Ship of the week: Ambassador

kostmayer · Post by **kostmayer** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:27 am

Wasn't the Saucer section capable of planetary landing?

Maybe thats why they invented the Captains Yaucht, to stop the Captains taking the whole Saucer on a cruise to Risa.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:46 am

kostmayer wrote:Wasn't the Saucer section capable of planetary landing?

Maybe thats why they invented the Captains Yaucht, to stop the Captains taking the whole Saucer on a cruise to Risa.

I wouldn't call what we saw in "Generations" a "landing". "Barely controlled crash" would be more appropriate. I doubt previous designs were any more capable

Post by **Teaos** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:57 pm

I dont see how it could land. It had no feet or anything to keep it balanced or seven a proper door.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:10 pm

IIRC, it wasn't designed to land.
It was designed to crash, however.

kostmayer · Post by **kostmayer** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:38 pm

I was referring to the Constitution Class ship. Can't remember where, but I think I've read that the Saucer Section was designed to land in an emergency, but couldn't take off again.

Post by **Mikey** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:35 pm

I'd sure as hell like to see the source for that. As far as I can tell, the only "separation" mechanism for the Connie's saucer was blowing it off the ship - I doubt you'd engineer a landing ability for that.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:10 pm

Are there even any engines on the Connie's saucer? If not, there'd be no hope of landing that thing.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:00 pm

Rochey wrote:Are there even any engines on the Connie's saucer? If not, there'd be no hope of landing that thing.

The main impulse engines are on the rear edge of it on both the original and refit. The big problem would be the shape of the lower saucer - that big cone would either be ripped off or would cause the saucer to topple over. The separation mechanism is probably either to avoid antimatter containment failure or to dump useless mass if the engines are irreparably damaged.

Deepcrush · Post by **Deepcrush** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:10 pm

Dump the hull and hope you can get far enough away? Yeah, that worked well for E-D!

Post by **Teaos** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:55 pm

With the front edge being so big and flat it would flip when it hit air.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:58 am

Okay, I think it's safe to say we all agree that a Connie would be stupid to seperate and try to land.

Deepcrush · Post by **Deepcrush** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:54 pm

Why would you want to land anyways. Space is far safer.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:01 pm

Deepcrush wrote:Why would you want to land anyways. Space is far safer.

The insane levels of radiation and the breathing difficulties you'd have if your ship developed a leak might have something to do with it. Humans are adapted to survive on a planet - if your ship is damaged and loses the ability to support life, then the ability to get your crew to ground ASAP would be critical.

Deepcrush · Post by **Deepcrush** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:00 pm

LIFE PODS! ALL.... ABOARD....!

kostmayer · Post by **kostmayer** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:17 pm

Yeah, M Class Planets are pretty sparse and its pretty unlikely you'll be close by to one - unless you're in Starfleet in which case one will bound to be conveniently near by.