Ya done good! The change in sheer size from A to D can be hard to grasp. I remember getting a model set as a teen with Enterprise TOS, A, and D, and was taken aback at how small the other two were. Crazy stuff.
The Constitution Class (NCC-1701A/B) were effectively light cruisers by the TNG era whereas the Galaxy Class was a super-heavy explorer cruiser. The main difference between them was the NCC-1701 was designed to operate for 5 years without service but the NCC-1701D could theoretically run indefinitely on its own without major battle damage. Large part of its mass is form the power systems needed to run its own industrial fabricators (replicators) and the experimental research hardware. That and all the families living aboard.
I was all “wait? What? It’s more than twice the size?” And then trying to find the right way to show it. I even looked at other pictures of the cargo ship but none were right for the comparison. One of my failed drafts.
Seriously, the E-D is huge to the point where the amount of time it would take to get anywhere on the ship would make it impractical. The E-A is roughly the size of its nacelle.
That was the point of the Galaxy-class of course. It was meant to be less “rough and tumble sailors” and more “long term cohesive floating city that could technically be self-sufficient for 10-20 years and show the technical prowess of the Federation” . Had to be big to support the 1000 crew compliment.
Except everyone IRL forgot that and now it’s an average size ship. Also, a ship that size could easily support several thousand people, not just one thousand. Modern aircraft carriers have thousands of people on them and their volume is comparable to the E-A.
Modern aircraft carriers have thousands of people on them and their volume is comparable to the E-A.
they also don’t need to run completely self-contained life support systems that must generate and maintain water and breathable air rather than pulling it from conveniently free (or near-free) sources right outside the ship
The energy requirements for warp travel are also many orders of magnitude higher than pushing a carrier through water so the space dedicated to warp cores and other energy management/propulsion systems must also be greater
That’s Kirk’s enterprise mind you. Picard’s is twice as long and thicker with a big bulbous saucer.
I came here to post this. Glad to see my work is getting around.
Ya done good! The change in sheer size from A to D can be hard to grasp. I remember getting a model set as a teen with Enterprise TOS, A, and D, and was taken aback at how small the other two were. Crazy stuff.
The Constitution Class (NCC-1701A/B) were effectively light cruisers by the TNG era whereas the Galaxy Class was a super-heavy explorer cruiser. The main difference between them was the NCC-1701 was designed to operate for 5 years without service but the NCC-1701D could theoretically run indefinitely on its own without major battle damage. Large part of its mass is form the power systems needed to run its own industrial fabricators (replicators) and the experimental research hardware. That and all the families living aboard.
I was all “wait? What? It’s more than twice the size?” And then trying to find the right way to show it. I even looked at other pictures of the cargo ship but none were right for the comparison. One of my failed drafts.
Damn, the D IS huge.
That’s what she said.
Seriously, the E-D is huge to the point where the amount of time it would take to get anywhere on the ship would make it impractical. The E-A is roughly the size of its nacelle.
That was the point of the Galaxy-class of course. It was meant to be less “rough and tumble sailors” and more “long term cohesive floating city that could technically be self-sufficient for 10-20 years and show the technical prowess of the Federation” . Had to be big to support the 1000 crew compliment.
Except everyone IRL forgot that and now it’s an average size ship. Also, a ship that size could easily support several thousand people, not just one thousand. Modern aircraft carriers have thousands of people on them and their volume is comparable to the E-A.
I just always assumed that roughly half the ship was comprised of cavernous guest quarters.
Where else is Lwaxana going to store her luggage?
they also don’t need to run completely self-contained life support systems that must generate and maintain water and breathable air rather than pulling it from conveniently free (or near-free) sources right outside the ship
The energy requirements for warp travel are also many orders of magnitude higher than pushing a carrier through water so the space dedicated to warp cores and other energy management/propulsion systems must also be greater