• Apathy Tree@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    15·
    2 hours ago

    I love the totally illogical idea of self-destruction in space travel.

    Like we don’t have self-destruct bombs on ships or planes or research stations on earth (I’m sure there’s an exception or two, but they prove the point), why the fuck would we have them in space, which is a much more fragile environment to exist within…?

    Computer shutdown procedures sure, but what possible use is a bomb that’s made to blow up your own vessel? Just so silly.

    • marcos@lemmy.world
      4·
      34 minutes ago

      We have them in missiles. Oh, and on civilian rockets too.

      We put them on things that are dangerous and must be stopped is something goes wrong.

    • rhombus@sh.itjust.works
      5·
      2 hours ago

      Most of the time it seems like it’s not a bomb, but triggering some kind of uncontrolled meltdown of a reactor that’s powering the vessel, or maybe blowing up the fuel.

      • Apathy Tree@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        7·
        1 hour ago

        In some cases sure, but even then, like… why is that so easy to do? And why are there countdowns? And why can it be intentionally triggered? That’s the real weird one. None of those things are even remotely realistic. There should be layers upon layers of safeguards to prevent the super expensive ship that took years to build from blowing up.

        I mean we already have auto-shutdown processes for all sorts of explody and dangerous energy sources on earth; we even have auto-shutdown processes to prevent damage to the generator/facility. I’d assume those used to power ships would be among the safest, especially if we’ve made it to real manned exploration technology.

        • Maalus@lemmy.world
          8·
          59 minutes ago

          Warships absolutely have a “self destruct button” it’s called scuttling. Done to deny the enemy the capture of the ships, or to lodge a wreck in an important location, so it blocks passage. Usually a “self destruct” is ships scuttling, but for space - you can’t really do anything to a spaceship to “disable” it and prevent it from ever being used, unless you blow it to bits. Also, explosions are cool.

          Same thing for abandonned tanks - burning those is often done - especially if you just lost a track, and the tank is fully operational but cannot move. If you have no chance of retrieving the vehicle, it’s better to burn it than to deny the enemy the knowledge about its system, weakpoints, comms etc.

    • Senseless
      6·
      4 hours ago

      Don’t disturb me while I’m cleaning my server room!

    • edgemaster72@lemmy.worldEnglish
      46·
      6 hours ago

      My head canon is that he knew there was an update available to fix it, he just wanted to get away from the other astronauts. I might be biased having spent the day hiding from my family.

      • Spacehooks@reddthat.comEnglish
        11·
        2 hours ago

        I recall the story of the guy that told his wife he was working new years so she went to his office just to prove he was cheating. Dude was in the office. he just hates his wife that much.

        Also knew another guy that came in at 6 and left at 8 daily. I swear dude did not want to be home.

      • Senseless
        51·
        4 hours ago

        You okay? Do you need a hug or just some chips and to be left alone?