Python Reactor - Revision history

CourseDirector at 22:42, 26 December 2018

2018-12-26T22:42:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 26 December 2018
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	There is no known upward limit on phonic core lifespan. The Foundation has operated some ships for thousands of years(though the oldest known ships may not use python reactor technology at all). In the case of terraforming ships, some were known to operate for three thousand years, and these definitely had python reactor FTL drives.		There is no known upward limit on phonic core lifespan. The Foundation has operated some ships for thousands of years(though the oldest known ships may not use python reactor technology at all). In the case of terraforming ships, some were known to operate for three thousand years, and these definitely had python reactor FTL drives.

			[[Category:Course Books]]

Siddharth1: /* FTL Cool Down */

2017-03-05T22:18:12Z

FTL Cool Down

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:18, 5 March 2017
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	==FTL Cool Down==		==FTL Cool Down==
	As a byproduct of the Python reaction, heat is absorbed by the extensive shielding around the core. Any attempt to disipate the heat would reduce the effectiveness of the shielding; so starships are required to make "cool down" stops every so often. Most of the heat is produced by the coils surrounding the core that convert pythons to produce the ship's energy mantle. The reactor is kept online during these breaks, but heat has to be dissipates from the coils		As a byproduct of the Python reaction, heat is absorbed by the extensive shielding around the core. Any attempt to disipate the heat would reduce the effectiveness of the shielding; so starships are required to make "cool down" stops every so often. Most of the heat is produced by the coils surrounding the core that convert pythons to produce the ship's energy mantle. The reactor is kept online during these breaks, but heat has to be dissipates from the coils.

	===Reactor Meltdown===		===Reactor Meltdown===
	The photonic core itself only absorbes heat from the radiation, the vast majority of heat generated comes from the warp coils. The coils will usually fail before building up enough heat to melt the compounds that comprise them, but in rare cases, an FTL drive pushed well past design tolerances can experience a sudden, catastrophic chain reaction of melting coils. One coil melts, the remnants fall on the coil bellow, melting it, and so on. Along with gasses released in the process, this can produce a violent explosion. The warp coils are outside of the reactor pressure vessel, but within the radiation shielding. In some cases, the shielding can contain the explosion. In most scenarios, however, the shielding will breach and cause secondary explosions throughout the ship.		The photonic core itself only absorbes heat from the radiation, the vast majority of heat generated comes from the warp coils. The coils will usually fail before building up enough heat to melt the compounds that comprise them, but in rare cases, an FTL drive pushed well past design tolerances can experience a sudden, catastrophic chain reaction of melting coils. One coil melts, the remnants fall on the coil bellow, melting it, and so on. Along with gasses released in the process, this can produce a violent explosion. The warp coils are outside of the reactor pressure vessel, but within the radiation shielding. In some cases, the shielding can contain the explosion. In most scenarios, however, the shielding will breach and cause secondary explosions throughout the ship.

	==High-Efficiency Mode==		==High-Efficiency Mode==

Siddharth1: /* Time Problem */

2017-03-05T22:18:00Z

Time Problem

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:18, 5 March 2017
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	The maximum FTL speed for a ship is described as the speed at which it's continued acceleration becomes so small that it is no longer a factor in course calculations. There is no theoretical maximum, though very few ships are able to reach much past factor 20.		The maximum FTL speed for a ship is described as the speed at which it's continued acceleration becomes so small that it is no longer a factor in course calculations. There is no theoretical maximum, though very few ships are able to reach much past factor 20.

	The Time Problem can best be summed up with a comparison to a terrestrial land vehicle traveling only a short distance. Consider a car starting from a dead stop at the end of a short road. The drive presses down on the gas pedal all the way, and the car begins accelerating. Before the maximum speed of the car is reached, it has arrived at ~~it's~~ destination, and must switch from gas to ~~breaks~~. The goal of an FTL course is to reach the destination as quickly as possible, but avoid either overshooting it or falling short.		The Time Problem can best be summed up with a comparison to a terrestrial land vehicle traveling only a short distance. Consider a car starting from a dead stop at the end of a short road. The drive presses down on the gas pedal all the way, and the car begins accelerating. Before the maximum speed of the car is reached, it has arrived at its destination, and must switch from gas to brakes. The goal of an FTL course is to reach the destination as quickly as possible, but avoid either overshooting it or falling short.

	The Time Problem is also particularly vexing in regards to journey lengths. Short trips take longer than long ones; a short flight to a neighboring star system can end up lasting for days(owing to a need to level-off at a lower FTL factor), while a journey many times further can take only a day, because the trip benefits reaching a much higher velocity.		The Time Problem is also particularly vexing in regards to journey lengths. Short trips take longer than long ones; a short flight to a neighboring star system can end up lasting for days (owing to a need to level-off at a lower FTL factor), while a journey many times further can take only a day, because the trip benefits reaching a much higher velocity.

	==FTL Cool Down==		==FTL Cool Down==

CourseDirector: /* FTL Jump Stages */

2016-12-27T04:43:04Z

FTL Jump Stages

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:43, 27 December 2016
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	Going from sub-light to faster-than-light requires the ship to "jump", accelerating rapidly from the maximum normal-space speed(around 70 PSL) to several times faster than the speed of light. This requires a series of events to happen in very precise order.		Going from sub-light to faster-than-light requires the ship to "jump", accelerating rapidly from the maximum normal-space speed(around 70 PSL) to several times faster than the speed of light. This requires a series of events to happen in very precise order.

	* 1. After plotting a course, the ship accelerates along it to it's maximum-possible sublight speed(not to be confused with it's [[Acceleration curve]].		* 1. After plotting a course, the ship accelerates along it to it's maximum-possible sublight speed(not to be confused with it's [[Acceleration curve]]).

	* 2. The Phython Reactor produces the energy mantle		* 2. The Phython Reactor produces the energy mantle

CourseDirector at 01:15, 25 December 2016

2016-12-25T01:15:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:15, 25 December 2016
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	Invented by [[Dr. Rupert Python]], the Python Reacor is the standad method of faster-than-light propulsion employed by the [[Gudersnipe Foundation]].		Invented by [[Dr. Rupert Python]], the Python Reacor is the standad method of [[FTL\|faster-than-light]] propulsion employed by the [[Gudersnipe Foundation]].

	The Reactor itself uses multiple stages to produce Python particles (discovered by Dr. Python), which are employed in the creation of the energy mantle which allows for FTL.		The Reactor itself uses multiple stages to produce Python particles (discovered by Dr. Python), which are employed in the creation of the energy mantle which allows for FTL.

CourseDirector: /* Time Problem */

2016-12-23T01:12:32Z

Time Problem

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:12, 23 December 2016
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	The Time Problem can best be summed up with a comparison to a terrestrial land vehicle traveling only a short distance. Consider a car starting from a dead stop at the end of a short road. The drive presses down on the gas pedal all the way, and the car begins accelerating. Before the maximum speed of the car is reached, it has arrived at it's destination, and must switch from gas to breaks. The goal of an FTL course is to reach the destination as quickly as possible, but avoid either overshooting it or falling short.		The Time Problem can best be summed up with a comparison to a terrestrial land vehicle traveling only a short distance. Consider a car starting from a dead stop at the end of a short road. The drive presses down on the gas pedal all the way, and the car begins accelerating. Before the maximum speed of the car is reached, it has arrived at it's destination, and must switch from gas to breaks. The goal of an FTL course is to reach the destination as quickly as possible, but avoid either overshooting it or falling short.

			The Time Problem is also particularly vexing in regards to journey lengths. Short trips take longer than long ones; a short flight to a neighboring star system can end up lasting for days(owing to a need to level-off at a lower FTL factor), while a journey many times further can take only a day, because the trip benefits reaching a much higher velocity.

	==FTL Cool Down==		==FTL Cool Down==

CourseDirector at 00:46, 23 December 2016

2016-12-23T00:46:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:46, 23 December 2016
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	In general, a minimum velocity of fifty PSL is required to imitate a jump, though the transition is much smoother at higher speeds. The [[Star Hammer]] 90 PSL+ transitions from top speed to FTL so smoothly most passengers do not even notice.		In general, a minimum velocity of fifty PSL is required to imitate a jump, though the transition is much smoother at higher speeds. The [[Star Hammer]] 90 PSL+ transitions from top speed to FTL so smoothly most passengers do not even notice.

			==Time Problem==
			A ship never stops accelerating while under FTL, which makes plotting a course extremely complex. [[FTL Factor]]s are considered ranges, a ship is "at FTL Factor One" when it is traveling at between 100 and 900 times the speed of light. Morover, the rate of acceleration is not constant; the faster a ship is traveling, the slower it is accelerating.

			The maximum FTL speed for a ship is described as the speed at which it's continued acceleration becomes so small that it is no longer a factor in course calculations. There is no theoretical maximum, though very few ships are able to reach much past factor 20.

			The Time Problem can best be summed up with a comparison to a terrestrial land vehicle traveling only a short distance. Consider a car starting from a dead stop at the end of a short road. The drive presses down on the gas pedal all the way, and the car begins accelerating. Before the maximum speed of the car is reached, it has arrived at it's destination, and must switch from gas to breaks. The goal of an FTL course is to reach the destination as quickly as possible, but avoid either overshooting it or falling short.

	==FTL Cool Down==		==FTL Cool Down==

CourseDirector at 00:18, 23 December 2016

2016-12-23T00:18:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:18, 23 December 2016
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	===Reactor Meltdown===		===Reactor Meltdown===
	The photonic core itself only absorbes heat from the radiation, the vast majority of heat generated comes from the warp coils. The coils will usually fail before building up enough heat to melt the compounds that comprise them, but in rare cases, an FTL drive pushed well past design tolerances can experience a sudden, catastrophic chain reaction of melting coils. One ~~coild~~ melts, the remnants fall on the coil bellow, melting it, and so on. Along with gasses released in the process, this can produce a violent explosion. The warp coils are outside of the reactor pressure vessel, but within the radiation shielding. In some cases, the shielding can contain the explosion. In most scenarios, however, the shielding will breach and cause secondary explosions throughout the ship.		The photonic core itself only absorbes heat from the radiation, the vast majority of heat generated comes from the warp coils. The coils will usually fail before building up enough heat to melt the compounds that comprise them, but in rare cases, an FTL drive pushed well past design tolerances can experience a sudden, catastrophic chain reaction of melting coils. One coil melts, the remnants fall on the coil bellow, melting it, and so on. Along with gasses released in the process, this can produce a violent explosion. The warp coils are outside of the reactor pressure vessel, but within the radiation shielding. In some cases, the shielding can contain the explosion. In most scenarios, however, the shielding will breach and cause secondary explosions throughout the ship.

			==High-Efficiency Mode==
			At high [[FTL Factor]]s, usually in the range of 16 or 17, it is possible get the drive system into a very highly efficient configuration wherein the energy mantle is actually pulling the ship through space. The N-space drive is no longer required and heat emanations from the coils are manageable. A ship can maintain this mode for months or even years under the right conditions. This is the proffered method for very long interstellar voyages and a requirement for inter-galactic travel. While in this mode, a python reactor functions most similarly to a [[Slipstream Drive]].

	==Components==		==Components==

CourseDirector at 18:30, 22 December 2016

2016-12-22T18:30:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:30, 22 December 2016
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	===Emergency Modes===		===Emergency Modes===
	In the event of a core failure, assuming all of the support systems are still functional, a very clever reactor operator might be able to re-configure the system to function as a [[Python Inverter]]. This mode is very energy-inefficient and considerably more dangerous, but may be useful in making a short trip. Notably, the [[Saratoga]] mistakenly ran it's reactor in this mode for quite some time.		In the event of a core failure, assuming all of the support systems are still functional, a very clever reactor operator might be able to re-configure the system to function as a [[Python Inverter]]. This mode is very energy-inefficient and considerably more dangerous, but may be useful in making a short trip. Notably, the [[Saratoga]] mistakenly ran it's reactor in this mode for quite some time.

			==Operational Lifespan==
			The Python Reactor and Photonic Core are designed to last the life of the ship. Every other component may be replaced during routine maintenance or have a lower lifespan, but the core has to last forever. Replacing a cracked or breached photonic core typically means dismantling the entire ship.

			As such, a ship with a damaged core is typically considered "beyond economical repair"

			There is no known upward limit on phonic core lifespan. The Foundation has operated some ships for thousands of years(though the oldest known ships may not use python reactor technology at all). In the case of terraforming ships, some were known to operate for three thousand years, and these definitely had python reactor FTL drives.

CourseDirector at 18:19, 22 December 2016

2016-12-22T18:19:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 22 December 2016
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	In general, a minimum velocity of fifty PSL is required to imitate a jump, though the transition is much smoother at higher speeds. The [[Star Hammer]] 90 PSL+ transitions from top speed to FTL so smoothly most passengers do not even notice.		In general, a minimum velocity of fifty PSL is required to imitate a jump, though the transition is much smoother at higher speeds. The [[Star Hammer]] 90 PSL+ transitions from top speed to FTL so smoothly most passengers do not even notice.

			==FTL Cool Down==
			As a byproduct of the Python reaction, heat is absorbed by the extensive shielding around the core. Any attempt to disipate the heat would reduce the effectiveness of the shielding; so starships are required to make "cool down" stops every so often. Most of the heat is produced by the coils surrounding the core that convert pythons to produce the ship's energy mantle. The reactor is kept online during these breaks, but heat has to be dissipates from the coils

			===Reactor Meltdown===
			The photonic core itself only absorbes heat from the radiation, the vast majority of heat generated comes from the warp coils. The coils will usually fail before building up enough heat to melt the compounds that comprise them, but in rare cases, an FTL drive pushed well past design tolerances can experience a sudden, catastrophic chain reaction of melting coils. One coild melts, the remnants fall on the coil bellow, melting it, and so on. Along with gasses released in the process, this can produce a violent explosion. The warp coils are outside of the reactor pressure vessel, but within the radiation shielding. In some cases, the shielding can contain the explosion. In most scenarios, however, the shielding will breach and cause secondary explosions throughout the ship.

	==Components==		==Components==
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	Particles exit the core and are routed through the photon traps. These rapidly spinning scoops travel at nearly the speed of light themselves, and require careful tuning and calibration. The traps separate out photons and channel them back into the core, sustaining the reaction and producing more pythons.		Particles exit the core and are routed through the photon traps. These rapidly spinning scoops travel at nearly the speed of light themselves, and require careful tuning and calibration. The traps separate out photons and channel them back into the core, sustaining the reaction and producing more pythons.

	===Energy Mantle===		===Warp Coils===
			Warp coils harvest pythons from the core and convert them to produce the ship's energy mantle. They are named because they "warp" the space around the ship, transferring it partially out of normal space. A coil is similar in function to a [[Multi-SPatial Technology\|multi-spatial circuit]], though scaled up and considerably less sophisticated.

			As part of the FTL drive, coils are considered a sacrifice component with a high failure rate and low operational lifespan.

			====Energy Mantle====
	The energy mantle is projected by the Python Reactor, and is itself composed of Python Particles. The interactions between the ship and the mantle are very complicated and multi-dimensional:		The energy mantle is projected by the Python Reactor, and is itself composed of Python Particles. The interactions between the ship and the mantle are very complicated and multi-dimensional: