How does the Enterprise reverse?

[Toadnuke]

I was wondering how it's done since the impulse engines are on the back of the saucer section.

[Deepcrush]

More then likely they have thrusters on the forward hull.

[Nutso]

[Captain Seafort]

I'm half tempted to punt this into the general sci-fi forum, as I'm aware of only a single major sci-fi ship that doesn't have the problem of having big thrusters on the stern and none on the bow, and that's only because police boxes don't have engines. Other than B5 ships which, IIRC, flip 180 degrees for deceleration, the answer is probably forcefields redirecting the thrust.

[Lt. Staplic]

I think the most likely thing is that there are smaller, less noticable impulse engines on the bow for low level reverse impulse.

[LaughingCheese]

I think the most likely thing is that there are smaller, less noticable impulse engines on the bow for low level reverse impulse.

The RCS thrusters perhaps?


Those are way smaller than the impulse engines though..

[Lt. Staplic]

no, I was thinking actual mini-impulse engines...the larger one would be used for primary impulse travel, however I don't see it as that much of a stretch to have four or five smaller impulse engines around the ship for difficult or reverse impulse.

[LaughingCheese]

no, I was thinking actual mini-impulse engines...the larger one would be used for primary impulse travel, however I don't see it as that much of a stretch to have four or five smaller impulse engines around the ship for difficult or reverse impulse.

I see.

Don't recall if any of the blueprints show thrusters like those.

I think it was discussed in another thread that they use the warp field bubble for stuff like this, being that its asymmetrical.

[Atekimogus]

Why would she need to reverse in the first place?

For smaller speeds there are the RCS thrusters, for anything else just move around 180° and accelerate in the opposite direction. I see no reason why a ship in space would need forward facing engines. (Not even real ships have those)

[Reliant121]

Well real ships have the advantage that they can reverse their propellers to replicate having forward facing drives. Real ships need to be able to reverse mainly because steering is dependent on water flowing over the rudder, achieved only by moving forward or backward.

In space, there's no need to be moving in order to turn. So they don't need a forward facing engine.

[Sionnach Glic]

Scimitar had some sort of forward-facing thrusters, IIRC. Dunno about the others.

Perhaps the navigational deflector's shape can be shifted to direct thrust from the impulse engines forwards? Or, hell, maybe the impulse engines have some sort reverse function.

[shran]

Not only that, when other objects are nearby, tractor beams and repulsor beams can be used to avert collisions.

[Sonic Glitch]

Per OP: How does the Enterprise reverse?

Once again, the answer is "Very Carefully" ... ... [runs away]

[Mikey]

Per OP: How does the Enterprise reverse?

Once again, the answer is "Very Carefully" ... ... [runs away]

Let off the gas, step on the clutch, and move the stick over to the right and down...

Why would she need to reverse in the first place?

For smaller speeds there are the RCS thrusters, for anything else just move around 180° and accelerate in the opposite direction. I see no reason why a ship in space would need forward facing engines. (Not even real ships have those)

Need to? IDK, but she does. Ever hear a captain say "all stop," and the ship slows down and stops without changing heading? Deceleration = acceleration in the opposite direction.

[Atekimogus]

Need to? IDK, but she does. Ever hear a captain say "all stop," and the ship slows down and stops without changing heading? Deceleration = acceleration in the opposite direction.

Ok, fair enough. One could speculate that stopping the ship could be achieved not with reverese thrust but by manipulating space/time with the warp engines for example. One could speculate that deactivating the impulse drive just stops the ship dead in space. (Why not, it's not that anyone knows how exactly this thing is supposed to work right?)