ESA Churchill
Web site by: Phil
Broad
The Churchill is a convincing design
on the surface and provides a suitably realistic backdrop for the characters
traveling to and from the Alien Probe. The inclusion of a NERVA propulsion
system is a logical detail for a deep space probe too and serves to demonstrate
a certain level of research was conducted by the Art Direction staff in this
film. The broad solar arrays are another nice design touch but their usage
is a little off. The crew are using a constant thrust NERVA to provide simulated
gravity on the Churchill which is quite reasonable however the solar arrays
could not be extended during this portion of the mission, they would suffer
a structural failure under the acceleration loads. Besides, why would one
need solar arrays to generate electricity when one has a fully functioning
NERVA onboard? It would have been better if they had shown the solar arrays
extend after the NERVA had been shut down. This would be the time when the
crew needs an alternate source of electrical power. Of course if the mission
extends out much beyond the orbit of Mars, then solar arrays would be largely
ineffective owing to the dim sunlight visible that far out. Also the Churchill
contains no fuel stowage areas but this is a deficiency all studio designed
spacecraft so "Life Force" cannot be singled out for this criticism.
It is also curious that a ship with a large crew would have an escape pod
capable of carrying only one. Clearly the mission commander knew something
the others did not...