On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 5:51 PM, Kurt Feltenberger <kurt@thepaw.org> wrote:

On 7/2/2015 5:04 PM, Grimmund wrote:

I am reasonably condfident that at some point in the series, something
used FTL with the sublight drives out, damaged, etc.

I vaguely recall a Raptor stranded in deep space . . .

Presumably, it's pretty low-power. I do not recall anything required
beyond spooling up the FTL (whatever that means; to me it suggests
some sort of moving parts) and pushing the GO button.

When they're first notified of the Cylon strikes at the colonies, Adama or possibly Ty orders, "Break out the jump tables." So apparently whatever calculations are required can be done WELL in advance and are thereafter fixed enough to be printed in bound manuals.

[NOTE: The sound is a bit muddled just as this order is given, at least to my ears. The first time I watched the pilot, I thought the order was "Break out the jump CABLES." and I could not help flashing on a vision of the poor crew deploying an ENORMOUS jump rope into space . . .]

The moving parts, at least on a battlestar, can be rather massive. It's almost like a flywheel or capacitor that they have to spin up to build up enough energy that they can expend in one burst.

I definitely remember that small-ship chase THROUGH the jump engine!

Weren't there ENORMOUS pistons as well?

Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident." Robert A. Heinlein

"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice." - Bill Cosby

"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester