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In the fictional ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe, the '''impulse drive''' is the method of propulsion that [[starships]] and other [[spacecraft]] use when they are travelling below the [[speed of light]].<ref>{{citation|journal=New Scientist|title=Illogical Captain...|date=20 April 1996|author=Lawrence Krauss|issue=2026|page=24|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15020263.900-illogical-captain.html}}</ref> Typically powered by [[nuclear fusion]] reactions, impulse engines let ships travel interplanetary distances readily. For example, [[Starfleet Academy]] cadets use impulse engines when flying from [[Earth]] to [[Saturn]] and back.
In the fictional ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe, the '''impulse drive''' is the method of propulsion that [[starships]] and other [[spacecraft]] use when they are travelling below the [[speed of light]].<ref>{{citation|journal=New Scientist|title=Illogical Captain...|date=20 April 1996|author=Lawrence Krauss|issue=2026|page=24|url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15020263.900-illogical-captain.html}}</ref> Typically powered by [[nuclear fusion]] reactions, impulse engines let ships travel interplanetary distances readily. For example, [[Starfleet Academy]] cadets use impulse engines when flying from [[Earth]] to [[Saturn]] and back.{{Citation needed}}


There are three practical challenges surrounding impulse drive design: [[acceleration]], [[time dilation]] and [[energy conservation]]. In the show, inertial dampers compensate for acceleration. These hypothetical devices would have to be set so that the propellant regained its inertia after leaving the craft otherwise the drive would be ineffective.<ref>{{citation|title=Energy Considerations of Hypothetical Space Drives|author=Marc G. Millis|url=http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20070031912_2007031208.pdf|format=PDF|pages=3|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|year=2007}}</ref> Time dilation would become noticeable at appreciable fractions of the speed of light. Regarding energy conservation, the television series and books offer two explanations:
There are three practical challenges surrounding impulse drive design: [[acceleration]], [[time dilation]] and [[energy conservation]]. In the show, inertial dampers compensate for acceleration. These hypothetical devices would have to be set so that the propellant regained its inertia after leaving the craft otherwise the drive would be ineffective.<ref>{{citation|title=Energy Considerations of Hypothetical Space Drives|author=Marc G. Millis|url=http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20070031912_2007031208.pdf|format=PDF|pages=3|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|year=2007}}</ref> Time dilation would become noticeable at appreciable fractions of the speed of light. Regarding energy conservation, the television series and books offer two explanations:

Revision as of 01:24, 1 March 2011

Impulse drive
Star Trek franchise element
First appearanceStar Trek: The Original Series
Created byGene Roddenberry
GenreScience fiction
In-universe information
TypePropulsion system
FunctionAllows rapid interplanetary travel

In the fictional Star Trek universe, the impulse drive is the method of propulsion that starships and other spacecraft use when they are travelling below the speed of light.[1] Typically powered by nuclear fusion reactions, impulse engines let ships travel interplanetary distances readily. For example, Starfleet Academy cadets use impulse engines when flying from Earth to Saturn and back.[citation needed]

There are three practical challenges surrounding impulse drive design: acceleration, time dilation and energy conservation. In the show, inertial dampers compensate for acceleration. These hypothetical devices would have to be set so that the propellant regained its inertia after leaving the craft otherwise the drive would be ineffective.[2] Time dilation would become noticeable at appreciable fractions of the speed of light. Regarding energy conservation, the television series and books offer two explanations:

  • Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual indicates that the impulse engines are nuclear fusion engines where the plasma from the fusion reactor powers a massive magnetic coil to propel the ship. It is a form of magnetohydrodynamic or magnetoplasmadynamic thruster. This is used in conjunction with the ship's warp drive's alteration of the ships relativistic mass, to achieve mid-to-high sub-light speeds. Thrusters, on the other hand, are closer to the designs of a high-efficiency reactant propellant (i.e. a sophisticated rocket engine) and are usually used for high-precision maneuvers. Ion propulsion drives are explicitly detailed to be used in Star Trek by Dominion and Iconian Starships and facilities.
  • Since a ship traveling at impulse velocities (slower than, but approaching, the speed of light) is still traveling in the normal space-time continuum, concerns of time dilation apply, so high relativistic speeds are avoided unless absolutely necessary; impulse power is therefore customarily limited to a maximum of ¼ lightspeed. (Warp travel, on the other hand, does not involve time dilation effects.)

Impulse drives are also found in the online space simulation MMORPG, Ogame. However, Ogame's fictional definition states it is a faster-than-light transport propulsion system.

References

  1. ^ Lawrence Krauss (20 April 1996), "Illogical Captain...", New Scientist (2026): 24
  2. ^ Marc G. Millis (2007), Energy Considerations of Hypothetical Space Drives (PDF), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, p. 3

See also

Template:Star Trek technology

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