered to or withdrawn from the environment by an mixing process. So maybe there are similar effects when jumping back to normal space or while inside the Network maybe something like an rest energy on the hull that needs to be delivered to the surrounding space since it would otherwise harm the hull with an effect like the cavitation on modern turbines. The spinning of the jump itself is just an in universe optical illusion if you look at the lorca maneuver we get one shot from inside the discovery while jumping and there it doesn't spin around. The Idea of the Sporedrive itself is kind of strange but an organic quantum entanglement drive why not? There are many examples even today where nature found ways we can't rebuild with our technologies and we've seen in StarTrek living Crystals, organic space lifeforms which are able to go to warp, beings of pure energy and even gods like the Q so why shouldn't there be something like the Mycelnetwork?^^
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
answered Feb 19 '18 at 21:15
TheCyberlokiTheCyberloki
212
212
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
add a comment |
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
5
5
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
You've provided quite a bit of speculation, is there any chance there are some canonical sources to help provide a more canon backed answer?
– Edlothiad
Feb 19 '18 at 21:26
add a comment |
Based on all the other movies I've seen, I'm pretty sure that it's just to look cool to people who watch the show...
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Based on all the other movies I've seen, I'm pretty sure that it's just to look cool to people who watch the show...
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Based on all the other movies I've seen, I'm pretty sure that it's just to look cool to people who watch the show...
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Based on all the other movies I've seen, I'm pretty sure that it's just to look cool to people who watch the show...
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
answered 13 mins ago
KinSlayerVIIKinSlayerVII
1
1
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
KinSlayerVII is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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The only hint we have so far is a reference to "excess energy cavitation" -- the implication seems to be that the spin stabilises the ship in transit, possibly offsetting, from an internal perspective, the axial spin we see as an effect. This is another question that I expect we'll need another week or two to answer clearly, though.
– Michael Scott Shappe
Oct 11 '17 at 23:33
3
What is stranger though is that its not the whole sections moving (the windows on the outside part are completely unmoving. oO
– Thomas
Oct 13 '17 at 11:14
1
@Thomas I suppose that it is for structural integrity purposes; you need a fixed part to provide a supporting structure that also serves the moving parts.
– Sekhemty
Oct 13 '17 at 11:32
2
I don’t know how plausible this is, but mumble mumble energy + spinning saucer put me in mind of a flywheel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage
– alexwlchan
Oct 19 '17 at 6:52
2
It has to spin and lock 7 positions into place before it can engage the spore drive.
– Edmund Dantes
Feb 13 '18 at 13:18