Friday, 13 November 2015

Why does deliberately causing a coolant leak in main engineering NOT result in catastrophic destruction of the ship?

The short answer is that it wasn't the coolant rupture (in Star Trek: Generations) that seems to have led to the warp core explosion, it was the failure of the magnetic interlocks within the warp core. The coolant leak was a secondary issue, and one that resulted in Engineering being evacuated, but this seems to be more to do with the health of the staff than the health of the engine



We see a similar issue in DS9: Our Man Bashir.




WORF: The magnetic interlocks are failing... a warp core breach is imminent.





As to whether the loss of coolant was an issue, it may be stating the obvious that there are two plasma coolant tanks. Data only broke one of them. It seems likely (in fact downright certain) that the Enterprise-E can survive on only a single tank, at least for the amount of time needed to effect repairs.




PICARD: The first thing they'll do in engineering is establish a collective, a central point from which they can control the hive. The
problem is if we begin firing particle weapons in engineering there's
a risk we may hit the warp core. I believe our goal should be to
puncture one of the plasma coolant tanks. Data?
- Chakoteya - First Contact Transcript




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This is backed up by the film's official novelisation




He moved over to a large display padd, activated it, and called up a
schematic diagram of Main Engineering. “The problem is, if we begin
firing particle weapons inside engineering, we risk hitting the warp
core. So I believe our goal should be to puncture one of the plasma
coolant tanks.” He tapped another control; the schematic rotated and
zoomed in on a diagram of the warp core with two flanking coolant
tanks, each marked with a flashing biohazard symbol.


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