Warp wrote:
> Motors, electric devices, etc. all produce heat, and it's very difficult
> to get rid of it. Putting a big thermal sink on the outer hull of the
> ship is a poor way of getting rid of the heat because it radiates the
> heat away very slowly in vacuum.

Yep. That's why the moon landers were covered with gold foil (nice 
reflector) and the moon suits were white. To reflect as much as possible 
the incoming radiation because it's difficult to get rid of.

On a different track, perhaps the computers on the ship see the lasers 
and ships, and make fake laser sounds and ship swooshes, in order that 
the pilots can have an instinctive understanding of what's going on 
around them without having to turn around. (Not unlike a HUD tracking 
your eyes to make it easier to activate controls in a fighter jet.)

Of course, that still falls down when you're out in space hearing the 
swooshes instead of in the pilot's cockpit.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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