Talk:Hyperdrive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Does Cowboy Bebop have hyperdrive? IIRC, the (defunct during the series) hypergates use fold normal space rather than use an alternate hyperspace. JabberWokky
Contents |
[edit] hyperdrive science theory
The Hyperdrive is what propels a starship into hyperspace. With the Hyperdrive, a vessel could literally traverse the entire galaxy in a matter of months. Travel between nearby stars usually takes only a few hours.
Hyperdrives are available on any spacecraft. Varieties of Hyperdrives are all the same except for power and speed. Some are extremely fast and powerful while others are slow and weak. Obviously the faster and more powerful are more expensive.
Hyperspace, or more scientifically, Hyperspacial Continuum is a dimension of the space-time continuum that is "above" the normal four dimensions (length, width, height and time). Hyperspace "floats" above the space-time continuum and remains coterminous to it. Most of the realities of hyperspace are unknown, and not even the astrophysicists can really explain all the properties of hyperspace.
In order to understand hyperspace, we must visualize the universe. Think of the entire universe is in the shape of a torus or anchor ring that is in two dimensions (length and height). Then imagine two points on the inside edge of the hole in the middle of the ring that are opposite to each other. Because everything in that universe is in two dimensions, you must circle around the inside hole in order to travel between these two points. Then, a vessel enters hyperspace, and travels straight across the hole in three dimensions (length, width and height). Thus, a vessel in hyperspace can traverse a very long distance in a very short time.
Another view of hyperspace is to visualize the entire universe as an inflated balloon. The balloon itself is the space-time continuum and the "air" inside it is hyperspace. Put two points on the balloon that are opposite to each other. Now, normally you would have to travel around the balloon surface to reach your destination, but instead, you go "straight though" the balloon through hyperspace to the other side.
The most simple of the concepts is that the whole universe is shaped like a U. Pretend you are on the top of the one tip and you are going the the other tip. Normally, you would have to take the extremely long way by travelling through the U by going down one end, over, then up the other side. But instead you make the simple "hop" to the other side.
Those concepts of what hyperspace actually is are all true. They are all equally correct. In short, hyperspace is a "higher" dimension that allows you to traverse a long distance in a short time by "jumping" across the void in a higher dimension.
The Hyperdrives are constructed of a titanium-chromium compound. When the power is fed to the hyperdrives, it at first enters the sub-dermal processors that converts the gamma radiation into a foam of electromagnetic bands. This energy is then moved to the hyperdrive motovator which opens up the hyperlanes. After it passes through the motovator it enters the implosion core of the engine that compounds the EM energy into tight EM fields. Those energy fields are then injected out the vessel which actually "pushes" against the fabric of the space-time matrix, forming "ripples" of space. The EM energy pushes on these "ripples" creating thrust and momentum. Thus propelling the vessel through hyperspace.
The hyperdrive motovator basically creates a field of energy around the vessel. This field forms into a projection image of the vessel and projects it into hyperspace. Once the projected image has entered hyperspace, the hyperdrive motovator power crystal (Trilithium) transports the vessel through the void into hyperspace. This transportation creates a disturbance of the Hyperwave field barrier, which separates the space-time continuum from the hyperspatial continuum. The hyperdrive motovator remains activated in order to keep the vessel in hyperspace. If the field around the vessel is deactivated, the vessel immediately drops to normal space.
The Trilithium crystal is rare and expensive. It is a variant form of lithium and is highly unstable. It gives off radiation and thus must be contained in the ships main power core, shielding it from the crew and passengers.
Once the destination of the ship is reached, the hyperdrive motovator then projects the image of the vessel back into normal space and then teleports the ship back into normal space.
Occasionally, the hyperdrive system suffers a mishap, or accident. Because hyperspace exists coterminously to normal space, every point and object in normal space has an adjacent point and object "shadow" in hyperspace. Thus, if you travel "north" in normal space, you would be traveling "north" in hyperspace as well. Every object in normal space has a "shadow" or "reflextion" in hyperspace. Because of this, a ship in hyperspace is in danger because if it collides with an object in hyperspace, it would mean total destruction. But, fortunately, all ships are equipped with hyperspace kick-out systems. When an object is sighted dangerously close to the vessel, the kick-out systems are activated and the vessel immediately drops into normal space. This kick-out system deactivates the hyperdrive motovator thus deactivating the energy field and thus dropping the ship back into normal space before collision. This kick-out system is not foolproof however, but it cuts the possiblities of collision to almost zero. Normally, however, the ship either reflects it away with navigational deflectors or swerves away from it to avoid collison.
Other things can happen in hyperspace. Radiation could cause the vessel to enter the wrong system, the ship could actually tear the fabric of hyperspace creating what is referred to as a wormhole or the vessel could just tracend space and time as we know it into another parallel universe.
[edit] Real hyperdrive development
A few days ago information appeared on the net about a project that will attempt to create a hyperdrive. New Scientist has a good article on it ( http://www.newscientist.com/channel/fundamentals/mg18925331.200.html ) and there's also a news article on another site ( http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=16902006 )
[edit] Hyperspace that drives you insane if you look through the window?
"Hyperspace itself may be portrayed as swirling colors, total blackness, or as something that would drive a human mind insane should it be viewed." Why is this?? Is it some kind of "hell"? Or do the swirling colors trigger seizures? I mean, what's the source of this kind of hyperspace?--Guruclef 11:13, 29 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Real Or Not?
In my opinion "Hyper Space" is very real, although we do not at this moment in time have the reasources to create a method of propulsion that would allow us to reach "Hyper Space." I think that it is an explotable area of travel, but it requiers great financial funding and dedicated research.
