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| − | [[File:NX impulse engines.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the |
+ | [[File:NX impulse engines.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the [[NX class]] impulse drive]] |
[[File:USS Enterprise maintaining impulse thrust.jpg|thumb|USS ''Enterprise'' NCC-1701 using impulse engines to maintain thrust against the [[space amoeba]]]] |
[[File:USS Enterprise maintaining impulse thrust.jpg|thumb|USS ''Enterprise'' NCC-1701 using impulse engines to maintain thrust against the [[space amoeba]]]] |
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| − | [[File:Constitution class refit impulsedrive.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the refit {{ |
+ | [[File:Constitution class refit impulsedrive.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the refit {{class|Constitution}} ship impulse engines]] |
| − | [[File:USS Enterprise (alternate reality) impulse engine.jpg|thumb|Impulse engine on |
+ | [[File:USS Enterprise (alternate reality) impulse engine.jpg|thumb|Impulse engine on an [[alternate reality]] {{class|Constitution|alternate reality}} ship]] |
| − | [[File:Galaxy class impulse engines.jpg|thumb|The impulse engines on a {{ |
+ | [[File:Galaxy class impulse engines.jpg|thumb|The three impulse engines on a {{class|Galaxy}} starship, lit orange during [[saucer separation]]]] |
:''You may be looking for the ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' episode {{e|Impulse}}.'' |
:''You may be looking for the ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' episode {{e|Impulse}}.'' |
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| + | The '''impulse drive''' was a common [[propulsion system]] used on [[starship]]s to achieve high [[sublight speed]]s. |
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| + | ==Technology== |
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| ⚫ | In [[Federation]] [[starship]]s, the impulse drive was essentially an augmented [[Nuclear fusion|fusion]] [[rocket]], usually consisting of one or more [[fusion reactor]]s, an [[accelerator-generator]], a [[driver coil]] assembly, and a vectored thrust nozzle to direct the [[plasma exhaust]]. The fusion reaction generated a highly energized [[plasma]]. This plasma, ("[[electro-plasma]]") could be employed for propulsion, or could be diverted through the [[EPS]] to the [[power transfer grid]], via [[EPS conduit]]s, so as to supply other systems. The accelerated plasma was passed through the driver coils, thereby generating a [[subspace field]] which improved the propulsive effect. |
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| + | On August 12, 2152, the {{EnterpriseNX}} approached a [[black hole]] at impulse because of the extreme gravity. ({{ENT|Singularity}}) [[T'Pol]] mentioned that it would take 17 minutes to reach a point within 2 million km of the black hole. Though the ship's distance from that point is somewhat ambiguous, she mentioned two days before that it would take two days to be within 5 million km of the black hole, implying an impulse speed of about warp 0.05, if the distance were 3 million km.<!--3 million km in 17 minutes--> |
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| ⚫ | Dialogue from several episodes, including {{e|Where No Man Has Gone Before}} |
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| ⚫ | In ''The Motion Picture'', The ''Enterprise'' traveled at |
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| − | According to Jo'Bril in the episode {{e|Suspicions}}, the shuttles aboard the ''Enterprise''-D had a maximum impulse velocity of approximately 2.5% of light speed – he specified that at 3/4 impulse the shuttle would travel a distance of 1,000,000 kilometers in approximately 3 minutes (approx. 12,400,000 miles per hour). |
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| + | The [[type 15 shuttlepod]]s were equipped with two long range [[cochrane (unit)|750 millicochrane]] impulse driver engines, also known as [[Nacelle|impulse nacelles]], which were located on either side of the craft. ({{TNG|In Theory|Descent}} ''display graphic'') |
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| − | A reference made in {{e|Fair Haven}} indicated that {{USS|Voyager}}'s impulse power would not be enough |
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| − | to outrun an approaching [[neutronic storm]] that was traveling at a velocity of 200,000 kilometers per second (447,387,258 miles per hour), or roughly 2/3 the speed of light. However, it is also commented in "[[Timeless]]" that at full impulse, ''Voyager'' can travel at roughly 80% light speed at impulse. |
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| + | Several ships, including [[Jem'Hadar fighter]]s, [[Galileo type shuttlecraft|''Galileo''-type shuttlecraft]]; {{class|Danube}} [[runabout]]s, the ''[[Delta Flyer II]]'' and [[Class V planetary probe]]s use [[impulse thruster]]s for sublight propulsion. ({{film|5}}; {{DS9|Rocks and Shoals|The Assignment}}; {{VOY|Drive|Blink of an Eye}}) [[Magnetic constrictor]]s were a component in the ''Danube''-class impulse thrusters. ({{DS9|The Assignment}}) |
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| − | == Components == |
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| + | === Parts of the system === |
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| + | * [[Avidyne engine]] |
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| + | * [[Accelerator-generator]] |
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| + | * [[Driver coil]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse capacitance cell]] |
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| + | ** [[Impulse burst]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse control system]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse deck]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse jet]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse manifold]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse matrix]] |
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| + | * [[Nacelle|Impulse nacelle]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse reactor]] |
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| + | ** [[Fusion reactor]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse response filter]] |
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| + | * [[Impulse thruster]] |
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| + | ** [[Magnetic constrictor]] |
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| + | * [[Primary drive coil]] |
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| + | * [[Torque buffer]] |
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| + | |||
| + | == Appendices == |
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=== See also === |
=== See also === |
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* [[Hyper-impulse drive]] |
* [[Hyper-impulse drive]] |
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| − | * [[ |
+ | * [[Sub-impulse thruster]] |
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Dialogue from several episodes, including {{e|Where No Man Has Gone Before}} and {{e|The Doomsday Machine}}, suggests that the impulse drive could be used in some manner to propel a ship at faster than light speeds, albeit with a lower maximum speed and a higher rate of fuel consumption than the main [[warp drive]]. This could possibly make the relationship between impulse and warp drive analogous to the relationship between electric and combustion engines in a modern hybrid car. It would also explain Scotty's remark in {{e|Balance of Terror}} about the Romulans' power being "simple impulse" and allow it to be reconciled with their clear capacity for interstellar travel. |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | In ''The Motion Picture'', The ''Enterprise'' traveled at warp 0.5 from Earth to past the planet Jupiter, a distance of (at a minimum) 390,674,900 miles, in 1.8 hours, making that speed approximately equal to 97,026 kilometers per second (217,041,611 miles per hour), or roughly 1/3 light speed. The difference may be explained by differences in orbital precession between the two planets at the time, or, as with warp drive, there may be other variables involved. |
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| + | |||
| + | According to Jo'Bril in the episode {{e|Suspicions}}, 'I am one million kilometres from the star's corona. Proceeding at three quarters impulse. I should reach it in approximately three minutes.' That is approximately 12,400,000 miles per hour or 5,543 kilometers per second. ¼ impulse for the shuttle could be estimated at 1,852 km/s. |
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| + | |||
| + | The 'Star Trek Voyager Technical Manual' page 13 has full impulse listed as ¼ of the speed of light which is 167,000,000 mph or 74,770 km/s. ¼ impulse for Voyager would be 18,665 km/s. Voyager's ¼ impulse is 10 times faster than the shuttle's. Therefore, the term "¼ impulse" isn't a fixed speed as much as it's ¼ of the full speed of the impulse engines' maximum. |
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| − | == External links == |
+ | === External links === |
| + | * {{mbeta|Impulse engine}} |
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| − | *{{wikipedia}} |
+ | * {{wikipedia}} |
| + | [[cs:Impulzní pohon]] |
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[[de:Impulsantrieb]] |
[[de:Impulsantrieb]] |
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[[fr:Moteur à impulsion]] |
[[fr:Moteur à impulsion]] |
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| + | [[it:Motore a Impulso]] |
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[[ja:インパルス・ドライブ]] |
[[ja:インパルス・ドライブ]] |
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| − | [[nl: |
+ | [[nl:Impulsaandrijving]] |
| + | [[pl:Impulsowy]] |
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| + | [[pt:Motor de impulso]] |
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[[Category:Propulsion technology]] |
[[Category:Propulsion technology]] |
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Revision as of 05:41, 4 April 2016
A close-up of the NX class impulse drive
USS Enterprise NCC-1701 using impulse engines to maintain thrust against the space amoeba
A close-up of the refit Constitution-class ship impulse engines
_impulse_engine.jpg){kind=link}
Impulse engine on an alternate reality Constitution-class ship
The three impulse engines on a Galaxy-class starship, lit orange during saucer separation
- You may be looking for the Enterprise episode "Impulse".
The impulse drive was a common propulsion system used on starships to achieve high sublight speeds.
Technology
In Federation starships, the impulse drive was essentially an augmented fusion rocket, usually consisting of one or more fusion reactors, an accelerator-generator, a driver coil assembly, and a vectored thrust nozzle to direct the plasma exhaust. The fusion reaction generated a highly energized plasma. This plasma, ("electro-plasma") could be employed for propulsion, or could be diverted through the EPS to the power transfer grid, via EPS conduits, so as to supply other systems. The accelerated plasma was passed through the driver coils, thereby generating a subspace field which improved the propulsive effect.
On August 12, 2152, the Enterprise NX-01 approached a black hole at impulse because of the extreme gravity. (ENT: "Singularity") T'Pol mentioned that it would take 17 minutes to reach a point within 2 million km of the black hole. Though the ship's distance from that point is somewhat ambiguous, she mentioned two days before that it would take two days to be within 5 million km of the black hole, implying an impulse speed of about warp 0.05, if the distance were 3 million km.
In 2267, Science Officer Spock calculated the explosive force of an overloaded Starship-class impulse engine to be 97.835 megatons. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine")
By the 2270s, impulse was capable of sustaining warp 0.5 without the warp drive even being on-line. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
The impulse drive of Bajoran interceptors could not operate within an atmosphere. (DS9: "The Siege")
The type 15 shuttlepods were equipped with two long range 750 millicochrane impulse driver engines, also known as impulse nacelles, which were located on either side of the craft. (TNG: "In Theory", "Descent" display graphic)
Several ships, including Jem'Hadar fighters, Galileo-type shuttlecraft; Danube-class runabouts, the Delta Flyer II and Class V planetary probes use impulse thrusters for sublight propulsion. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier; DS9: "Rocks and Shoals", "The Assignment"; VOY: "Drive", "Blink of an Eye") Magnetic constrictors were a component in the Danube-class impulse thrusters. (DS9: "The Assignment")
Parts of the system
- Avidyne engine
- Accelerator-generator
- Driver coil
- Impulse capacitance cell
- Impulse control system
- Impulse deck
- Impulse jet
- Impulse manifold
- Impulse matrix
- Impulse nacelle
- Impulse reactor
- Impulse response filter
- Impulse thruster
- Primary drive coil
- Radioactive disposal vent
- Torque buffer
Appendices
See also
Background information
Dialogue from several episodes, including "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and "The Doomsday Machine", suggests that the impulse drive could be used in some manner to propel a ship at faster than light speeds, albeit with a lower maximum speed and a higher rate of fuel consumption than the main warp drive. This could possibly make the relationship between impulse and warp drive analogous to the relationship between electric and combustion engines in a modern hybrid car. It would also explain Scotty's remark in "Balance of Terror" about the Romulans' power being "simple impulse" and allow it to be reconciled with their clear capacity for interstellar travel.
In The Motion Picture, The Enterprise traveled at warp 0.5 from Earth to past the planet Jupiter, a distance of (at a minimum) 390,674,900 miles, in 1.8 hours, making that speed approximately equal to 97,026 kilometers per second (217,041,611 miles per hour), or roughly 1/3 light speed. The difference may be explained by differences in orbital precession between the two planets at the time, or, as with warp drive, there may be other variables involved.
According to Jo'Bril in the episode "Suspicions", 'I am one million kilometres from the star's corona. Proceeding at three quarters impulse. I should reach it in approximately three minutes.' That is approximately 12,400,000 miles per hour or 5,543 kilometers per second. ¼ impulse for the shuttle could be estimated at 1,852 km/s.
The 'Star Trek Voyager Technical Manual' page 13 has full impulse listed as ¼ of the speed of light which is 167,000,000 mph or 74,770 km/s. ¼ impulse for Voyager would be 18,665 km/s. Voyager's ¼ impulse is 10 times faster than the shuttle's. Therefore, the term "¼ impulse" isn't a fixed speed as much as it's ¼ of the full speed of the impulse engines' maximum.
External links
- Impulse engine at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Impulse engine at Wikipedia