Mixing
Why couldn't Scotty beam Spock out of the radiation chamber in Wrath of Khan?
Spock sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan by entering a radiation chamber to re-align the dilithium crystals.
Doctor McCoy warned Spock not to enter the chamber. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott warned him not to enter or he would die. Spock did it anyway.
Why did Scott not use the point-to-point abilities of the transporters to beam Spock directly from the radiation chamber to sickbay?
Please answer by providing quotes from canon sources.
star-trek spock the-wrath-of-khan
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
add a comment |
Spock sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan by entering a radiation chamber to re-align the dilithium crystals.
Doctor McCoy warned Spock not to enter the chamber. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott warned him not to enter or he would die. Spock did it anyway.
Why did Scott not use the point-to-point abilities of the transporters to beam Spock directly from the radiation chamber to sickbay?
Please answer by providing quotes from canon sources.
star-trek spock the-wrath-of-khan
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
12
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
2
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
1
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35
add a comment |
Spock sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan by entering a radiation chamber to re-align the dilithium crystals.
Doctor McCoy warned Spock not to enter the chamber. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott warned him not to enter or he would die. Spock did it anyway.
Why did Scott not use the point-to-point abilities of the transporters to beam Spock directly from the radiation chamber to sickbay?
Please answer by providing quotes from canon sources.
star-trek spock the-wrath-of-khan
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
Spock sacrificed himself to save the Enterprise at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan by entering a radiation chamber to re-align the dilithium crystals.
Doctor McCoy warned Spock not to enter the chamber. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott warned him not to enter or he would die. Spock did it anyway.
Why did Scott not use the point-to-point abilities of the transporters to beam Spock directly from the radiation chamber to sickbay?
Please answer by providing quotes from canon sources.
star-trek spock the-wrath-of-khan
star-trek spock the-wrath-of-khan
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
edited Dec 31 '18 at 23:58
Buzz
1
1
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
asked Dec 31 '18 at 23:38
RichSRichS
18k1695244
18k1695244
12
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
2
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
1
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35
add a comment |
12
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
2
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
1
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35
12
12
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
2
2
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
1
1
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
I believe
Sir, he's dead already.
covers it. Once Captain Spock had finished with the repairs, nothing could be done to save him. Had Spock wanted to, he could have come back out of the chamber through the same swivelling radiation lock by which he entered. However, doing so would only endanger anyone who tried to come to Spock's aid, because by that time his body itself would be a dangerous source of radiation. Since he is assuredly going to die, the safest (most logical, as Spock would want it) thing to do was to leave him in the containment chamber until the crisis was over and his corpse could be removed safely.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
|
show 2 more comments
Scott had already stated that anyone entering the chamber would be dead in under a minute.
"It isna possible, sir!" Mr. Scott cried. "The radiation level is far too high; i' ha' already burned out the electronics o' the repair robot, and if ye went in in a suit 'twould freeze for the same reason! A person unprotected wouldna last a minute!"
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Official novelisation
Spock enters the chamber and Bones and Scotty both yell at him to come back out again but only for a few seconds (while it's still possible that he might make it out alive). After that they simply watch in "helpless horror" as he completes the modifications and fixes the engine.
HIS FACE: His face, using all the self discipline he is capable of to control the pain, continuing to work --
WITHOUT: Bones and Scotty react in helpless horror.
Wrath of Khan - Original Screenplay
Since Spock has already taken a lethal dose, beaming his body from the chamber would simply expose the sickbay personnel to radiation for no good purpose (since they can't possibly heal him) and there's a job that needs to be done. Once he's finished, It's clearly safer all round to just wait a few more minutes for the decontamination cycle to be completed and then drag Spock out in a lead-lined bodybag.
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f202482%2fwhy-couldnt-scotty-beam-spock-out-of-the-radiation-chamber-in-wrath-of-khan%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I believe
Sir, he's dead already.
covers it. Once Captain Spock had finished with the repairs, nothing could be done to save him. Had Spock wanted to, he could have come back out of the chamber through the same swivelling radiation lock by which he entered. However, doing so would only endanger anyone who tried to come to Spock's aid, because by that time his body itself would be a dangerous source of radiation. Since he is assuredly going to die, the safest (most logical, as Spock would want it) thing to do was to leave him in the containment chamber until the crisis was over and his corpse could be removed safely.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
|
show 2 more comments
I believe
Sir, he's dead already.
covers it. Once Captain Spock had finished with the repairs, nothing could be done to save him. Had Spock wanted to, he could have come back out of the chamber through the same swivelling radiation lock by which he entered. However, doing so would only endanger anyone who tried to come to Spock's aid, because by that time his body itself would be a dangerous source of radiation. Since he is assuredly going to die, the safest (most logical, as Spock would want it) thing to do was to leave him in the containment chamber until the crisis was over and his corpse could be removed safely.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
|
show 2 more comments
I believe
Sir, he's dead already.
covers it. Once Captain Spock had finished with the repairs, nothing could be done to save him. Had Spock wanted to, he could have come back out of the chamber through the same swivelling radiation lock by which he entered. However, doing so would only endanger anyone who tried to come to Spock's aid, because by that time his body itself would be a dangerous source of radiation. Since he is assuredly going to die, the safest (most logical, as Spock would want it) thing to do was to leave him in the containment chamber until the crisis was over and his corpse could be removed safely.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
I believe
Sir, he's dead already.
covers it. Once Captain Spock had finished with the repairs, nothing could be done to save him. Had Spock wanted to, he could have come back out of the chamber through the same swivelling radiation lock by which he entered. However, doing so would only endanger anyone who tried to come to Spock's aid, because by that time his body itself would be a dangerous source of radiation. Since he is assuredly going to die, the safest (most logical, as Spock would want it) thing to do was to leave him in the containment chamber until the crisis was over and his corpse could be removed safely.
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
edited Jan 1 at 20:05
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
answered Dec 31 '18 at 23:57
BuzzBuzz
1
1
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
|
show 2 more comments
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
13
13
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
Also site to site transport didn't seem to really be a thing in the TOS era (and quite rare in TNG) and transporters are shown to not be usable around sources of radiation...
– Jon Clements
Jan 1 at 0:30
1
1
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
Thorn Radiation on the Star Trek universe has effects on transporters.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Thoron_radiation There are other radiations that do as well, but I cannot remember which ones right now.
– Sarriesfan
Jan 1 at 1:22
4
4
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
@RichS The most notable "can't beam due to radiation" episode was the TNG episode The Quality of Life
– Machavity
Jan 1 at 3:58
3
3
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
It's radiation, not anthrax. Being exposed to radiation does not necessarily make you radioactive, For that to happen, you would have to ingest gamma emitting material or get any emitting material on your clothing,
– Harper
Jan 1 at 20:18
3
3
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
@Harper Depends on the type of radiation. If the warp core was emitting neutrons (magic handwavium transparent shielding around the room?) Spock would become a fairly nasty emitter of all kinds of radiation in a very short time....
– madscientist159
Jan 3 at 7:27
|
show 2 more comments
Scott had already stated that anyone entering the chamber would be dead in under a minute.
"It isna possible, sir!" Mr. Scott cried. "The radiation level is far too high; i' ha' already burned out the electronics o' the repair robot, and if ye went in in a suit 'twould freeze for the same reason! A person unprotected wouldna last a minute!"
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Official novelisation
Spock enters the chamber and Bones and Scotty both yell at him to come back out again but only for a few seconds (while it's still possible that he might make it out alive). After that they simply watch in "helpless horror" as he completes the modifications and fixes the engine.
HIS FACE: His face, using all the self discipline he is capable of to control the pain, continuing to work --
WITHOUT: Bones and Scotty react in helpless horror.
Wrath of Khan - Original Screenplay
Since Spock has already taken a lethal dose, beaming his body from the chamber would simply expose the sickbay personnel to radiation for no good purpose (since they can't possibly heal him) and there's a job that needs to be done. Once he's finished, It's clearly safer all round to just wait a few more minutes for the decontamination cycle to be completed and then drag Spock out in a lead-lined bodybag.
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
add a comment |
Scott had already stated that anyone entering the chamber would be dead in under a minute.
"It isna possible, sir!" Mr. Scott cried. "The radiation level is far too high; i' ha' already burned out the electronics o' the repair robot, and if ye went in in a suit 'twould freeze for the same reason! A person unprotected wouldna last a minute!"
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Official novelisation
Spock enters the chamber and Bones and Scotty both yell at him to come back out again but only for a few seconds (while it's still possible that he might make it out alive). After that they simply watch in "helpless horror" as he completes the modifications and fixes the engine.
HIS FACE: His face, using all the self discipline he is capable of to control the pain, continuing to work --
WITHOUT: Bones and Scotty react in helpless horror.
Wrath of Khan - Original Screenplay
Since Spock has already taken a lethal dose, beaming his body from the chamber would simply expose the sickbay personnel to radiation for no good purpose (since they can't possibly heal him) and there's a job that needs to be done. Once he's finished, It's clearly safer all round to just wait a few more minutes for the decontamination cycle to be completed and then drag Spock out in a lead-lined bodybag.
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
add a comment |
Scott had already stated that anyone entering the chamber would be dead in under a minute.
"It isna possible, sir!" Mr. Scott cried. "The radiation level is far too high; i' ha' already burned out the electronics o' the repair robot, and if ye went in in a suit 'twould freeze for the same reason! A person unprotected wouldna last a minute!"
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Official novelisation
Spock enters the chamber and Bones and Scotty both yell at him to come back out again but only for a few seconds (while it's still possible that he might make it out alive). After that they simply watch in "helpless horror" as he completes the modifications and fixes the engine.
HIS FACE: His face, using all the self discipline he is capable of to control the pain, continuing to work --
WITHOUT: Bones and Scotty react in helpless horror.
Wrath of Khan - Original Screenplay
Since Spock has already taken a lethal dose, beaming his body from the chamber would simply expose the sickbay personnel to radiation for no good purpose (since they can't possibly heal him) and there's a job that needs to be done. Once he's finished, It's clearly safer all round to just wait a few more minutes for the decontamination cycle to be completed and then drag Spock out in a lead-lined bodybag.
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
Scott had already stated that anyone entering the chamber would be dead in under a minute.
"It isna possible, sir!" Mr. Scott cried. "The radiation level is far too high; i' ha' already burned out the electronics o' the repair robot, and if ye went in in a suit 'twould freeze for the same reason! A person unprotected wouldna last a minute!"
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan - Official novelisation
Spock enters the chamber and Bones and Scotty both yell at him to come back out again but only for a few seconds (while it's still possible that he might make it out alive). After that they simply watch in "helpless horror" as he completes the modifications and fixes the engine.
HIS FACE: His face, using all the self discipline he is capable of to control the pain, continuing to work --
WITHOUT: Bones and Scotty react in helpless horror.
Wrath of Khan - Original Screenplay
Since Spock has already taken a lethal dose, beaming his body from the chamber would simply expose the sickbay personnel to radiation for no good purpose (since they can't possibly heal him) and there's a job that needs to be done. Once he's finished, It's clearly safer all round to just wait a few more minutes for the decontamination cycle to be completed and then drag Spock out in a lead-lined bodybag.
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
edited Jan 1 at 1:03
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
answered Jan 1 at 0:43
ValorumValorum
397k10228833117
397k10228833117
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
add a comment |
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
3
3
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
Did they use lead-lined things for radiation protection? In any ST shows? I remember a lot of "radiation inoculation" injections or drinks, but they weren't big on physical barriers to radiation, like lead-lined suits, was there? In one Enterprise episode they hid inside the warp nacelles from a neutronic storm saturated with radiolytic isotopes (and a Voyager episode where they went through a nebula filled with skin burning deadly radiation, but they just went to sleep...?)
– Xen2050
Jan 1 at 7:21
1
1
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 - In the Abramverse the Admiral uses torpedo cases to hide (spoilers) bodies specifically because they're generally radiation-proof which makes them impossible to scan through. That being said, the Federation generally use torpedoes as coffins so it's hard to say that that was the impetus
– Valorum
Jan 1 at 11:15
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Xen2050 At the time of Enterprise, shielding was often a concern - indeed, the episode you're talking about had them hide in the warp nacelles to avoid radiation (and there's talk about how they had to disable the warp core long before hiding there, to give the nacelles a time to dissipate the induced radiation); IIRC the villains even threaten them with starting up the warp core if they don't surrender, which would kill them pretty much instantly. Radiation inoculation didn't appear until Crusher; I'm still surprised they didn't develop bullet or phaser inoculation by the time of Voyager.
– Luaan
Jan 1 at 13:33
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
@Luaan The problem with firing up the core was pretty much just heat. Granted, in this context, that's a form of radiation.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 1 at 21:30
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
+1 for including an excerpt from the novel that mentions using a repair robot. Which answers the question not addressed in the film - why not simply fix the engines with a remotely controlled robot?
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:27
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f202482%2fwhy-couldnt-scotty-beam-spock-out-of-the-radiation-chamber-in-wrath-of-khan%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
12
Can we also include that even if Spock would have survived, we know for certain in many TNG, DS9, and VOY episodes that beaming through an intense radiation field is impossible because it disrupts targeting scanners from getting a positive lock and the ability for the transporters to dematerialize things safely? I know this doesnt pull from TOS era canon, but if that is a problem with more modern transporters, just imagine the problem that this causes with older transporter systems in the TOS era
– Thomas Ward
Jan 1 at 5:10
2
It would not be needed since a logical Spock would have (a) used the transported to beam himself (Spock I) to just outside the radiation chamber to perform the needed fix as per the film, and (b) would have the transporter chief keep a copy of himself in the himself transport buffer so that when he (Spock I) died, Spock II would materialize on the platform and be informed as to his predecessors' success. Spock I's body would be committed to the HAZMAT matter recycler, they save the day. Fin. A no-brainer for a society comfy with everyday self-murder & reconstitution of near perfect simulacra.
– Lexible
Jan 1 at 21:54
1
Or what about simply using the transporters to fix the main reactor? Beam out the damaged dilithium crystal and beam in the backup crystal from spare parts. :-)
– RobertF
Jan 2 at 15:35