# Star Trek (TOS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [September 21, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122 "2020-09-21T05:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/201 "2020-10-01T01:20:37Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > How deep below the surface did a capsule reach before bobbing back up to where the destroyer could retrieve it? It looks like they did not.from what I can find and what I remember, capsules, which had a broad, flat heat shield and multiple chutes, never experienced full immersion upon impact. I do recall hearing Gemini coverage where they were talking about terminology: if the capsule (which was somewhat aspect-taller than the Apollo capsules) was floating on its heat shield, it was in Stable-One position, and if it was tipped over, it was in Stable-Two position. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/202 "2020-10-01T01:53:50Z")
IIRC, the Mercury and Gemini capsules also had bellows-like extensions of the heat shields that cushioned their landings and helped keep them afloat upright, until the flotation collars could be attached. So yes, they were never immersed deeply when landing at sea. I imagine the simpler, more spherical design of Soviet capsules meant fairly hard landings on land, even though they were slowed by parachutes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/203 "2020-10-01T02:09:26Z")
Interesting (to me) factoid. The Gemini capsule (I like pt pronounce it ‘jim-in-ee’) had landing gear. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/204 "2020-10-01T03:32:27Z")
Did it? I know there were proposals for Gemini to land with a steerable parachute or Rogallo wing (similar to a hang glider), and that capsule would have needed landing gear. I’m pretty sure neither of those ever flew, but there are traces of those designs on the final capsule. The parachute that was used was attached to the capsule at two places; the pointy end (where Mercury and Apollo had their parachutes) and near the heat shield. That meant the Gemini capsule came down in a horizontal orientation, with the pilots sitting up and having some forward visibility. I don’t know when the steerable landing options were abandoned. Weight was so critical in those days that I don’t think NASA would have installed landing gear that wouldn’t be used. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were still attachment points for landing gear, or other vestiges of the original design. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/205 "2020-10-01T05:39:42Z")
The Revell 1/48 model of the Gemini capsule that I had as a kid has the option of building it with the landing gear, which had skids instead of wheels. The nose cone had to be left off to expose the interior workings of the landing gear. No airfoil was provided, but I believe the compartments in which it would have been stored could be left open as well. The bigger 1/32 model had no such options. The landing gear were probably scrapped once it was decided all recoveries would be at sea. I believe the Air Force had a similar program called the Dyna-Soar that was also supposed land on skids, but it was found to be much less efficient than the Gemini capsules. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/206 "2020-10-01T06:35:24Z")
Shit, I knew that. I was thinking of an equally stupid show/movie (I can’t remember the details) that did something similar with a shuttle. Gemini capsule, two people, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/207 "2020-10-01T06:54:47Z")
For your entertainment: [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u3hx6](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u3hx6) Enjoy! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/208 "2020-10-01T14:51:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > For your entertainment: > > [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u3hx6](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6u3hx6) > > Enjoy! 🙂 Why is all the writing backwards? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/209 "2020-10-01T14:53:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why is all the writing backwards? I think some video pirates (arrr matey!) think if they reverse the video, then the automated copyright cops can’t find it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/210 "2020-10-01T15:19:06Z")
That was my guess too. I had forgotten there was a samovar inside the space capsule. The older ones burned charcoal, which is why the chimney is connected to that hose. A nice touch, that. 🙂 (Modern ones use electricity.) They also have what was called a “red corner” (_красный угол_) on board. These were little shrines to Lenin that were set up in official buildings. It’s amazing how much open space is in that capsule, and that the cosmonauts are free to stand, walk around, and sit upright. The lettering on the outside makes no sense whatsoever. I think they were going for “New World” (_Новый Свет_), but they missed it by a mile. The spoken Russian is more or less accurate, but difficult to understand. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/211 "2020-10-01T15:24:42Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Why is all the writing backwards? > > I think some video pirates (arrr matey!) think if they reverse the video, then the automated copyright cops can’t find it. They should have done that with the commercials, too. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/212 "2020-10-01T17:39:25Z")
Okay, back to Star Trek. I just started “By Any Other Name.” Does the crew of the Enterprise get to play freeze tag for pretty much the whole episode? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/213 "2020-10-01T18:40:47Z")
They’re all transformed into those crumbly blocks, yeah. It was just a way of getting all those unneeded extras out of the way to cut costs. This episode is notable for (a) a reference to an earlier episode (“A Taste of Armageddon”), a rare thing in '60s episodic TV, and (b) the sole death of a female Security officer (a “Redskirt”?) in the run of _ **TOS** _. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/214 "2020-10-01T19:43:30Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > a reference to an earlier episode (“A Taste of Armageddon”), Also references the energy barrier from Where No Man Has Gone Before. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/215 "2020-10-01T19:52:20Z")
That’s right! I get the feeling this was the point in the second season where they started getting low on ideas. The “crumbly blocks to cut down on extras” thing was a completely arbitrary decision on the part of Gene Coon. When approached to solve the extras problem, he was playing with an onyx dodecahedron from Mexico that he kept on his desk as a paperweight. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/216 "2020-10-01T20:58:37Z")
And of course, no one got heightened ESP powers going through the barrier. Funny, that. Would have been useful to defeat the Kelvans. ALL of the Kelvans. " You don’t understand the scope of my crime. I didn’t kill just one Kelvan, or a hundred, or a thousand. I killed them all. All Kelvan everywhere. They were like ants." ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/217 "2020-10-01T21:26:34Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I didn’t kill just one Kelvan, or a hundred, or a thousand. I killed them all. All Kelvan everywhere. That is cold. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/218 "2020-10-01T23:04:02Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > That is cold. Absolutely! ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/219 "2020-10-01T23:27:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I always hated the episodes where the culture they encountered was just like one on Earth, whether Romans or Chicago gangsters or Nazis or Native Americans. One reason they did that was to cut down on their costuming costs. TV studios already had costumes for Romans, gangsters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122/220 "2020-10-02T00:07:50Z")
They could also use existing sets. _City on the Edge of Forever_ was filmed on the set of the _Andy Griffith Show_. You can see William Shatner and Joan Collins walking past Floyd’s Barber Shop in one scene. [![](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/5/50/Floyd%27s_Barber_Shop.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20110628042040&path-prefix=en) ](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/5/50/Floyd%27s_Barber_Shop.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20110628042040&path-prefix=en) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tos/921122.md?page=12)