So, was Cochrane's warp drive concept something special, or wasn't it ?

[at Quark's]

When we first hear about Cochrane, it is brought as if he were the inventor of warp drive, for which a large part of the galaxy was indebted to him. In later series, it seems Cochrane 'merely' invented warp drive for humans (still an awesome achievement, of course, but not a gamechanger for other races, except that from now on, they'd have to contend with humans, too).

So, which one is it? Did Cochrane just invent generic warp drive that had been invented by most other races with FTL capability before, or was there something inherently special about his warp drive concept (and if so, what?), something that later caused the Acadamy of the entire Federation to call the first chapter of 'Basic Warp Design' 'Zefram Cochrane', and not something like 'different races independently develop warp drive'?

 

[USS Triumphant]

It's obviously not canon, but DC's Who's Who In Star Trek #1 says that the notes that led to development of transwarp were found on the Companion's world during a follow up visit by Kirk and crew. I've always liked the idea that Cochrane would have continued working on his theories while "trapped" there. Other non-canon sources (but not contradicted by screen canon that I'm aware of) say that after they undid Scotty's sabotage, the second test of Excelsior's drive was a success, and that technology became the basis of what was once again just called "warp drive" by the time of TNG.

So the chapter being called that might make sense by the time Geordi went to the Academy. Cochrane might not have been *quite* as lauded when Scotty studied there - but probably still would have been taught as important, since Starfleet was much more heavily a human venture at that point.

 

[Mage]

We've seen a few different forms of FTL in Star Trek (several versions of transwarps, slipstream, coaxial warp, the spacefolding from that planet in the DQ), but I feel that those are either a drain on energy sources or hard to achieve, and that standard warpdrive as used by Starfleet, the Klingons, the Romulans, basicly everyone, is the easiest form of FTL, considering the laws of physics. So that's why most space-going cultures use it, or started with it.

Cochrane was simply the inventor of 'basic warp' on Earth, but not in the galaxy. That's how I see it anyway.

*EDIT*

I'm remembering something from one of Christopher Bennet's Rise Of The Federation novels, where Tobin Dax is designing starships, and muses on how Cochrane's outrigger design for the nacelles is considered the most efficient, compared to hull-encased nacelles used by the Andorians or the ring-setup used by the Vulcans. Perhaps that's why he's considered the 'father of modern warpdrive'??

 

[Push The Button]

Cochrane was the first to apply for a patent.

 

[Timo]

In "Metamorphosis", Spock says there are people all across the galaxy who like what Cochrane did - right after Kirk says there are humans all across the galaxy. It thus doesn't really follow that any nonhumans (such as Spock) would find Cochrane's achievements remarkable...

Of course, the fact that humans invented human warp drive when they did has changed the face of the galaxy a lot. People other than humans might remember Cochrane for that, even if not fondly.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[hux]

Humans always see things in terms of humans. Warp, transporters, holograms, you name it.

All invented by other species yet they talk about them all as though they were human achievements. Lewis Zimmerman, the father of modern holography. Oh shut up.

 

[Shawnster]

After stardates, dates are most often given in human Gregorian Calendar terms. With the very rare exception, Federation ships are named after Earth locations or humans. Star Trek has always been very Earth/human centric so it's no wonder that the "inventor of warp drive" from Earth would be lauded as if he invented warp drive for the entire galaxy. Especially when we're dealing with TOS.

 

[Mage]

After stardates, dates are most often given in human Gregorian Calendar terms. With the very rare exception, Federation ships are named after Earth locations or humans. Star Trek has always been very Earth/human centric so it's no wonder that the "inventor of warp drive" from Earth would be lauded as if he invented warp drive for the entire galaxy. Especially when we're dealing with TOS.

Although I do agree that it's kinda odd that names are always in modern English on the hulls of the ships, names like Enterprise, Intrepid, Excelsior, they are all words that could be translated into any alien language. It's when it comes to the names of people or places that it becomes truly human-centric. Although I really appreciate that TNG names a ship after a Klingon Chancellor.

 

[The Wormhole]

Thing is, Cochrane's development of warp drive, even if he was just the human doing what other races in the galaxy had already done, led to humanity making contact with its first alien race, a move which ultimately led to the birth of the Federation. Also, the fact that Cochrane developed warp drive on his own in what were essentially post-apocalyptic conditions probably makes for a more uplifting and heroic story than the Vulcan think tank that came up with the idea after secluding themselves from the outside world for three years and immersing themselves in scientific journals and texts with the intent to prove once and for all nothing could move faster than light only to accidentally discover that, yes it is possible. Or the Tellarite story which involves fat guys mud wrestling...

 

[Ronald Held]

Although every space faring race developed it's over FTL propulsion, when the Federation was founded, Cochrane's version msy have been the easiest to "port" in Federation ship designs? Maybe more efficient than others?

 

[JesterFace]

I find it a bit weird that in First Contact (movie) the FTL flight was an accident... I'd imagine A LOT of big brains are needed for that and everybody involved must know exactly what to do.

 

[Captain Rob]

I remember that Cochrane's first flight was planned. It was the coincidence of a Vulcan survey mission passing close enough to detect his warp signature that was the accident. Which in turn led to first contact between the Vulcans and Earth.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Humans always see things in terms of humans. Warp, transporters, holograms, you name it.

All invented by other species yet they talk about them all as though they were human achievements. Lewis Zimmerman, the father of modern holography. Oh shut up.

Being strangely innovative is Humanity's gimmick in Trek, like Romulans being devious, Klingons being warriors, Ferengi being greedy, Vulcans being logical, etc. Vulcans might have shown us a Warp 7 engine at some point, but only a human would have thought to install the compensators backward just to see what it would do, or for a practical joke on the Vulcan engineer, or whatever - and accidentally discovered that lets the engine go Warp 8.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

When we first hear about Cochrane, it is brought as if he were the inventor of warp drive, for which a large part of the galaxy was indebted to him.

When Kirk first hears Cochrane's full name in "Metamorphosis," he says, "Zefram Cochrane of Alpha Centauri, the discoverer of the space warp?" (emphasis mine)

That wording could imply that the space warp was a natural phenomenon that Cochrane discovered, not an artificial process that he invented. Sort of like how Ben Franklin's experiment with the kite proved that lightning was electrical, but he didn't really invent anything besides a method to prove and harness it.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Cochrane was simply the inventor of 'basic warp' on Earth, but not in the galaxy. That's how I see it anyway.

This seems likely to me, too.

 

[Thot Tnak]

Since NASA in our time has suggested that warp is indeed possible (along with CERN achieved antimatter, Austrian achieved teleportation of photons, crude but built: tricorder, hypospray, universal translators by device or app, and replicators (3D printers) it would be interesting to deduce that Cochrane had access to this information as basis for his "dream" of warp technology as pioneer for Earth. NASA and the US military do share tech with satellites, spacecraft, etc... and Cochrane used a converted missile as the first ship. Not a new concept as the SS had Von Braun design piloted V-2 rockets under the EMW series A4-A9 during WW2!

 

[Nerys Myk]

Taking all we know from all Treks, I think Cochrane's Warp Drive innovated Warp technology and allowed it to reach to heights. That's why he's remembered above all others who invented or contributed to Warp technology.

 

[Thot Tnak]

Taking all we know from all Treks, I think Cochrane's Warp Drive innovated Warp technology and allowed it to reach to heights. That's why he's remembered above all others who invented or contributed to Warp technology.

Not quite accurate as many alien species had Warp drives as early as 9th Century BC and before Cochrane's flight in the Phoenix (Titan II missile modified). These included the Vulcans, Klingons, Vissians. Borg, etc.. but the limiting Warp was 2.0.

It was Archer's engine that broke that warp barrier to achieve W2.5. After that, the original Enterprise could theoretically reach W5. It only reached W4.7 for safety reasons.

Others then started to follow this human lead up to Warps 6, 8, and then 9s within 2 centuries.

Most are on an equal footing at W9.6 max reliable.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Not quite accurate as many alien species had Warp drives as early as 9th Century BC and before Cochrane's flight in the Phoenix (Titan II missile modified). These included the Vulcans, Klingons, Vissians. Borg, etc.. but the limiting Warp was 2.0.

It was Archer's engine that broke that warp barrier to achieve W2.5. After that, the original Enterprise could theoretically reach W5. It only reached W4.7 for safety reasons.

Others then started to follow this human lead up to Warps 6, 8, and then 9s within 2 centuries.

Most are on an equal footing at W9.6 max reliable.

My theory is the Cochrane configuration proved to be better than what the Vulcans and other had, not that he came up with it first. Also that Archer was building on Cochrane's work.

 

[Spot261]

I see no evidence that all warp capable species prior to Cochrane were limited to warp2