David replied to me: > > just a quick thought -- by the rules, a 3E TL5 or TL6 vehicle can > > be sealed, battery-powered, and fitted with limited life support. [...] > > Well, sure. TL6 has submarines, which are air tight. > > What TL6 doesn't have are any of the technologies for closed loop > systems. So a colony that lost its tech would be dead as soon as > things broke down. I suspect that would happen before the desire to > build inefficient vehicles came on.
Hello David, two factors here. Traveller has interstellar trade, so even a world listed as TL6 can afford some imports. With TL6 exports, they won't be able to afford much in the way of higher tech, but the most vital systems can be handled. On the other hand, a TL6 listing means that TL6 is the most prevalent technology in day-to-day use, so certainly we'll see TL6 vehicles. But Traveller Starships covers technology from TL7 up, and it has farm modules all the way down to TL7. Who knows what the TL for ground-based closed systems really is? Last but not least, how closed is a closed system? 95% would be enough to reduce the required food imports significantly. And Rupert replied: > Well, TL6 certainly should be able to make such a thing. After all, TL6 > is sufficient for submarines that are proofed against rather more than a > mere one atmosphere difference in pressure. Hello Rupert, my first question was about the rules. When it comes to the real world, I can think of many problems. Maybe they can be overcome, maybe not ... * Temperature control. Water helps to radiate waste heat, and it isn't all that cold, either. * Brittleness from extreme temperatures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductile-brittle_transition#Ductile-brittle_transition_temperature And what is the material for airlock or viewport seals? * Sealing against water might be easier than sealing against gas loss. Are the motors within the pressure hull, or outside? * How much air will be lost every time you cycle an airlock? If water is precious, the same applies to oxygen. * How do you get rid of fine dust? Will it gum up systems? * Vacuum cementing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_cementing Probably all of those can be overcome. We made it to the Moon in the middle of TL7, after all. But some or all will be a real headache for the designers and maintenance crews. Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
