Starship technology appears tomorrow. Do you go?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Imagine that tomorrow, scientists discover a way to create a fully-functioning Galaxy-class starship like the Enterprise-D from ST:TNG. The governments of the world decide to build one and it will be completed in one year. They government is also asking for volunteers to man this starship.

Here are the parameters:

For all intents and purposes, the ship will function and perform exactly like the one in ST:TNG. The only difference is that it exists now in our time and universe. There are replicators, subspace communications, phasers, photon torpedoes, holodecks, shuttlecraft, transporters, artificial gravity, warp speed, etc. It will carry crew, scientists, support personnel and children of those aboard.

You are allowed to take your immediate family with you. There will be a minimum 5-year signup. In other words, once you launch, you will not return to Earth for 5 years. You will still be able to communicate with the people back on Earth.

Before launch, everything we know about the universe is the same as it is right now (excepting the technology that made this ship possible). We didn’t get any knowledge about other civilizations or races out there. Basically, it’s as if “poof” starship tech appears and we get to use it. There is no “Federation.” This is not set in the Star Trek universe. It’s the world as we know it today, but we get to play with a Star Trek-like spaceship. Even though there’s no “Federation” or Starfleet, there will still be corresponding jobs on this starship.

Disregard any political and sociological questions about the appearance of this technology. This is just a thought experiment.

Here are my questions:

Would you volunteer to serve aboard?
If so, what role would you like? Captain? Support Personnel? Barber? Teacher? Research scientist? Holodeck cleaner?
Where do you think we should go first?

I think I would go and take my family. I’d be a teacher for the children on board.

2

Hell yes. I’m sure I could do something useful as a somewhat elderly computer scientist. Where’s the transporter pad.

3

Good lord yes. In a heartbeat. I’d be more than happy to serve as a mid-rank officer. Just not in Security, thanks. Command or Navigation, possibly.

4

Sure I’d go. Just as long as the colour of my shirt isn’t red…

5

Yeah, I’d go, but would feign illness if chosen for an away mission on the first occasion I set foot on the bridge.

6

So let me get this straight: Holodecks exist now? Not just on starships?

No thanks. I’ll be in my holodeck.

7

I think I’d rather sit the first mission out, until we have some idea whether the missions will involve first contact with alien species or just be a geological survey of the stars. Interstellar travel is cool, but it’s even cooler if you have somewhere to travel to.

8

what’s the drawback? before i read the OP i thought it might be a no-return-trip decision.

9

I’d go in a heartbeat. Serving as some sort of scientist would be nice.

Since no one has answered this part… checking out the neighborhood first would be best, I think. The Alpha Centauri system, followed by Sirius. Other nearby stars, then start checking out some of the cooler stuff, farther away, like the Orion Nebula.

10

Same here. Hell, it would be worth it for the medical plan.

I’m not sure what sort of job that I could do, as it’s been years since I’ve watched ST. I think I could qualify for something, though.

11

I don’t think I would. I kinda like Earth.

Not that I have anything against interstellar travel, but until we find a good destination, it just seems kinda claustrophobic… if I wanted that experience, I’d sign up to be a submariner.

On the other hand, if we found a hospitable planet somewhere (either naturally or after terraforming), I’d love to be one of the initial settlers.

12

Oh hell yeah, I’m just gonna work in sickbay doin’ my usual gig, I don’t have any family to bring, first stop: homeworld of the Orion slave girls.

13

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! I don’t care if I’m the gardener, windshield wiper or poop sculpture artist, I’d sell my house, my car, my furniture and my neighbor’s first-born to join! My dogs are part of my family, though, and I want to bring them along. I hope we’ll meet other civilizations. Although I enjoy watching space battles for entertainment, I don’t want to actually be in the middle of one. I just want to be an interstellar tourist seeing the cosmic sights and visiting new (and friendly) civilizations. :slight_smile:

14

Yes, if the thing went fast enough you could get actually get from one neat solar system to another in a relatively short period of time.

But I ain’t taking no holodeck cleaning job. Probably more white stuff in one of those than a Herman Melville novel. And probably lots of blood and body parts once in awhile too.

And I finally realized why those shirts are red. Cause when they die, the blood stains arent a problem and they can reissue them. Recyle and Reuse is probably pretty important on a starship.

15

Well, I’m poor.

Do we get paid? :slight_smile:

16

I’d probably have to go, because my kids would make me do it.

17

Of course I’d go. And since the OP made it available, I’ll be taking the Captain slot. Starting at the top would rock.

18

Probably better you than Skald, I guess. Dibs on Science Officer!

19

My first thought was somewhat like AClockworkMelon’s: if we have replicators and holodecks and advanced medical technology, then life on earth suddenly becomes all that much more appealing. With that in mind, plus all of my animals that I doubt I’d be able to take along, I may choose to stay on earth.

But the chance to tour space would be very appealing. Assuming that this new technology would exist only on the starship, I would volunteer. Maybe as a security officer.

20

Really, I suspect space is mostly boring emptiness. (Or is it just me?)