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From: raiche@dartvax.UUCP (George A. Raiche)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: A new question to mull over
Message-ID: <2540@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Nov-84 21:52:21 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2540
Posted: Fri Nov  2 21:52:21 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Nov-84 21:50:25 EST
References: <> <444@ncoast.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 59

> > Article <>, from cushner@ttidcb.UUCP (Jeffrey Cushner)
> +----------------
> | Now that we've basically run the warp speed question into the ground
> | (with everyone giving a different "definitive answer" it's time for
> | a new question that's been bugging me for some time:
> | 
> | 		How do stardates work?
> | 
> 
> In STI/II (but not III, they never even *mentioned* stardates :-) they
> were in the `Fan form', i.e. yymm.dd (you did notice that, didn't you? :-)
> I guess they were desperate and used the film dates; maybe we'll be able
> to tell the filming sequence by listening to the stardates :-)
> 
> There's one small problem with correcting for relativity etc. in stardates:
> you *can't*.  Time is passing at wildly different rates everywhere in
> the galaxy, and you can't correct for that without instantaneous radio
> communications (we know they lack those).  Einstein gets us coming and
> going :-}
> 
> Now I have a question:  in one episode, the following dialogue occurs:
> 
> 		Kirk:	"Space-normal speed, Mr. Sulu."
> 		VIP:	"SPACE-NORMAL!?"
> 
> No idea what episode or who the VIP was(n't); but my question is, what
> is space-normal speed?  I think he sped up to Warp 2 later on, but warp
> 1 is easier to say than "space-normal", so it's either (a) one and a
> fraction, or (b) sublight (!).  I think I can rationalize (b), but would
> prefer not; any other suggestions?
> 
> --bsa
> --
>   Brandon Allbery @ North Coast Xenix  |   the.world!ucbvax!decvax!cwruecmp!
> 6504 Chestnut Road, Independence, Ohio |       {atvax!}ncoast!{tdi1!}bsa
>    (216) 524-1416             \ 44131  | E1439@CSUOHIO.BITNET (friend's acct.)
> ---------------------------------------+---------------------------------------
> 			`Confusion is my natural state.'

The dialogue is from "The Galileo 7", and the respondant is Lt. Sulu,
not Federation High Commisioner Ferris(?).

"Space-normal speed" is a good question.  We have seen the Enterprise warp
out of orbit consistently (which has always seemed like a pretty
dangerous practice to me--there's usually a lot of junk floating around
an advanced planet, and at 1c it wouldn't take much of a collision to put a
hole clean through your hulls) so that doesn't seem to be the explanation.
You will recall that Kirk was stalling for time.  Perhaps Kirk was referring
to a departure under full acceleration of the impulse drive--presumably
occurring in "normal" (i.e. non-warped) space.  Under those conditions
it is easier to select an acceleration (a function of engine power) than a
speed (which becomes constant only when the acceleration is zero i.e the
drive is off).  That's my best guess, I'm afraid.

				George Raiche
				Dept. of Chemistry
				Dartmouth