# Who wants to explore the galaxy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674 "2014-12-08T17:42:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/41 "2014-12-09T05:41:55Z")
I’m already packed. And I don’t even have to ask my partner; sign him up too. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/42 "2014-12-09T15:53:37Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > …I’d want them fired…out of a cannon…into the sun, or at the very least shot with a Veridian Disruptor (the “banned” personal sidearm in the Star Trek TNG-verse) Not quite: [Varon-T disruptor | Memory Alpha | Fandom](http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Varon-T_disruptor) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/43 "2014-12-09T16:46:55Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > do you just stare out the porthole or is there a holodeck? Dude, it’s the maiden voyage of the first full-size interstellar starship. Of course there’s no holodeck. Holodecks are just asking for trouble, anyway. Everybody gets a mass allowance and is encouraged to bring books, DVDs, blank journals, stashes of candy, and so forth. > [@](#): > > do you have to eat long journey expedition food or is there a replicator? Suzie’s hiring a cook, so clearly there’s no food replicator. > [@WhyNot](#): > > Yep. Just let me get my bags. On second thought, there’s nothing there I really need. You sure about that? It’s a two-year trip; at the very least I think you want to start off with at least six pairs of new shoes. Multiple new outfits, really. (Probably the crew will not be in uniforms, for reasons left as an exercise for the student.) And you’ll want your own books & DVDs, a personal DVD player, probably your own laptop (though of course there won’t be any internet access). Gotta keep yourself diverted during your off hours. Which may be sparse. Also you probably want stuff to barter with while on board ship. Even granting that Suzie’s paying her crew generous salaries, money won’t be much good till you’re home. One day you might want to bribe the third mate into taking your watch so you and the hubby can have the same time off for cuddling purposes. > [@](#): > > My SO, while not a surgeon, has worked in real life as The Medic on a couple of navy ships and spent a stint up in the Arctic Circle, so I know he’d be up for it. Between the two of us, we could deal with most of what needs dealing with in a sick bay, although if she expects to be doing actual surgery on her ship, then she’d better keep hiring. Sound thinking. The OP says Suzie’s planning on hiring an actual doctor, but even so, everybody will surely be cross-trained. I expect that the surgeon’s job will be in one of two states: intensely boring, or insanely busy. Also, a merchant marine of my acquaintance tells me that the second mate would be the chief surgeon’s assistant anyway. > [@](#): > > If it was longer than two years, I would hesitate, based on the having a kid thing. But thousands of soldiers are parents and do two year stints without blinking. She can stay with her dad, or her older brother, or my mother. They’ll work it out. I’ll be back before she’s in high school. And she’ll be the coolest kid in middle school, if the trip’s public knowledge. > [@Aquadementia](#): > > Oh, and we really should have a Hello Deck. It will pay for itself if we are meeting lots aliens. Well, Suzie apparently didn’t meet any aliens on the first two trips. Which, statistically, means nothing. But she can’t plan for what she’ll do if y’all run into aliens, because she hasn’t any data. > [@swampspruce](#): > > Sign me up. As a precaution I would make liberal use of the library to make myself: > a) indispensable or at least very, very Useful To Keep Around, and > b) Very adept at learning the skills needed stay alive under various scenarios > because even somewhat evil geniuses need their Renfields and Eyegors. Leaving aside the evil genius bit, I think tons of study will be strongly encouraged for everybody, if not mandatory. SOMEBODY’S dying on this trip and will need to be replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/44 "2014-12-09T16:53:17Z")
No question, I’m going. Don’t even have to ask the SO, he’s going and will probably beat me up the gangway even if he is disabled. The parrots will be pissed off, of course - no chance we could upgrade them a bit and have them as part of the crew I assume? Griffin is pretty damn smart… anyhoo, we’ll work something out for them. (You _sure_ there isn’t a pets-in-stasis feature…?) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/45 "2014-12-09T17:05:23Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > No question, I’m going. Don’t even have to ask the SO, he’s going and will probably beat me up the gangway even if he is disabled. > > The parrots will be pissed off, of course - no chance we could upgrade them a bit and have them as part of the crew I assume? Griffin is pretty damn smart… anyhoo, we’ll work something out for them. (You _sure_ there isn’t a pets-in-stasis feature…?) Since people keep asking… (OP rather than poster) I’m going to rule that Suzie does not have long-term stasis tech on hand. Now she loves you, and she’s a hyper-genius, so she’s probably be willing to try to whip something up–but the ship launches in three months, so obviously anything she comes up will not be tested for three years. Being scrupulously honest (except when dealing with Rhymer Enterprises), she’s going to say, “I’ll build you one, but I can’t promise there won’t be unforeseen complications.” And no, she can’t make exceptions. If she lets her second mate bring along pets, the other officers and some of the crew are gonna demand the same privilege. Moreover, if something goes wrong during the trip resulting in rationing, it’ll be hard to justify feeding the animals over the humans – or not butchering the animals. And further (poster rather than OP) Putting the dogs, cats, parrots, and so forth in stasis isn’t for the animals’ benefits; its for your own. Don’t you people have any friends? Leave your pets with somebody you trust, or stay home. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/46 "2014-12-09T17:53:19Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yep. In a heartbeat. Assuming my wife agrees, of course, and there’s no guarantee of that. I asked my wife, “Can I explore the galaxy” and she said yes. I’m on the gangway with my golden ticket! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/47 "2014-12-09T18:50:31Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Putting the dogs, cats, parrots, and so forth in stasis isn’t for the animals’ benefits; its for your own. Don’t you people have any friends? Leave your pets with somebody you trust, or stay home. Actually, parrots bond VERY strongly with their owners. If I had a year’s notice I could gradually introduce them to “new flock members” so the separation would be less traumatic for them, but it would be very short notice under the circumstances. Sudden long term separations are an issue for them, due to the sort of social animal they are, much more stressful than for dogs or cats. But… well… I’ll work something out for them and be back in a couple years. They’ll be pissed as hell at me, but that’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/48 "2014-12-09T19:09:09Z")
Is there to be artificial gravity, because my muscles are atrophied enough as it is. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/49 "2014-12-09T19:34:57Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Actually, parrots bond VERY strongly with their owners. If I had a year’s notice I could gradually introduce them to “new flock members” so the separation would be less traumatic for them, but it would be very short notice under the circumstances. Sudden long term separations are an issue for them, due to the sort of social animal they are, much more stressful than for dogs or cats. I’ll buy that parrots would be stressed more by separation than cats, but I’ll need a cite for dogs. Hell, prove it to me and I probably still won’t believe it. 😃 > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Is there to be artificial gravity, because my muscles are atrophied enough as it is. Didn’t read the spoiler box, I take it. Ah well, that’s on me. Suzie invented artificial gravity first and figured out everything else from that. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/50 "2014-12-09T20:28:57Z")
Damn, I can’t go. I can’t leave my daughter for that long. The main reason I am not in the military anymore is because I really hate the thought of deploying. So two years is definitely out of the question. If you would have asked me three years ago when it was just me, my wife, and our dog, I would have jumped at the chance. I’m sure I could convince my wife. As for the dog, well, I’ve always hated him. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/51 "2014-12-09T20:47:27Z")
Wait. \*Somebody’s \*gonna die? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/52 "2014-12-09T21:15:27Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Wait. \*Somebody’s \*gonna die? Why? Saying it so definitely is probably hyperbole, but it seems more likely than not that such a voyage as Suzie plans would lead to at least one fatality. Even taking into account the huge speed the Dawn Treader’s will be travelling, it’s travelling an ungodly distance into territory that for all practical purposes is uncharted, with no possible help from home and no likely help from anyone on the way. I don’t care how smart Suzie is; she hasn’t the data to anticipate all possible dangers. I’d go on this voyage if I were single, but nonetheless I’d be hugely surprised if nobody got killed. I didn’t point that out in the OP because it seemed so obvious as to be like saying, “With a ship’s company of 34, there will be a need for more than one bathroom.” ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/53 "2014-12-09T21:31:37Z")
I kind of imagine that on a trip like this if something goes wrong it’ll be a total wipeout for the entire crew and not just part of it. Most likely scenario if they don’t make it back in one piece to a hero’s welcome, fame and glory is that they’re simply never heard of again. edited to add: we, I mean we, because I’m definitely going, death or glory! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/54 "2014-12-09T21:52:40Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > I kind of imagine that on a trip like this if something goes wrong it’ll be a total wipeout for the entire crew and not just part of it. Most likely scenario if they don’t make it back in one piece to a hero’s welcome, fame and glory is that they’re simply never heard of again. > > edited to add: we, I mean we, because I’m definitely going, death or glory! Yeah, if we’re vaporized the moment Suzie hits the FTL button we’re all dead. If we blunder into hostile aliens with more advanced technology than we have, we’re all probably dead. I think a well-equipped crew of 34 ought to be able to survive for two years without any serious accidents. I’m certainly not approaching an alien earthlike planet without having a look around first. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/55 "2014-12-09T22:03:03Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Yeah, if we’re vaporized the moment Suzie hits the FTL button we’re all dead. If we blunder into hostile aliens with more advanced technology than we have, we’re all probably dead. I think a well-equipped crew of 34 ought to be able to survive for two years without any serious accidents. I’m certainly not approaching an alien earthlike planet without having a look around first. Perhaps Suzie adheres to the Prometheus team training regime: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yFYmv6t_Xyg/maxresdefault.jpg "Prometheus Pre-Prequel!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFYmv6t_Xyg) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/56 "2014-12-09T22:10:11Z")
[quote=“Disposable Hero, post:55, topic:706674”] Perhaps Suzie adheres to the Prometheus team training regime: [/QUOTE] That's hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/57 "2014-12-10T03:56:59Z")
I would have at 20, but now I have kids. Maybe when they are old? I have every intention of exploring the galaxy once I’m dead anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/58 "2014-12-10T04:07:49Z")
I am so on board. I’d have to ask the SO, but pretty damn sure he’s on board too. I do have more questions before we leave, but that’s for packing details and will-setting-ups and whatnot. I’ll miss my kittens dearly, but goddamnit, I want off this stupid rock before I die, even if getting off the stupid rock is what makes me die. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/59 "2014-12-10T04:31:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Skald** : > > But there’s others apart from that. If we grant that Suzie’s tech does exactly what she claims, then it seems likely that she’s not the first creature in creation to figure out FTL: just the first earthling. No telling whether other space-faring race out there are gonna be friendly (though simple math says she’s not likely to encounter any right off the bat). And hyper-genius or not, Suzie isn’t likely to have built ships & munition better than theirs yet. Well, when you put it that way, it does seem rather selfish of me to go on the mission instead of someone more deserving, but that’s too abstract for my personal morality. I’ll make up for it by doing my best to learn as much as I can on the mission so I can help protect those helpless sitting ducks stuck on the planet, who are at much more risk from such aliens than I would be. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674/60 "2014-12-10T07:05:47Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Not going. I don’t want to leave my daughter. Pretty sure I don’t want to own any of the blame for what happens to those 144 planets after the mission gets done contaminating and cross-contaminating them (see what happened to the Americas post-1492). Plus being cooped up in the ship with 33 other people for two years sounds…unpleasant. Yeah, I think I’m too antisocial for this gig myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wants-to-explore-the-galaxy/706674.md?page=4)