Hooray for BSG - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Trouble · 11th August 2005, 03:04 AM

I am so glad that they do realistic space fighter combat. I love the fact that when the Vipers want to shoot someone behind them, they flip the ship around and while still flying in their initial direction, they shoot their target........However, in the first season, when Starbuck was shot down, they cut to a cockpit scene, that showed an altimeter, yes an altimeter, spinning wildly. Can someone please explain why a space ship would need an altimeter, and more importantly, what is it measuring the height from?? The nearest planet? And I'm asuming that it's a radar based altimeter, as an atmosphere pressure based one would not work real well. Also, when Adama got shot, Why in the world would a ship as large as the Galactica only have One doctor. One doctor what are they crazy????

Still love the show though.

Dave · 11th August 2005, 09:33 AM

I thought that episode with Starbuck being shot down was badly written all around. Didn't she get a hole in the cockpit while still in space and plug it with a piece of clothing?

As for only one doctor, if you remember back to the pilot episode, the Galactica was a museum, not a combat ship. She was never expected to return back to active service. You wouldn't get that many serious injuries in a museum!

Trouble · 16th August 2005, 02:25 AM

That's true, you would not expect a lot of medical injuries, but the military still would have a minimum number of doctors in the TO&E. Plus, it would only make sense for them to "requisition" doctors from the fleet, since they are the only ones engaging in combat. And why wouldn't fabric clog a hole in a spacecraft? What's wrong with that?

Dave · 2nd September 2005, 02:08 PM

If it was porous fabric then the air would still leak through. It was a flight jacket though, so maybe it would seal the hole, only it wasn't fastened into place in anyway, such as with glue. She had atmospheric pressure inside and something close to a vacuum outside, so wouldn't it just go 'pop' and get pushed out?

McHorde-Trooper · 2nd September 2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trouble
I am so glad that they do realistic space fighter combat. I love the fact that when the Vipers want to shoot someone behind them, they flip the ship around and while still flying in their initial direction, they shoot their target........However, in the first season, when Starbuck was shot down, they cut to a cockpit scene, that showed an altimeter, yes an altimeter, spinning wildly. Can someone please explain why a space ship would need an altimeter, and more importantly, what is it measuring the height from?? The nearest planet? And I'm asuming that it's a radar based altimeter, as an atmosphere pressure based one would not work real well. Also, when Adama got shot, Why in the world would a ship as large as the Galactica only have One doctor. One doctor what are they crazy????

Still love the show though.

The episode you are refering to happened in Season 1 not Season 2

1.05: You Can't Go Home Again
http://64.46.119.37/forums/showthrea...threadid=21017

= = =
Hmm . . I guess I'll post this theory twice, since it doesn't seem to be covered in either thread.

Quote:

Originally posted by Trouble
. . .Can someone please explain why a space ship would need an altimeter, and more importantly, what is it measuring the height from?? The nearest planet?

Maybe the ships work in space and in atmosphere.

Measuring from the nearest planet sounds like a good theory.

I guess the other theory is that they thought it looked cool, so the writers used it even if it didn't make sense.

Varvara · 18th September 2005, 01:54 AM

In my opinion, sci fi shows are about entertainment and fantasy, not accuracy. You might ask why, so far in the future, they are still using needles to inject medication? Or how come no one has a mobile phone or other wireless device for every day communication? And they haven't found a cure for cancer by then? Every so often, we see things and say, "Wait a minute, they'd certainly have more advanced methods of doing things by then." I realize that the ship was a museum and they had 'primitive' technology so the Cylons couldn't jam their networks, etc. but....some of the technololgies just don't make sense for the future. I say...who cares? I think it's part of its charm. Plus, it's fun to find things like that and smile. Don't you think?

Varvara · 18th September 2005, 02:00 AM

First, let me say that I just love the doctor. He's so funny with his cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his wise cracks. One would assume that every ship would have a doctor on board. I can't really answer why they seem to only have one. Maybe we just haven't met any yet and they send him all over the place because they don't want to pay more actors for speaking parts.

11th August 2005, 03:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trouble Head Causer of Trouble Join Date: May 2003 Location: Indiana, United States of America Posts: 8	Hooray for BSG I am so glad that they do realistic space fighter combat. I love the fact that when the Vipers want to shoot someone behind them, they flip the ship around and while still flying in their initial direction, they shoot their target........However, in the first season, when Starbuck was shot down, they cut to a cockpit scene, that showed an altimeter, yes an altimeter, spinning wildly. Can someone please explain why a space ship would need an altimeter, and more importantly, what is it measuring the height from?? The nearest planet? And I'm asuming that it's a radar based altimeter, as an atmosphere pressure based one would not work real well. Also, when Adama got shot, Why in the world would a ship as large as the Galactica only have One doctor. One doctor what are they crazy???? Still love the show though.

16th August 2005, 02:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Trouble Head Causer of Trouble Join Date: May 2003 Location: Indiana, United States of America Posts: 8	Yea but..... That's true, you would not expect a lot of medical injuries, but the military still would have a minimum number of doctors in the TO&E. Plus, it would only make sense for them to "requisition" doctors from the fleet, since they are the only ones engaging in combat. And why wouldn't fabric clog a hole in a spacecraft? What's wrong with that?

18th September 2005, 01:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Varvara Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 6	Altimeter...part of the charm of the show In my opinion, sci fi shows are about entertainment and fantasy, not accuracy. You might ask why, so far in the future, they are still using needles to inject medication? Or how come no one has a mobile phone or other wireless device for every day communication? And they haven't found a cure for cancer by then? Every so often, we see things and say, "Wait a minute, they'd certainly have more advanced methods of doing things by then." I realize that the ship was a museum and they had 'primitive' technology so the Cylons couldn't jam their networks, etc. but....some of the technololgies just don't make sense for the future. I say...who cares? I think it's part of its charm. Plus, it's fun to find things like that and smile. Don't you think?

18th September 2005, 02:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Varvara Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 6	Oh, and about the doctor First, let me say that I just love the doctor. He's so funny with his cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his wise cracks. One would assume that every ship would have a doctor on board. I can't really answer why they seem to only have one. Maybe we just haven't met any yet and they send him all over the place because they don't want to pay more actors for speaking parts.

11th August 2005, 09:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,443	I thought that episode with Starbuck being shot down was badly written all around. Didn't she get a hole in the cockpit while still in space and plug it with a piece of clothing? As for only one doctor, if you remember back to the pilot episode, the Galactica was a museum, not a combat ship. She was never expected to return back to active service. You wouldn't get that many serious injuries in a museum!

2nd September 2005, 02:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dave Wherever I Am, I'm There Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greater London Posts: 11,443	If it was porous fabric then the air would still leak through. It was a flight jacket though, so maybe it would seal the hole, only it wasn't fastened into place in anyway, such as with glue. She had atmospheric pressure inside and something close to a vacuum outside, so wouldn't it just go 'pop' and get pushed out?