Thread: Building The Gen1 USS Enterprise, Really

And now for some fun thinking outside the box about what we could do in space when ignoring the issues of politics and funding ...

The BuildTheEnterprise (BTE) website describes how to build the first USS Enterprise spaceship, based on technologies within our reach, over the next twenty years.

It has 1g gravity, shielding for missions away from earth, can hold a 1000 people, and can enable the building of large underground bases on Mars and the moon also with 1g gravity. So what are we waiting for?

BuildTheEnterprise

Cheers,
BTE-Dan

I find it difficult to take seriously a project that feels the best external design of a spacecraft mimics an SF creation. But you did say this was for 'fun thinking' and you 've posted this in General Discussion, so why not!

I note the plan calls for 200 - 300 heavy lift launches of 1,000,000 lb payload. This is an order of magnitude greater than the Saturn V. Do you actually think that is feasible? Even in a 'fun thinking' environment?

Originally Posted by John Galt

I find it difficult to take seriously a project that feels the best external desing of a spacecraft mimics an SF creation. But you did say this was for 'fun thinking' and you 've posted in this in general discussion, so why not!

I note the plane calls for 200 - 300 heavy lift launches of 1,000,000 lb payload. This is an order of magnitude greater than the Saturn V. do you actually think that is feasible? Even in a 'fun thinking' environment?

Sure, if you have some dilithium crystals and anti-matter for propulsion.

Note that warp drive was not used for launch from the surface (that could get BERY BERY messy), rather those craft were constructed in space, and departed space dock using "impulse" engines

A Saturn 5 rocket could carry a payload of 262,000 pounds. So 1 million pounds is only a factor of four more. The Nova rocket designs of the 1960s showed that rockets can be made to carry a payload of 1 millions pounds. You just have to be able to pay for it.