[TheBigDog]

This is a tangent from the Spaceship Design thead started by JQ. If this voyage goes well I hope to take a similar voyages aboard the more ambitions designs you will find on that thread. This is not for the feint hearted. It is for the fun hearted.

We have assembled our ship and it is in orbit around earth. We are in our current time with our current technology. Our ship is The Prophesy, a nuclear powered vessel with enough fuel to cruise with engines at full for 100 years. It is waiting in orbit for final outfitting for its maiden voyage. That voyage is a detailed exploration of our solarsystem and as far out as the oort cloud.

What I am looking for are volunteers to join me in outfitting the ship and exploring the solarsystem. As members of the crew you will be empowered to design experiments and equipment for carrying out those experiments. Some of those are designed to explore space, some of those are research for our next generation ships that will begin exploration beyond our solar system. We need geologists, astronomers, biologists, botonists, anthropologists, medical staff, resource recovery staff, maintenance crew, navigators, computer specialists, physists, chemists, generalists, humorists, brewmasters, students, interns, retired hobbyists and at least one hot chick.

Remember that we will be living on the ship together for an extended period of time. Depending upon how well we plan and how long we can stand each other! So some of what we will be planning is not just the science, but the society of living on the ship. We will need recreational activities along with our busy science schedules.

So, who wants so sign up, and what role will you be filling on our voyage of mind and space? We launch on June 1st. Until then we will take on crew members and decide upon the missions we would like to undertake and fill the ship with the equipment we will need.

Welcome aboard!

(T-30 days)

Bill - Space Voyage #1 Project Leader

*********************************************

Here are a front and side view of the ship. The diameter is around 200 meters. The sections are 50 meters long and 10 meters thick. They can have one, two or three decks internally. The six cargo bays are 75 meters long and 20 meters in diameter. They can hold whatever we want to put into them, but they have no atmosphere.

Ring shows a four layer living area totaling 48 sections. These rotate where they are held at the ends to keep the direction of "down" relative the g force being experienced. While the ship is accelerating the spin rate is adjusted to keep the living quarters at 1G. While coasting the ship is a maximum spin to maintain 1G. This area is meant to house the people plus the self sustaining resources to keep them fed and hydrated indefinitely.

The center cylinder is the nuclear fuel plus the liquid fuel used for trim controls and fueling the probes and shuttles. It is meant to last for 100 years of full throttle, plus multiple missions for the smaller craft, so it is big. I am not sure if the proportions are correct. The yellow section is the nuclear rocket that propels the ship.

The green area is the payload section. Seven large storage areas that can hold shuttles, probes, satellites, etc. The docking bay is at the nose of the center payload section.

[Racoon]

Where do I sign my soul over, Captain BigDog, of the USS Prophesy? SIR! [ten hut!]

What is our Mission?
And What is our Compensation?

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by Racoon

Where do I sign my soul over, Captain BigDog, of the USS Prophesy? SIR! [ten hut!]

What is our Mission?
And What is our Compensation?

I was hoping to see you here in the recruiting office Mr. Racoon. I know you have some expertise in herbal remedies and nutrition. If we have a crew of 100 on this first limited mission, how much deck space will you need to maintain gardens that will supply us with both nutritional and medicinal resources? What would the varieties of plants be? What would your methods of agriculture be? This is a primary concern for the success of the mission. What resources will you need on board the ship? Is this a mission you would be interested in? If not, perhaps you could suggest another.

As for compensation... how about a total feeling of purpose fulfillment that will last a lifetime?

Bill

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by Racoon

That would depend on the weight limit we can carry.
Dirt is very heavy. we will realistically need top-grade freeze dried meals.
We can grow some plants as a supplement.

I do have experience in Physiology and Biology as well.

Weight is not an issue. You have cart blanche for creating the agricultural area. Do you think that of the four rings would be enough? I am curious about how difficult what it would take to sustain the nutritional needs of 100 people in a closed environment like this. We can supplement with freeze dried, but for the purpose of future missions I want to begin experimenting with sustained farming. Do you need animals too? Bees? Goats?

As for other things? The Prophesy will take all that you can give to her! All of your input is welcome.

Welcome aboard The Prophesy.

Bill

[Jay-qu]

You can count me in resident astrophysicist at your service

[KickAssClown]

Hehe, I guess I could join this. KAC reporting for duty, Theoretical Physist and IT. What is our purpulsion type? Are we capable of re-couping our fuels? Also what will our Destination be, Alpha centauri?

[InfiniteNow]

I'd love to take the voyage with such a fine crew. I'd like my role to be something like the Whoopi Goldberg bartender character on Star Trek, Next Gen... Where I smoke cigars and pour (and enjoy) drinks and have wonderful and insightful conversations with everyone... Oh, and maybe get caught up in the Nexxus at some point too.

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by TheBigDog

...What I am looking for are volunteers to join me in outfitting the ship and exploring the solarsystem...

I will volunteer, SIR!
Pyrotex, computer specialist and sensor technologist reporting for duty.
I can also cook, and I have some experience as a hot chick inspector.

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

You can count me in resident astrophysicist at your service

Welcome aboard JQ! I bet an astrophysicist comes in handy in outer space! From an astrophysicist's perspective, what would be on your short list of things to explore within our solarsystem? We can go pretty much anyplace we want, but need to stay a safe distance from the sun. Ours is a cold space ship, and not shielded for what the sun is dishing out. What would be your pleasure? Deploying an array of space telescopes for coordinated observations? Putting probes in orbit of other heavenly bodies for continious survey? What is your fancy for this trip?

Bill

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by KickAssClown

Hehe, I guess I could join this. KAC reporting for duty, Theoretical Physist and IT. What is our purpulsion type? Are we capable of re-couping our fuels? Also what will our Destination be, Alpha centauri?

Welcome aboard KickAssClown! We have nuclear pulse engines fueled by recycled nuclear waste. We have fuel enough for 100 years at full throttle. The designers are hoping they maintain 1G of accelleration, but we will determine that during our intial trials. Our first mission is within our solar system, although in theory the ship is capable of being self sustained almost indefinatly. That is another thing being tested on this mission. As a theoretical physicist perhaps you would like to design the performance trials for our engines. They have never been fired. The truth of their capabilities will be learned when we light them up!

Bill