Propulsion Technology

Propulsion Technology, sometimes referred to as propulsion tech, was a term used to describe the various means of transportation for starships and other vehicles. FTL Travel referred to methods of transportation that were Faster Than Light.

Non-Faster Than Light Travel

 * 1) Ion Drive- a common, but old, technology that has a relatively slow pick up speed. It ionizes propellant by adding or removing electrons to produce ions
 * 2) Solar Sails- high powered and require no fuel, but are limited to only in a single solar system; very hard to travel between systems; mostly for recreational use, as they rely on the light particles from the system's star to propel.
 * 3) Pulsed Fusion- incredibly powerful, but highly radioactive and thus less common.  Pulsed fusion, or fusion propulsion, uses the power source to release its energy directly into the propellant, and does not require conversion to electricity.
 * 4) Plasma Propulsion Engine- uses magnetic currents and electrical potentials accelerate ions in plasma to generate thrust.  It’s an improvement that is considered top of the line propulsion.
 * 5) Continuous fusion- this propulsion tech attempts to recreate the power of the sun, though it is incredibly expensive, time consuming, and not worth the resource spending; no ships use this, though it’s technically possible.

Faster Than Light Travel

 * 1) Quantum Drive- the Quantum Drive was the standard form of FTL travel. The Quantum Drive compressed space in front and expanded space in the rear, creating folds in the fabric of space that a ship flies through.  Traveling through quantum space was known as a quantum jump.
 * 2) Ununpentium Drive- an Ununpentium Drive reportedly provides an energy source which would produce anti-gravity effects under proton bombardment, along with antimatter for energy production. This technology was supposedly achieved by the Zaolians in the Zaolia War, but they destroyed nearly all of their ships at the end of the war.  The HRSS Calypso uses an Ununpentium Drive to achieve advanced speeds and make maneuvers unable to be performed by most other ships.