Difference between revisions of "Impulse engine"
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Purposefully overloading and detonating the impulse engines of a [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class ]] starship will produce an explosion equivalent to approximately 98 megatons. | Purposefully overloading and detonating the impulse engines of a [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class ]] starship will produce an explosion equivalent to approximately 98 megatons. | ||
== | ==External Links== | ||
Trekkie [http://startrek-vs-starwars.freeoda.com/startrek-vs-starwars/star_trek/space/propulsion/impulse_drive.html PicardAlpha's estimate] of acceleration from Federation impulse engines. | |||
[http://startrek-vs-starwars.freeoda.com/startrek-vs-starwars/star_trek/space/propulsion/impulse_drive.html | |||
[[Category: Star Trek]] | [[Category: Star Trek]] | ||
[[Category:ST Starship Propulsion]] | [[Category:ST Starship Propulsion]] | ||
[[Category: ST Technology]] | [[Category: ST Technology]] | ||
Revision as of 16:21, 19 January 2011
Impulse engines are the primary means of sublight propulsion for space vessels in Star Trek.
Operating Principles
An impulse engine consists of one or more nuclear fusion reactors connected to exhaust vents that generate thrust to accelerate the ship. The thrust generated by an impulse engine is typically tiny compared to the actual mass of the ship, but the use of "mass lightening" technology (involving subspace fields) reduces the effective mass of the ship enough for the thrust to provide considerable acceleration.
Because impulse engines include fusion reactors, they are typically the ship's secondary power source, outpowered only by the warp core.
Trivia
Purposefully overloading and detonating the impulse engines of a Constitution-class starship will produce an explosion equivalent to approximately 98 megatons.
External Links
Trekkie PicardAlpha's estimate of acceleration from Federation impulse engines.