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  • Subject: Orbital Defense Platforms
Subject: Orbital Defense Platforms
  • gamertag: MGTrey
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Having generators groundside was an absolutely stupid explanation for powering the Super MACs. Transferring energy doesn't work like that.

They should have just built the ODPs humongous and stuck massive reactors in them. They would be more practical, and simultaneously relieve me of trying to produce a reasonable explanation for their existence.

The best I can come up with is quantum entanglement, but using other technology in the UNSC's arsenal as reference, it just doesn't fit.

  • 06.01.2011 6:40 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

I know. I guess it was an easy plot device at the time.

How would quantum entanglement work for power transference?

  • 06.01.2011 6:46 PM PDT

-Seriously, who uses a signature?

unless they mastered the use/science of the Tesla coil.

  • 06.01.2011 7:21 PM PDT

Posted by: Slamtastic50mg
unless they mastered the use/science of the Tesla coil.

This pretty much. It is technically possible modern day to use wireless energy transfer, but it extremely inefficient. It would make sense that 500 years from now we would have improved on that technology.

  • 06.01.2011 8:24 PM PDT
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Posted by: OniLink147
Posted by: Slamtastic50mg
unless they mastered the use/science of the Tesla coil.

This pretty much. It is technically possible modern day to use wireless energy transfer, but it extremely inefficient.


Not too inefficient. Microwave beamed power should be able to achieve at least 85% efficiency. I believe there's several companies and governments currently planning space based solar power generation.

  • 06.01.2011 8:46 PM PDT
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Posted by: opogjijijp

Not too inefficient. Microwave beamed power should be able to achieve at least 85% efficiency. I believe there's several companies and governments currently planning space based solar power generation.


Solar power was another technology that would be more practical than remote generators.

And I have little knowledge about microwave beams, but wouldn't such a transferal of energy actually immolate everything it touches en-route to the ODP? And a 15% energy leak would be some intense radiation, considering how much raw energy would need to be sent to the ODPs, through atmosphere.

  • 06.01.2011 8:56 PM PDT
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SC = Supreme Commander/Supreme Canadian.

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Posted by: MGTrey

Posted by: opogjijijp

Not too inefficient. Microwave beamed power should be able to achieve at least 85% efficiency. I believe there's several companies and governments currently planning space based solar power generation.


Solar power was another technology that would be more practical than remote generators.

And I have little knowledge about microwave beams, but wouldn't such a transferal of energy actually immolate everything it touches en-route to the ODP? And a 15% energy leak would be some intense radiation, considering how much raw energy would need to be sent to the ODPs, through atmosphere.

Giant death beams powering massive orbital pwn cannons...

  • 06.01.2011 8:59 PM PDT

were the generators nuclear? i forgot.

  • 06.01.2011 10:46 PM PDT

Which is why it is logical for the UNSC to have a small number of generators, powering an orbital grid, that provides extra power via solar panels and then provides power to the ODPs as required.

Generators would be in remote locations, with strict no fly zones to protect civillians. Not all would be operational during peacetime and during an engagement with the covenant, radiation leaks are the least of your concerns.

Only SMACs require groundside generators, and except for Earth, SMACs made up a small fraction of the total ODPs.

UNSC tech will likely have advanced to the point where 95%+ efficiency is possible. Or they could be using some sort of slipspace transfer to cancel out negative side effects.

  • 06.02.2011 12:00 AM PDT

Bungie Pentathlon - who actually cares ?

Having giant reactors in space = massive target for the enemy...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it

Correct me if I am wrong ?

  • 06.02.2011 12:35 AM PDT

Posted by: Richomack360
...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it
And because the reactor would be in space, nothing would be near it. Groundside it would cause a huge disaster.

  • 06.02.2011 2:37 AM PDT

Bungie Pentathlon - who actually cares ?


Posted by: Mutoid Log
Posted by: Richomack360
...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it
And because the reactor would be in space, nothing would be near it. Groundside it would cause a huge disaster.


So the ships ordered to form a defensive line / perimeter around them in Halo 2 (ordered by Lord Hood) would be unaffected ?

  • 06.02.2011 2:55 AM PDT

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Posted by: Richomack360

Posted by: Mutoid Log
Posted by: Richomack360
...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it
And because the reactor would be in space, nothing would be near it. Groundside it would cause a huge disaster.


So the ships ordered to form a defensive line / perimeter around them in Halo 2 (ordered by Lord Hood) would be unaffected ?

Ye your right. Although space is large it would still do a lot of damage, even if the blast was only half the size of the poa blast....

  • 06.02.2011 3:47 AM PDT
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Posted by: ferrrari

Posted by: Richomack360

Posted by: Mutoid Log
Posted by: Richomack360
...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it
And because the reactor would be in space, nothing would be near it. Groundside it would cause a huge disaster.


So the ships ordered to form a defensive line / perimeter around them in Halo 2 (ordered by Lord Hood) would be unaffected ?

Ye your right. Although space is large it would still do a lot of damage, even if the blast was only half the size of the poa blast....


An explosion like that in space would be muted. There would be intense radiation to be sure, but there would be no mechanical transferal of energy, and I'm sure the ODPs are shielded enough to survive a retarded nuclear explosion.

The reason the PoA blast destroyed Halo was because it was a detonated in atmosphere that compromised the integrity of the entire Halo structure.



[Edited on 06.02.2011 3:20 PM PDT]

  • 06.02.2011 3:18 PM PDT

Posted by: opogjijijp

Posted by: OniLink147
Posted by: Slamtastic50mg
unless they mastered the use/science of the Tesla coil.

This pretty much. It is technically possible modern day to use wireless energy transfer, but it extremely inefficient.


Not too inefficient. Microwave beamed power should be able to achieve at least 85% efficiency. I believe there's several companies and governments currently planning space based solar power generation.

Not sure about the exact efficiency. I was curious and ended up reading about it a few years back and most sources said it was pretty inefficient. Though yeah companies are working on it.

  • 06.02.2011 8:36 PM PDT

Bungie Pentathlon - who actually cares ?


Posted by: MGTrey

Posted by: ferrrari

Posted by: Richomack360

Posted by: Mutoid Log
Posted by: Richomack360
...imagine if one of them went up or went wildcat like the PoA ? The emp and resulting blast would annihilate anything near it
And because the reactor would be in space, nothing would be near it. Groundside it would cause a huge disaster.


So the ships ordered to form a defensive line / perimeter around them in Halo 2 (ordered by Lord Hood) would be unaffected ?

Ye your right. Although space is large it would still do a lot of damage, even if the blast was only half the size of the poa blast....


An explosion like that in space would be muted. There would be intense radiation to be sure, but there would be no mechanical transferal of energy, and I'm sure the ODPs are shielded enough to survive a retarded nuclear explosion.

The reason the PoA blast destroyed Halo was because it was a detonated in atmosphere that compromised the integrity of the entire Halo structure.



You are most probably right, however I would be more concerned about the possible EMP blast that might play havoc in the usrrounding areas...where's ogijjip when you need him...

  • 06.03.2011 12:53 AM PDT

Massive invisible transformers. Sorted.

  • 06.03.2011 4:25 AM PDT

first, the power will be transferred like said above, using microwaves, its rather efficient now and Halo is 500 years in the future!

second, would guess the reactors would be enormous, since firing a 3,000 metric ton round at those sorts of velocities would require some massive massive current, perhaps its not viable to have that sort of generator in orbit, it would make the platform a potential bomb and hugely increase its size.

another thing is by having them ground-side the enemy have to go through the entire orbital defence system before having a shot at the reactors powering it, reactors mounted on the platforms themselves, one has a runaway and that is potentially a large segment of the defence system destroyed, damaged or shut down. also the generators could be extremely hardened ground-side, buried deep under the ground in well armoured bunkers, making them hard to target and nail from orbit. in Fall of Reach it never mentions whether the platform generators are on the surface, exposed or in hardened bunkers, just mentions the Covenant coming to 'take them out...', being exposed would mean they would likely send Seraphs and Banshees, not ground forces, which suggests they are not on the surface, though the transmitter (if obvious) would be a simple target!

Edit: also electromagnetic pulse, if it can occur where the defence platforms are is irrelevant, since its rather simple to make something resistant to that sort of thing, its not like these are 'civilian' stations, plus they would have to be hard radiation shielded due to the fact they are quite high orbit due to stellar radiation, cosmic radiation and what not, wouldn't be very good if a solar storm could take the entire defence system offline would it?

[Edited on 06.03.2011 4:44 AM PDT]

  • 06.03.2011 4:42 AM PDT

Walk softly, and carry a big midget.

This subject has always confused me. Maybe 343i will talk about it in the future?

  • 06.03.2011 5:34 AM PDT

Surely it couldn't use any form of EM radiation? Think of all the interference from space travel.

  • 06.03.2011 12:33 PM PDT

there are 2 main reasons to putting the generators on the surface
1. if they were on the platform that will make the platform much heavier which means it would be harder to keep the station in orbit
2. as stated before to take out the generators on the ground then your enemy has to get through the orbital defense to hit them

also the technology is present today to transefer large amounts of power from ground to space it is currently to inefficiant for use but i think if in 500years we can shoot a 3000 ton slug at almost 40% speed of light then we can make it work

  • 06.03.2011 3:05 PM PDT

Don't worry, you're still your mom's favorite Bnet member.

Posted by: anton1792
I know. I guess it was an easy plot device at the time.

How would quantum entanglement work for power transference?
Really really long power cords.

  • 06.03.2011 4:14 PM PDT
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Posted by: agent wash282
there are 2 main reasons to putting the generators on the surface
1. if they were on the platform that will make the platform much heavier which means it would be harder to keep the station in orbit
2. as stated before to take out the generators on the ground then your enemy has to get through the orbital defense to hit them

also the technology is present today to transefer large amounts of power from ground to space it is currently to inefficiant for use but i think if in 500years we can shoot a 3000 ton slug at almost 40% speed of light then we can make it work


1) All that would have to be calibrated is the increased gravitational pull and inertia, rather simple calculations considering we can jump into another plane of reality, allowing us to travel faster than light.

2) The way the Battle of Reach was described, it seems it would actually be better to have the power on board. Logically, what good is having a generator away from what its powering? If the enemy destroys the ODP, you just have a useless generator. Which leaves you in the same situation as having the generator on the ODP in the first place. Except, now the enemy can attack the generators, and leave you with a useless weapon. Like what happened at Reach.

Also, microwave transmission sounds like it would only be useful for sending relatively small amounts of energy. Nothing of the magnitude of powering a Super MAC canon. I would love a more in depth explanation.

  • 06.04.2011 1:29 AM PDT

power levels aren't a concern, read this if your interested in wireless power transmission!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_power_transmission

  • 06.04.2011 12:50 PM PDT