Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dartvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!dartvax!raiche 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