[Spaceships] Total life support

Trachmyr · 08-26-2009, 04:35 PM

One of the problems is with the level of abstraction used in spaceships. With the volumes given, the Garden open spaces work out to 230 pounds per square foot, while refrence sites online for roof-top gardens tend to average at 40lbs. per square foot. Even with some weight increase for structure (which is omitted for many components), then the square footage of an open-air garden should be 5 times greater... with ceiling height having little effect on the mass.

While this doesn't improve Brett's original estimate of open spaces required by that much (1 pace could support 5 rather than one person), coupled with more optimistic bio-tech, it could bring it into the area of feasability.

However, Spaceships uses a fixed mass density for components, so just as houserules have popped up for High-Density ships (high armor), perhaps house-rules are needed for low-density ships (open spaces that are actually "open", hydrogen Fuel tanks... maybe even habitats, etc.).

Obviously, the RAW seems to refer not to open-air gardens, but to densely packed hydroponis, fauxflesh vats, etc. This is fine, but the description of the "gardens" seems to imply something different.

Secondly, Spaceships simplifies the Total Life Support with a hand-wave saying that one open space component is what is required, without consideration for population... (both low and high populations may require diffrent amounts.)

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To correct this, a few things would be needed. First is a clarification between low-density "spacious open-air" gardens, and dense biological "food factories"... (including cost, suare-ffotage, etc.). The consequences for use of low-density systems (lower armor rating, increased targeting profile, increased stelth/chameleon/etc. costs... but perhaps benifits in Heat Dispersion, & max G possible for rotating segments.). Finally, a clear consensus of population supported per "Space", based on TL (as bio-tech improves), and perhaps type (low-density vs. High density).

08-26-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
Trachmyr Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida	Re: [Spaceships] Total life support One of the problems is with the level of abstraction used in spaceships. With the volumes given, the Garden open spaces work out to 230 pounds per square foot, while refrence sites online for roof-top gardens tend to average at 40lbs. per square foot. Even with some weight increase for structure (which is omitted for many components), then the square footage of an open-air garden should be 5 times greater... with ceiling height having little effect on the mass. While this doesn't improve Brett's original estimate of open spaces required by that much (1 pace could support 5 rather than one person), coupled with more optimistic bio-tech, it could bring it into the area of feasability. However, Spaceships uses a fixed mass density for components, so just as houserules have popped up for High-Density ships (high armor), perhaps house-rules are needed for low-density ships (open spaces that are actually "open", hydrogen Fuel tanks... maybe even habitats, etc.). Obviously, the RAW seems to refer not to open-air gardens, but to densely packed hydroponis, fauxflesh vats, etc. This is fine, but the description of the "gardens" seems to imply something different. Secondly, Spaceships simplifies the Total Life Support with a hand-wave saying that one open space component is what is required, without consideration for population... (both low and high populations may require diffrent amounts.) ------------------- To correct this, a few things would be needed. First is a clarification between low-density "spacious open-air" gardens, and dense biological "food factories"... (including cost, suare-ffotage, etc.). The consequences for use of low-density systems (lower armor rating, increased targeting profile, increased stelth/chameleon/etc. costs... but perhaps benifits in Heat Dispersion, & max G possible for rotating segments.). Finally, a clear consensus of population supported per "Space", based on TL (as bio-tech improves), and perhaps type (low-density vs. High density).