Anti gravity in fiction

ANTI GRAVITY
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Science's Less Accurate Grandmother
Steve[n] Mollmann's blog: the Victorian Era, science fiction, literary criticism, doomsday tales, and other things

22 December 2017

Review: IronWolf by Howard Chaykin, Denny O'Neil, et al.

When I read Tom King and Barnaby Bagenda's The Omega Men (2015-16, review forthcoming), you might have thought that I had reached the present of the DC Comics space heroes, and thus the end of my quest to read them all. But, this is not to be: I've circled back around to pick up some of the Bronze Age pre-Crisis space comics I hadn't already read, as my journey originally began with the original Omega Men in 1983. There's always stuff it turns out that you've missed! So now I'm filling in the blanks, beginning with IronWolf (1973-74), which appeared in three issues of Weird Worlds.

IronWolf is different than many of the DC space stories I've read so far: it takes place in the far future (the sixty-first century, I think), and it might not even fit into the "main" DC timeline (The Multiversity Guidebook, for example, places it on Earth-37). It's kind of a proto-Star Wars, about a band of space rebels fighting to take down a tyrannical galactic empire, though it lacks Star Wars's clear-cut wish-fulfillment adventuring spirit. Our hero is Lord IronWolf,* an officer and a nobleman in the military of the Empire Galaktika. IronWolf's planet of Ilium supplies the "anti-gravity wood" from which Earth's spaceships are made-- and indeed, IronWolf's spaceship the Limerick Rake is made of wood with brass detailing. The empress, Erika Klein-Hernandez, orders IronWolf to share the anti-gravity wood with "barbarian" aliens, so that they might be the empire's allies in a coming war, but IronWolf believes that this will just make the empire helpless in the face of a potential barbarian attack.

That's about all the astropolitical background we get. Who the Empire Galaktika might be facing in the coming war is unsaid, and in fact, the coming war is never mentioned again after the first issue. The "barbarians" are never named, either, and they disappear after the first issue.

The first issue gave me the impression of having been written to run in installments of seven pages or so, as it positively rockets through events. By page 2, IronWolf has slapped the empress for flirting with him to induce him to give up the anti-gravity wood; by page 4, a female performer in a visiting mime troupe (!) has saved IronWolf's life and gone on the run with him; by page 7, IronWolf's crew has joined him in rebellion, shooting down imperial fighters; by page 8, the Limerick Rake is playing pirate, systematically undermining the imperial war fleet and its supply ships; by page 13, IronWolf's brother has turned traitor and handed the anti-gravity wood trees over to the vampires (they're on the empress's side, another indication of her degeneracy); by page 14, IronWolf has burned down the forests; by page 19, IronWolf has saved the life of a female democratic revolutionary (the improbably named Shebaba O'Neal) in the Sargasso Sea of Space; by page 20, he's decided he'd rather be a revolutionary than an outlaw and thrown in with her. Phew. In another writer's hands, that could have been three different issues at least. (The later issues of IronWolf don't move that fast, either.)

It kind of works, it kind of doesn't. Howard Chaykin would later come into fame, and his early work is still quality stuff. He both plots and draws, with Denny O'Neil writing the actual script. The men are manly, the women are leggy, and the story pulses with energy, with great dynamic action-- which, I guess, is really what one wants from this sort of thing. Chaykin and O'Neil hint at a big, lived-in, somewhat grotty future without actually giving a lot of exposition or backstory, the kind of thing Star Wars would do better just three years after this came out. Sometimes O'Neil's narration is a bit pompous: "Yes, they [IronWolf's men] are everywhere-- and always they are led by a man with stern visage, limitless courage, and incredible strength- the Lord IronWolf!"

Sometimes the speed is fun, but often you wish you knew just a tad more: what kind of man decides to betray his noble oath in a page? And the female performer who aids IronWolf's escape from the empress's palace doesn't even get a name until the second issue! Sometimes the cramming in of story comes at the expense of clarity of action and/or setting. (When IronWolf is attacked by an assassin in an inn on a frontier planet, you'd only know where he is because of O'Neil's caption: in a five-panel sequence, only one even has a background.) But when Chaykin has the space to give something, it's gorgeous, like the Limerick Rake hovering over the Grand Canyon, and he knows how to guide your eye over a crowded comics page.

The second and third chapters decompress, each with a fourteen-page story where less happens than in seven pages of the first issue. In the case of the second, this works: IronWolf and Missy (the no longer anonymous performer) return to Earth to infiltrate the empress's court as players putting on a performance of Hamlet. Of course, the plan can't work or else the series would be over, and Missy dies while Lord IronWolf barely escapes with his life. Thankfully, Shebaba O'Neal is a badass and brings the Limerick Rake to the rescue. It's a fun story, a sort of Star Wars-y subterfuge caper that I always enjoy, though Missy's death feels needlessly cruel, and I kind of wish anyone on the Limerick Rake had a name or personality other than Shebaba.

The third issue, though, goes off-premise, with the Limerick Rake putting in at Shebaba's uncle's planet for repair and resupply, only to discover that the uncle sells drugs, and one of his sons had become a hulked-out monster because of the drugs he sells. Meh. It feels like Chaykin and O'Neil are already floundering for ideas, and the series isn't living up to the potential of the first issue's energy and thrills-- perhaps because Chaykin and O'Neil already burned through so much of the story at record speed. I don't know what they had planned next for the series, but IronWolf tells Shebaba that he's learned "both sides are corrupt! The empire and the outworlds! ... They're two sides of the same filthy coin!" Shebaba tells him that he has himself and his dream: "call it a dream of peace...of decency! You won't admit that you're a dreamer... you are, though! And I won't fault you! A dreamer who can fight-- not a bad kind of person to be!"

I don't know where this idea that IronWolf is a man of peace and decency came from; he comes across much more as a savage playing at nobleman; let us not forget he slapped the empress when she flirted with him, and had nothing better to do than turn pirate. It was Shebaba who gave him a dream, which he seemed to adopt mostly for the lack of anything better to do. And what happened to her ambitions beyond being his second-in-command? She was a feisty revolutionary in her own right two issues ago. The narration of the last panel describes him as "A man caught in the middle," so it seems like Chaykin and O'Neil would have pursued some kind of outsider path for him if the feature had continued. But, thanks to the cancellation of Weird Worlds, it came to an end.

I read IronWolf in a one-shot collecting all three parts of the story, published in 1986 with (I think) new coloring and improved printing, but I still picked up the original Weird Worlds #9 and 10 because they contained Tales of the House of IronWolf, a back-up strip plotted by Chaykin that hasn't been collected elsewhere. Set two millennia before the main series, during an era where technology and civilization have regressed so that interplanetary travel is forgotten, John Warner and Vicente Alcazar's story concerns two brothers, Patrick Obrian Keats and Burton Scott Keats (yes, really!), both British forest lords competing for the affections of Lady Vanessa Dubiel Shelly. The narration in issue #9 says that from them, "2000 years later, would descend two sworn enemies... IronWolf and the Empress Erika!"

One brother saves the the other and Lady Vanessa from a wolf attack, but loses his hand in the process; Lady Vanessa goes with the uninjured one, inspiring the injured one to replaced his lost hand with an iron hook, kill the wolf, wear it as a headdress, and live in the forest harassing his brother's supply shipments. (Apparently harassing supply shipments is how the family deals with rejection.) There's also a French fencing-master everyone makes fun of. That's basically it; how we get from this to an IronWolf dynasty on an alien planet with anti-gravity trees two thousand years later is left to the imagination of the reader. These are okay stories, focused more on atmosphere and creepiness than the action-driven main IronWolf feature. I mean, they're only six pages a pop, so not a lot can happen.

IronWolf has two codas of sort. One is that in the 1990s, Chaykin revisited the character in Fires of the Revolution, a graphic novel I will shortly read. I'm curious to see how the story can be polished with a known endpoint and a quarter-century of creative development on Chaykin's part. But the other is much more significant: when I said IronWolf was a pre-Star Wars, I wasn't the only one who thought so. Because he read IronWolf, George Lucas specifically requested that Chaykin illustrate the Marvel Comics adaptation of Star Wars in 1977. Chaykin drew not only that (issues #1-6 of Marvel's original Star Wars series) but he also illustrated issues #7-10 (and co-wrote #7, 8, and 10). These were the first non-adaptation Star Wars comics, and some of the first "Expanded Universe" stories full stop. Without IronWolf, the voluminous numbers of Star Wars comics that both Marvel and Dark Horse have produced could have been very different!

IronWolf originally appeared in issues #8-10 of Weird Worlds vol. 1 (Nov./Dec. 1973–Oct./Nov. 1974). The story was created, plotted, and drawn by Howard Chaykin; scripted and edited by Denny O'Neil; and lettered by Walt Simonson (#8). It was reprinted in IronWolf #1 (1986), which was colored by Liz Berube and edited by Mike Gold.

Tales of the House of IronWolf originally appeared in issues #9-10 of Weird Worlds vol. 1 (Jan./Feb.-Oct./Nov. 1974). The story was plotted by Howard Chaykin and John Warner, scripted by John Warner, illustrated by Vicente Alcazar, and edited by Denny O'Neil.

* The cover to issue #8 of Weird Worlds actually says "Iron-Wolf" and in the lettercol in issue #9, editor Denny O'Neil uses "Ironwolf." But in the text pieces from the 1986 reprint special, both Howard Chaykin and Mike Gold use "IronWolf," and I'm going with that as their latest word on the subject. The all-caps lettering of comic book of course makes it impossible to tell from the stories themselves, as it's always just "IRONWOLF."

Posted by Steve     at  8:30 AM

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ANTIGRAVITY
Introduction

This section is both for: •Antigravity: things that fight the force of gravity; such as matter that "falls upwards", gravitational repulsion and gravity shielding

•Paragravity: gravity generators, where you put electricity into one end and synthetic gravity comes out the other

Yes, the two categories tend to blur into each other sometimes. And both kind of blur into the cataegory of reactionless drives.

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Gravity is such a pesky thing. It prevents us from doing all sorts of wonderful things. Such as floating through the air like a balloon, traveling into orbit without paying an ugly cost in delta V, and being morbidly obese but still light on your feet like Baron Vladimir Harkonnen

By the same token, it would also be incredibly useful to be able to create gravity on command. Then you could do things like create artificial gravity inside your spacecraft without unwieldy centrifuges, preventing the crew from getting killed by multi-gee acceleration, and make attractor beams.

And do idiotic things like make the direction of "up" in your spacecraft at ninety degrees to the direction of thrust like they were space-going passenger airplanes (I'm looking at YOU Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and practically every other media SF show and movie).

Science has yet to figure out how to make either device, but they have been popular in science fiction at least since H. G. Wells wrote The First Men in the Moon in 1901.

Another popular trope is mounting an antigravity/paragravity drive inside a submarine to make Instant Spaceship.

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Of course the easiest way to create an antigravity device is to attach a piece of buttered toast (butter side up) to the back of a cat and drop it.

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And as a note on terminology, things in this section will be using "Gravitational Waves." The term "Gravity Waves" has already been appropriated by the science of fluid dynamics, they refer to ocean waves.

Antigravity

"Anti" means "opposed to, against". So antigravity is something that fights gravity. These include: •Bizzare elements or minerals that fall upward, instead of downward as is customary. These include:◦Inertron from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D. ◦Upsidaisium from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show ◦Nth Metal (Fe676) from the Hawkman comic book ◦Anti-gravity Wood from Howard Chaykin's comic Ironwolf ◦Liftwood from Space: 1889 ◦"Negative Mass" (which is different from antimatter) from the real world ◦Unobtanium (not unobtainium) from the movie Avatar. (actually that's wrong. Christopher Phoenix pointed out that the Avatar Unobtanium is not antigravity, it is just a room-temperature superconductor that reacts to the powerful magnetic fields around Pandora)

•Gravity fields of opposite sign to conventional gravity, so it repels instead of attracts. These include:◦Gravitic Repulsion Elevator from Isaac Asimov's Foundation ◦Sleeping Plates from Larry Niven's Neutron Star and Ringworld.

•Gravity shielding that screen off the effect of gravity. Scientifically accurate shields will require tremendous amounts of energy. These include:◦Grav Shields from C. C. MacApp's Recall Not Earth ◦Suspensors from Frank Herbert's Dune series ◦Cavorite from H. G. Well's First Men in the Moon ◦Abbot Lift-and-Drive aka "Contragravity" from H. Beam Piper's Four-Day Planet

•None of the above:◦Gravity Drag from Larry Niven's Known Space series. The device converts a spacecraft's momentum relative to the nearest large mass into heat, which is jettisoned by a radiator. It acts like a high-tech parachute.

☢

As a side note, understand that the astronauts in the International Space Station are NOT floating around in microgravity because they are beyond the range of Terra's gravitational field. The gravitational attraction of Terra at the altitude of the ISS is about 93% of one full gee, almost full strength.

The reason that everybody floats around is because they are in a state of "free fall." If you were in an elevator, and the cable snapped, you too would be in a state of free fall and would float around. At least until you hit. The station and astronauts are in free fall because they are in "orbit", which is a clever way to fall but never hit the ground. You can read more about the details here.

So people in the Space Station are in "zero gravity" in the sense of "undergoing an acceleration of 0.0 gs". Just like the Apollo astronauts are crushed by an acceleration of 3.94 g when they lift off. They are NOT in "zero gravity" in the sense of they are out of range of Terra's gravity.

Related terms are "free fall" and "microgravity."

ANTIGRAVITY HOVERCRAFT

(ed note: Rob Garitta asked a question about the minimum energy requirements for some kind of paragravity hover vehicle, like Luke Skywalker's landspeeder or a Traveller air/raft. Not the energy to move around, just the energy to hover in place.)

LUKE CAMPBELL: If you suspend something above the ground and it is not moving, it requires no energy at all to keep it there. The speed of the object is not changing, it is not gaining kinetic or potential energy, so no energy is needed to keep it in place. For example, I am currently using a device that exerts a repulsive force on the ground to suspend me about half a meter above the ground. It is called a chair. It requires no power to operate. Obviously, you can suspend things using less efficient methods, like quadrotor drones, which must spend power to continually shoot streams of air downward (accelerating the air, and giving it kinetic energy, which comes from the drone's battery). Now if you move the object around, it will require energy to speed it up so that it can get someplace else (and to fight aerodynamic drag), or to raise the object against gravity. Conversely, in principle lowering the object or slowing it down can get you that energy back (minus inefficiencies, and you're not going to recover any energy lost to drag forces or friction). I assume you're talking about some kind of magic repulsor beam or force-screen levitator car or some such. In principle, there's no reason that these need to consume power to keep something hovering in one spot — especially if it acts by directly pushing from the levitated object down to the ground. Of course, we don't actually have any real-life examples of levitator rays to compare to. There may be additional energy losses associated with such a technology — ionization of the air*, or excitation of energetic modes not related to creating bulk forces, or modulation of the field to overcome dynamic instabilities through active control, or radiation of orgone waves, or who knows what. But none of this follows from the fundamental physics of the situation. * Note that if the device ionizes the air, it will produce ozone which is a major cause of air pollution. If repulsor rays ionize the air your cities either very tightly regulate levitator cars or they are full of smog and everyone has breathing difficulty.

☢

ROB GARITTA Luke Campbell Do you have any idea how to calculate the power needed to lift a mass with my magic levitator ray?

☢

LUKE CAMPBELL: Rob Garitta The power to lift a mass (absent inefficiency) is easy — multiply the mass of the object by the distance lifted, and then multiply that by the local gravity.

(ed note: meaning the following equations are for a device with 100% efficiency. Since there is no such thing as 100% efficiency, you should make a correction. If you say the device is only 75% efficient, the efficiency factor is 0.75. The power factor is 1 / 0.75 or 1.33. Multiply the equation's power required by 1.33 to get how much power it really uses.) For example, on Earth the gravity is 10 m/s2 (actually 9.8 m/s2, but rounding to 10 is easier for quick calculations). If your hovercar has a mass of 1500 kg, and is currently floating at an altitude of 40 meters, and you want to lift it to a height of 60 meters, then the energy required to do so is:

Powerreq = gp * Massobj * (Altfinal - Altinit)

where

Powerreq = energy required to lift the object (Joules), divide by 3,600,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours gp = local planetary surface gravity (m/s2) = 9.81 m/s2 for Terra's surface Massobj = mass of the object being lifted (kg) Altinit = initial altitude from planet's surface (m) Altfinal = final altitude from planet's surfac (m)

therefore:

(10 m/s2) * (1500 kg) * (60 m - 40 m) = 300,000 kg m2/s2 = 300,000 Joules = 0.08 kilowatt-hours ( = 300,000 * 1.33 = 399,000 J if device is only 75% efficient) Note that if you drop in altitude, that potential energy that you added is returned somehow.

(ed note: you take the final altitude and subtract the initial altitude. If the final altitude is less than the initial, the object is dropping in altitude not lifting in altitude. This means the altitude changes will be negative. Which means the energy required will also be negative, signifying that the hovercar's batteries will be gaining energy instead of losing energy.) You can just turn it into kinetic energy, which gives your hovercar speed — but if you brake with the levitator ray you will be doing work on the ray's field, which will be adding energy to the ray. You can use this to, for example, recharge the battery.

(ed note: once the battery fills up the hovercar will have to get rid of the added energy as waste heat or the battery will explode) Things get a bit trickier if you go high enough that the gravitational field is no longer uniform (meaning the gravity at the initial altitude is drastically different from the gravity at the final altitude, i.e., lifting from the planet's surface into orbit). In that case if you start at a height from the planet's center (NOT the surface) of r0 and you go to a height of r from the planet's center, then the energy required is

Powerreq = (G * M * m / r) - (G * M * m / r0)

where

Powerreq = energy required to lift the object (Joules), divide by 3,600,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours G is the gravitational constant (6.67408×10-11 m3⋅kg-1⋅s-2) M is the mass of the planet (5.97237×1024 kg for Terra) m is the mass of the thing you are levitating r0 is the initial distance from the planet's center (6,371 m for Terra's Surface) r is the final distance from the planet's center

G can be looked up on Wikipedia (6.67408×10-11), and M and r0 for ground level for any of the planets in our solar system can also be found on Wikipedia (the entry for Earth, for example, lists all the relevant planetary parameters in the sidebar). If you speed up from a speed of v0 to a speed of v, this also requires an energy of 0.5 * m * (v^2 - v0^2). Likewise, slowing down somehow turns that energy into another form, which may just be dissipated as heat (as with friction brakes, or drag-producing aerodynamic surfaces), but might be used to recharge the battery (like with electric cars, that run their motors in reverse to work as generators).

☢    There are certainly levitation methods that use a lot of power. An extreme example is lifting something by light pressure, which requires a power of 3 GW to lift 1 kg against Earth's surface gravity. (Although if you re-use the light, by reflecting it back and forth between two mirrors, for example, you can reduce the power level. If you get on average 1000 reflections per photon, then your power level is down to 3 MW per kg. You still have a nasty death ray ready to incinerate anything between the levitated thing and the emitter station, though). Sonic levitation (where you have to continually run a speaker) or rotorcraft (helicopters, quadrotor drones) also continually use power. On the other hand, magnetic levitation does not intrinsically use power to keep something suspended. Active control circuits will require some dissipation (probably because they use some electromagnets for control, which have resistive losses). For superconductive levitation, you will need power to run the compressors that get you your liquid nitrogen (unless you have room temperature superconductors in your setting, or if you are working in a naturally cryogenic environment like Pluto, in which case you don't need any power). And yes, if you lift yourself up above the atmosphere and then turn off your levitator ray, you will drop like a rock unless you also add enough speed to keep in orbit. Note that the energy to add orbital speed is quite a bit more than the energy to just lift you up above the atmosphere.

From Dr. Luke Campbell in a private Google Plus thread (2017)

Buck Rogers

Anthony Rogers made his first appeance in a 1928 story called Armageddon 2419 AD by Philip Francis Nowlan (synopsis here, public domain text here). It was followed by a sequel: The Airlords of Han (public domain text here). In 1929 it was turned into a newspaper comic strip: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D.

The main item relevant to our interest is the antigravity material "inertron", which falls upward. Its main use is as "anti-ballast". By loading an aircraft with inertron anti-ballast, its weight (but not its inertia) is reduced. The effect is to drastically reduce the amount of thrust required to just keep the aircraft in the air. Later in the comic strip, this is used to make interplanetary spacecraft.

People use "jumping belts", a back pack full of enough inertron to reduce the user's weight to only a few kilograms. This allows the user to make jumps in excess of 15 meters (50 feet). Later, in the comic strip, small rocket engines are added to make flying belts.

INERTRON

[Inertron] is a synthetic element…It reflects 100 percent of the heat and light impinging upon it. It does not feel cold to the touch, of course, since it will not absorb the heat of the hand. It is a solid, very dense in molecular structure despite its lack of weight…It is a perfect shield…in many ways resembles the fabled hypothetical antimatter. It can co-exist with matter from our universe without mutual destruction, but it doesn’t much like to. Given a choice, it will try and head to the nearest perfect vacuum — which, from a terrestrial point of view, is always straight up. Thus it forms an effective anti-gravity agent. It also has the happy faculty of being a nearly 100% perfect insulator against any and all forms of electromagnetic radiation.

From ARMAGEDDON 2419 AD by Philip Francis Nowlan (1928)

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Images from Roland Anderson

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip Buck's flying belt contains enough inertron so he only weights a few kilograms. The rockets only have to levitate a few kilos and provide maneuvering.

From Buck Rogers 2429 A.D. newspaper comic strip

Amazing Stories August 1928 This issue contained the first installment of "Armageddon 2419 AD" by Philip Nowlan, the story that became the Buck Rogers comic strip. Ironically the cover illustration is for E. E. "Doc" Smith's The Skylark of Space, where Richard Seaton tests his copper-driven space suit. This illustration is commonly mislabeled as a picture of Buck Rogers. Artwork by the legendary Frank Paul. Image from Tim Elkins

Antigravity Lifters

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century artwork by Rick Yager (1948)

Antigravity is currently handwavium, physics currently does not allow the possiblity of antigravity flatbed trolleys or hand truck. But they are too cool for school, most science fiction fans love them.

An antigrav trolley loaded with cargo will require energy (presumably electrical) to rise off the ground and move upward. If it lowers itself, the energy comes back and can be stored in a battery. Oddly enough, it requires zero energy to hover at a given height.

Understand that it still is going to take some effort to pull the blasted trolley. It doesn't matter that hovering will give it the equivalent of perfectly frictionless wheels, the cargo still has inertia. Your average automobile has close to frictionless wheels as well, but it still takes several people to push it anywhere. And by same token, once you have got it moving it will take about the same effort to stop the blasted thing.

☢

Now if the antigrav trolley only rises a few kilometers off the ground you can calculate the energy required with the equation below. A more complicated equation will be needed if the trolley is going to rise into orbit or otherwise rise to a level where the value of gravitational acceleration is significantly different.

Powerreq = gp * Massobj * (Altfinal - Altinit) * (1 / eff)

where

Powerreq = energy required to lift the object (Joules), divide by 3,600,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours gp = local planetary surface gravity (m/s2) = 9.81 m/s2 for Terra's surface Massobj = mass of the object being lifted (kg) Altinit = initial altitude from planet's surface (m) Altfinal = final altitude from planet's surface (m) eff = efficiency of converting electricity to antigravity (1.0 = 100%, 0.75 = 75% etc.)

Example

Say you have a crate of 50 blaster rifles (mass 170 kilograms) plus a 50 kilogram crate of (black-market) antiagathic drugs. The trolley weighs 10 kilograms Total mass 230 kilograms. You are on Terra, standing on a superhighway clover-leaf 29 meters off the surface. You want the antigrav trolley to hover 1.5 meters off the road (30.5 m off the surface). Trolley has an efficency of 0.70 (70%). How much energy will the trolley need?

Powerreq = gp * Massobj * (Altfinal - Altinit) * (1 / eff) Powerreq = 9.81 * 230 * (30.5 - 29) * (1 / 0.70) Powerreq = 9.81 * 230 * (1.5) * (1.43) Powerreq = 4,840 Joules or 0.00134 kilowatt-hours or 1.34 watt-hours

GRAVBELT

artwork by Leo Summers

Thus at thirty—Avalonian reckoning—Christopher Holm was tall, slender, but wide-shouldered. In features as well as build, he took after his mother: long head, narrow face, thin nose and lips, blue eyes, mahogany hair (worn short in the style of those who do much gravbelt flying), and as yet not enough beard to be worth anything except regular applications of antigrowth enzyme. His complexion, naturally fair, was darkened by exposure. Laura, a G5 star, has only 72 percent the luminosity of Sol and less ultraviolet light in proportion; but Avalon, orbiting at a mean distance of 0.81 astronomical unit in a period of 0.724 Terran, gets 10 percent more total irradiation than man evolved under.

He made the customary part-by-part inspection of his unit before he put arms through straps and secured buckle at waist. The twin cone-pointed cylinders on his back had better have fully charged accumulators and fully operating circuits. If not, he was dead. One Ythrian couldn't hold back a human from toppling out of the sky. A couple of times, several together had effected a rescue; but those were herders, carrying lassos which they could cast around their comrade and pull on without getting in each other's way. You dared not count on such luck. O God, to have real wings!

He donned a leather helmet and lowered the goggles which were his poor substitute for a nictitating membrane. He sheathed knife and slugthrower at his hips. There would be nothing of danger—no chance of a duel being provoked, since a Khruath was peace-holy—not that deathpride quarrels ever happened often—but the Stormgate folk were mostly hunters and didn't leave their tools behind. He had no need to carry provisions. Those would be supplied from the family stores, to which he contributed his regular share, and ferried to the rendezvous on a gravsled.

Going out the door, he found himself on ground level. Humans had ample room on Avalon—about ten million of them; four million Ythrians—and even here in Gray, the planet's closest approximation to a real city, they built low and widespread. A couple of highrises sufficed for resident or visiting ornithoids.

Arinnian flicked controls. Negaforce thrust him gently, swiftly upward. Leveling off, he spent a minute savoring the view.

From THE PEOPLE OF THE WIND by Poul Anderson (1973)

PERSONAL FLIERS

(ed note: this is technically not antigravity, but has many of the same advantages and limitations. This was written in 1951, back when the Soviet Union still existed)

The essential thing was that, while blowing on a spoonful of red cabbage soup. Professor Rojestvensky happened to think of an interesting inference or deduction to be drawn from the Bramwell-Weems equation expressing the distribution of energy among the nucleus-particles of the lighter atoms. The Bramwell-Weems Equation was known in Russia as the Gabrilovitch-Brekhov Formula because, obviously, Russians must have thought of it first. The symbols, however, were the same as in the capitalist world.

Weeks passed, and nothing happened. That was a bad month in Russian science. The staffs of Medical Research and Surgical Advancement had already reported everything they could dream up. Workers in Aerodynamic Design weren’t sticking out their necks. The last man to design a new plane went to prison for eight years when a fuel line clogged on his plane’s test flight.

Aerodynamic Design sent him out to Omsk to get Professor Rojestvensky to check his calculations. It was a shrewd move. The Nuclear Fission man and Professor Rojestvensky got along splendidly. They ate red-cabbage soup together and the professor O.K.’d the whole project. That made him responsible for anything that went wrong and Aerodynamic Design, en masse, was much relieved. They sent in a preliminary report on their intentions and started to make one gadget themselves. The Nuclear Fission man was strangely willing to play along and see what happened. He supervised the construction of the thing.

It consisted of a set of straps very much like a parachute harness, hung from a little bar of brass with a plating of metallic sodium, under another plating of nickel, and the whole thing enclosed in a plastic tube. There was a small box with a couple of controls. That was all there was to it.

artwork by Edd Cartier

When it was finished, the Nuclear-Fission man tried it out himself. He climbed into the harness in the Wind Tunnel Building of Aerodynamic Design’s plant, said the Russian equivalent of “Here goes nothing!” and flipped over one of the controls. In his shakiness, he pushed it too far. He left the ground, went straight up like a rocket, and cracked his head against the three-story-high ceiling and was knocked cold for two hours. They had to haul him down from the ceiling with an extension ladder, because the gadget he’d made tried insistently to push a hole through the roof to the wide blue yonder.

When he recovered consciousness, practically all of Aerodynamic Design surrounded him, wearing startled expressions. And they stayed around while he found out what the new device would do. Put briefly, it would do practically anything but make fondant. It was a personal flying device, not an airplane, which would lift up to two hundred twenty-five pounds. It would hover perfectly. It would all by itself, travel in any direction at any speed a man could stand without a windshield.

True, the Rojestvensky Effect which made it fly was limited. No matter how big you made the metal bar, it wouldn’t lift more than roughly a hundred kilos, nearly two-twenty-five pounds. But it worked by the fact that the layer of metallic sodium on the brass pushed violently away from all other sodium more than three meters away from it. Sodium within three meters wasn’t affected. And there was sodium everywhere. Sodium chloride—common table salt—is present everywhere on Earth and the waters under the Earth, but it isn’t present in the heavens above. So the thing would fly anywhere over land or sea, but it wouldn’t go but so high. The top limit for the gadget’s flight was about four thousand feet, with a hundred-and-fifty-pound man in the harness. A heavier man couldn’t get up so high. And it was infinitely safe. A man could fly night, day, or blind drunk and nothing could happen to him. He couldn’t run into a mountain because he’d bounce over it. The thing was marvelous!

☢

Aerodynamic Design made a second triumphant report to the Politburo. A new and appropriately revolutionary device—it was Russian—had been produced in obedience to orders. Russian science had come through! When better revolutionary discoveries were made, Russia would make them! And if the device was inherently limited to one-man use—ha-ha! It gave the Russian army flying infantry! It provided the perfect modern technique for revolutionary war! It offered the perfect defense for peaceful, democratic Russia against malevolent capitalistic imperialism! In short, it was hot stuff!

As a matter of fact, it was. Two months later there was a May-Day celebration in Moscow at which the proof of Russia’s superlative science was unveiled to the world. Planes flew over Red Square in magnificent massed formations. Tanks and guns rumbled through the streets leading to Lenin’s tomb. But the infantry— where was the infantry ? Where were the serried ranks of armed men, shaking the earth with their steady tread? Behind the tanks and guns there was only emptiness.

artwork by Edd Cartier

For a while only. Far, far away, the flying infantry appeared!

Shoulder to shoulder, rank after rank, holding fast to lines like dog leashes that held them in formation, no less than twelve thousand Russian infantrymen floated into the Red Square some fifteen feet off the ground. They were a bit ragged as to elevation, and they tended to eddy a bit at street corners, but they swept out of the canyons which were streets at a magnificent twenty-five miles an hour, in such a display of air-borne strength as the world had ever seen before.

☢

The other was the bitter protest made by the Russian ambassador in Washington. He denounced the capitalist-economy-inspired prevention of the shipment to Russia of an order for brass rods plated with metallic sodium, then plated with nickel, and afterward enclosed in plastic tubes. State Department investigation showed that while an initial order of twelve thousand five hundred such rods had been shipped in April, there had been a number of fires in the factory since, and it had been closed down until fire-prevention methods could be devised. It was pointed out that metallic sodium is hot stuff. It catches fire when wetted or even out of pure cussedness it is fiercely inflammable.

This was a fact that Aviation Production in Russia had already found out. The head man was in trouble with his own friends in the Politburo for failing to meet production quotas, and he’d ordered the tricky stuff—the rods had to be dipped in melted sodium in a helium atmosphere for quantity production—manufactured in the benighted and scientifically retarded United States.

☢

There was another item that should be mentioned, too. Within a week after the issue of personal fliers to Russian infantrymen, no less than sixty-four desertions by air to Western nations took place. On the morning after the first night maneuvers of the air-borne force, ninety-two Russians were discovered in the Allied half of Germany alone, trying to swap’ their gadgets for suits of civilian clothes.

They were obliged, of course. Enterprising black marketeers joyfully purchased the personal fliers, shipped Them to France, to Holland, to Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland, and sold them at enormous profits. In a week it was notorious that any Russian deserted from the flying infantry could sell his flight-equipment for enough money to buy forty-nine wrist watches and still stay drunk for six months. It was typical private enterprise. It was unprincipled and unjust. But it got worse.

Private entrepreneurs stole the invention itself. At first the units were reproduced one by one in small shops for high prices. But the fire-hazard was great. Production-line methods were really necessary both for economy and industrial safety reasons. So after a while the Bofors Company, of Sweden, rather apologetically turned out a sport model, in quantity, selling for kronen worth twelve dollars and fifty cents in American money. Then the refurbished I. G. Farben put out a German type which sold openly for a sum in occupation marks equal to only nine eighty American. A Belgian model priced—in francs—at five fifty had a wide sale, but was not considered quite equal to the Dutch model at guilders exchanging for six twenty-five or the French model with leather-trimmed straps at seven dollars worth of devaluated francs.

The United States capitalists started late. Two bicycle makers switched their factories to the production of personal fliers, yet by the middle of June American production was estimated at not over fifty thousand per month. But in July, one hundred eighty were produced and in August the production—expected to be about three hundred thousand—suddenly, went sky-high when both General Electric and Westinghouse entered the market. In September American production was over three million and it became evident that manufacturers would have to compete with each other on finish and luxury of design. The days when anything that would fly was salable at three fifty and up were over.

The personal flier became a part of American life, as, of course, it became a part of life everywhere. In the United States the inherent four-thousand-foot ceiling of personal fliers kept regular air traffic from having trouble except near airports, and flier-equipped airport police soon developed techniques for traffic control. A blimp patrol had to be set up off the Atlantic Coast to head back enthusiasts for foreign travel and Gulf Stream fishing, but it worked very well. There were three million, then five million, and by November twelve million personal-flier- equipped Americans aloft. And the total continued to rise. Suburban railways — especially after weather-proof flying garments became really good — joyfully abandoned their short-haul passenger traffic and all the railroads settled down contentedly to their real and profitable business of long-haul heavy-freight carriage. Even the air lines prospered incredibly. The speed-limitation on personal fliers still left the jet-driven plane the only way to travel long distances quickly, and passengers desiring intermediate stops simply stepped out of a plane door when near their desired destination. Rural residential developments sprang up like mushrooms. A marked trend toward country life multiplied, Florida and California became so crowded that everybody got disgusted and went home, and the millennium appeared to be just around the corner.

But borders were not only crossed by friends. Smuggling became a sport. Customs barriers for anything but heavy goods simply ceased to exist. The French national monopoly on tobacco and matches evaporated, and many Frenchmen smoked real tobacco for the first time in their lives. Some of them did not like it. And there were even political consequences of the personal-flier development. In Spain, philosophical anarchists and syndicalistos organized political demonstration. Sometimes hundreds of them flew all night long to rendezvous above the former royal palace in Madrid—now occupied by the Caudillo—and empty chamber-pots upon it at dawn. Totalitarianism in Spain collapsed.

But in some ways the change has not been as great as one might have expected. About a year after the world was remade, an American engineer thought up a twist on Professor Rojestvensky’s figures. He interested the American continental government and they got ready to build a spaceship. The idea was that if a variation of that brass-sodium-nickel bar was curled around a hundred-foot-long tube, and metallic sodium vapor was introduced into one end of the tube, it would be pushed out of the other end with some speed. Calculation proved, indeed, that with all the acceleration possible, the metallic vapor would emerge with a velocity of ninety-eight point seven percent of the speed of light. Using Einstein’s formula for the relationship of mass to speed, that meant that the tube would propel a rocketship that could go to the Moon or Mars or anywhere else.

From HISTORICAL NOTE by Murray Leinster (1951)

GRAVITY NULLIFIER

artwork by Tyler Jacobson

(ed note:The protagonist is a young woman named Simsa living on a medieval level planet, in the ancient city of Kuxortal. The planet is irregularly visited by Terran starships who trade for some local items, but mostly use the place for money laundering and transshipping illegal cargoes hidden from the eyes of the the Patrol. There is a Prime-Directive technology-embargo against selling high-tech Terran equipment to the natives, since They Are Not Ready.

Thorn is a Terran off-worlder, who is seeking a remote archeological dig his brother was investigating, before the brother was murdered. Simsa and Thorn arrive at the edge of the desert of death in a little sail boat. Simsa is rather upset when she discovers that Thorn had cut up the sail in order to make some contraption. This means they are marooned, the boat is now worthless.)     The mad off-worlder! While she had been lazing away the day he had done this!      Not only had he stripped away most of the decking on the main portion of the boat, but he had taken the sail, slit it into strips. To make what? The thing which rested on the shingle was a monstrous mixture of hide-cloth from the sail, pieces of wood ripped and then retied into what looked like a small boat—except that it was flat of bottom. To it, while she had been unconscious, he had also transferred and lashed into place the rest of their food hampers, and now he was coming for the water jars.      Did the alien propose to drag that thing of his? Or would he harness the both of them to it and work her as well until they both yielded to heat and exhaustion?      If that was his plan, he would discover that she was not going to beg off—she would keep with him stride by stride as long as she could—or he would drive them both to the impossible. So when she came to stand beside him she looked for the drag ropes. There was only one—a single strand which she believed could not take the weight of the thing he had built.

He asked no help of her, but faced the drag carrier front on. His hand touched his belt for a moment. Then, to her amazement, the impossible happened before her eyes. There was a trembling of the carrier. It arose from the gravel and hung in the air—actually in the air—at least the height of her own knee. Picking up the lead rope, Thorn set off along the narrow beach and the thing floated after him as if it were some huge wingless zorsal, as obedient to his will as her own birds were to hers.

For a long moment, she simply watched what she still could not believe. Then she took off in a hurry, lest he vanish from sight. What new wonders he might bring into their service she could not guess, but now she would willingly accept all the strange tales which were told of the starmen and what they could do. Even though they never, as far as she knew, had demonstrated any such powers on this world before. Her anger lost in her need to know how such a thing might be, Simsa slipped and slid, forgetting her drained strength until she came even with Thorn who walked steadily ahead, leading his floating platform. “What do you do?” she got out between gasps of breath as she caught up. “What makes it hang so in the air?”

She heard him actually give a chuckle and then the look he turned on her was alive with sly humor. “If you told those at the port what you now see, they would send me back to my home world, sentenced to stay out of space forever,” he told her, though he seemed only amused at being able to explain what must be a crime among his kind. “I have merely applied to this problem something common on other planets—ones more advanced than yours. And that is a deadly crime according to the laws by which we abide. There is a small mechanism I planted at the right spot back there—” he pointed with his thumb over his shoulder but did not turn his head, “which nullifies gravity to a small extent—”

“Nullifies gravity,” she repeated, trying to give the strange words the same sound as he had. “I do not know—some people believe in ghosts and demons, but Ferwar said they are mainly what those who believe in them make for themselves by their own fears—that you can believe in any bad dream or thing if you turn your full mind to it. But this is no ghost nor demon.” “No. It is this.” They were into the cut of the valley now. The sea wind behind them made the passage more bearable now than she could ever have believed it could be when she had seen it by day. Now as he halted for a moment, it was still not too dark for her to make out what he pointed to as he repeated, “It is this.” “This” was what appeared as a black box no bigger than could be covered by his hand were he to set that palm down over it. The thing rested directly in the middle of his drag carrier and now she could see that the cargo on board had been carefully stacked in such a way that the load must weigh evenly along the full length, leaving open only that one spot in the exact center vacant, the place in which sat the box. “You toss a stone into the air and it falls,” he said, “it is the attraction of the earth which pulls it down. But if that attraction could be broken sufficiently—then your stone would float. On my world, we wear belts with such attachments which give us individual flying power when they are mated with another force. We can move also much heavier things than this with little trouble. Unfortunately, I could not smuggle through the field guards as large a nullifier as I wanted. This is limited; you see how close to the ground the weight holds it. “There is this also—the power is limited. However, it is solar powered and here the sun can renew it, at least for the space in which I think we shall have need of it.”

Simsa could understand his words easily enough, but the concept they presented was so far from anything she had known that his speech was akin to a wild travel tale, such as the river traders might use to scare off the gullible from their own private ports of trade, as was well known they were apt to do. She thought of such a thing being attached to a belt so that one could share the sky with such as the zorsal and the uses one could put such skill to. “The Thieves Guild,” she spoke aloud her own train of thought. “What they would not give for such as that! No,” a shiver which was not from the cooling of the wind shook her, “no, they would kill for that!

From FORERUNNER by Andre Norton (1980)

LIFTERS

artwork by Charles Geer

I went through the gateway, towing my equipment in a contragravity hamper over my head. As usual, I was wondering what it would take, short of a revolution, to get the city of Port Sandor as clean and tidy and well lighted as the spaceport area. I knew Dad's editorials and my sarcastic news stories wouldn't do it. We'd been trying long enough.

The elevator door opened, and Lautier and the professor joined in the push to get into it. I hung back, deciding to wait for the next one so that I could get in first and get back to the rear, where my hamper wouldn't be in people's way. After a while, it came back empty and I got on, and when the crowd pushed off on the top level, I put my hamper back on contragravity and towed it out into the outdoor air, which by this time had gotten almost as cool as a bake-oven.

☢    Ramón Llewellyn was saying to Joe Kivelson: "We're one man short; Devis, Abdullah's helper. Hospital." "Get hurt in the fight, last night? He was right with us till we got out to the elevators, and then I missed him." "No. He made it back to the ship about the same time we did, and he was all right then. Didn't even have a scratch. Strained his back at work, this morning, trying to lift a power-unit cartridge by hand." I could believe that. Those things weighed a couple of hundred pounds. Joe Kivelson swore. "What's he think this is, the First Century Pre-Atomic? Aren't there any lifters on the ship?" Llewellyn shrugged. "Probably didn't want to bother taking a couple of steps to get one. The doctor told him to take treatment and observation for a day or so."

☢

I pulled on a parka and zipped it up and went out onto the deck. Everybody who wasn't needed at engines or controls was there, and equipment was coming up from below—power saws and sonocutters and even a solenoid jackhammer. There were half a dozen floodlights, on small contragravity lifters; they were run up on lines fifty feet above the ship's deck.

☢    "I doubt it," Llewellyn said. "I was on an exploring expedition down here, once. This is all igneous rock, mostly granite. There aren't many caves. But there may be some sort of natural shelter, or something we can make into a shelter, not too far away. We have two half-ton lifters; we could use them to pile up rocks and build something. Let's make up two parties. I'll take one; Abe, you take the other. One of us can go up and the other can go down." The first trunk must have weighed a ton and a half, even after the branches were all off; we could barely lift one end of it with both lifters.

☢    We could see a blaze of electric lights ahead where the fire must be, and after a while we began to run into lorries and lifter-skids hauling ammunition away from the area. They had a lot of small fork-lifters that were helping close to the fire. As fast as they pulled the big skins down, men with hand-lifters like the ones we had used at our camp to handle firewood would pick them up and float them away.

From FOUR-DAY PLANET by H. Beam Piper (1961)

SUSPENSOR LITTER SLING

Miles Teg awoke in darkness to find himself being carried on a litter sling supported by suspensors. By their faint energy glow, he could see the tiny suspensor bulbs in an updangling row around him.

The bobbing motions of the dark shapes around him suggested they were descending uneven terrain. A trail? The litter sling rode smoothly on its suspensors. He could sense the faint humming from the suspensors when his party stopped to negotiate the turn of a difficult passage.

From HERETICS OF DUNE by Frank Herbert (1984)

ANTI-GRAVITY DISC

He found the rangers waiting for him and gave his own orders.

“Rolth, you and Fylh get up to that tower. If anyone tries to stop you pull Patrol rank on him It may still carry some weight with the underlings here. Zinga, where did you leave our packs?”

Five minutes later Kartr and the Zacathan gathered the four pioneer packs. “Slip an anti-gravity disc under them,” said Kartr, “and come on.”

With the packs floating just off the floor and easy to tow, they made their way toward the rear of the building. But, as they approached the narrow flight of stair Zinga said led to the roof, they were met by Fortus Kan. He edged back against the wall to let them pass, since Kartr did not halt. But he asked as they went by: “Where are you going?”

“Settling in ranger quarters,” the sergeant returned briefly.

“That one is still watching us,” Zinga whispered as they mounted. “He is none too stout of heart. A good loud shout of wrath aimed at him would send him scuttling—”

The walls were a murky translucent green. And behind them came and went shapes of vivid color, water creatures swimming! Then Kartr saw that it was all an illusion born of light and some sort of automatic picture projection. Zinga sat down on the packs, bearing them under his weight to the floor.

From STAR RANGERS by Andre Norton (1953)

ELWIN LEVITATORS

artwork by Michael Whittlesea

And as he walked, there came a faint but unmistakable whine from the bulky backpack he was carrying on his shoulders.

That pack, indeed, was carrying him — or three-quarters of him. As he forged steadily along the last few feet to his once-impossible goal. Dr. Elwin and all his equipment weighed only fifty pounds. And if that was still too much, he had only to turn a dial and he would weigh nothing at all.

Here amid the Moon-washed Himalayas was the greatest secret of the twenty-first century. In all the world, there were only five of these experimental Elwin Levitators, and two of them were here on Everest.

Even though he had known about them for two years, and understood something of their basic theory, the “Lewies” — as they had soon been christened at the lab — still seemed like magic to Harper. Their power-packs stored enough electrical energy to lift a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound weight through a vertical distance of ten miles, which gave an ample safety factor for this mission. The lift-and-descend cycle could be repeated almost indefinitely as the units reacted against the Earth’s gravitational field. On the way up, the battery discharged; on the way down, it was charged again. Since no mechanical process is completely efficient, there was a slight loss of energy on each cycle, but it could be repeated at least a hundred times before the units were exhausted.

(ed note: according to Luke Cambell's equation, the power packs are storing about 4.9 kilowatt hours. Can lift 113 kilograms 16,000 meters)

Climbing the mountain with most of their weight neutralized had been an exhilarating experience. The vertical tug of the harness made it feel that they were hanging from invisible balloons, whose buoyancy could be adjusted at will. They needed a certain amount of weight in order to get traction on the ground, and after some experimenting had settled on twenty-five per cent. With this, it was as easy to ascend a one-in-one slope (45°) as to walk normally on the level.

Several times they had cut their weight almost to zero to rise hand over hand up vertical rock faces. This had been the strangest experience of all, demanding complete faith in their equipment. To hang suspended in mid-air, apparently supported by nothing but a box of gently humming electronic gear, required a considerable effort of will. But after a few minutes, the sense of power and freedom overcame all fear; for here indeed was the realization of one of man’s oldest dreams.

A few weeks ago one of the library staff had found a line from an early twentieth-century poem that described their achievement perfectly: “To ride secure the cruel sky.” Not even birds had ever possessed such freedom of the third dimension; this was the real conquest of space. The Levitator would open up the mountains and the high places of the world, as a lifetime ago the aqualung had opened up the sea. Once these units had passed their tests and were mass-produced cheaply, every aspect of human civilization would be changed. Transport would be revolutionized. Space travel would be no more expensive than ordinary flying; all mankind would take to the air. What had happened a hundred years earlier with the invention of the automobile was only a mild foretaste of the staggering social and political changes that must now come.

☢

In seconds, the wind had tossed them out over shadowed, empty blackness.

It was impossible to judge the depths beneath them; when Harper forced himself to glance down, he could see nothing. Though the wind seemed to be carrying him almost horizontally, he knew that he must be falling. His residual weight would be taking him downward at a quarter of the normal speed. But that would be ample; if they fell four thousand feet, it would be poor consolation to know that it would seem only one thousand.

☢

He shouted across the wind: “Doctor! Use emergency lift!”

As he spoke, he fumbled for the seal on his control unit, tore it open, and pressed the button.

At once, the pack began to hum like a hive of angry bees. He felt the harness tugging at his body as it tried to drag him up into the sky, away from the invisible death below. The simple arithmetic of the Earth’s gravitational field blazed in his mind, as if written in letters of fire. One kilowatt could lift a hundred kilograms through a meter every second, and the packs could convert energy at a maximum rate of ten kilowatts — though they could not keep this up for more than a minute. So allowing for his initial weight reduction, he should lift at well over a hundred feet a second.

☢

“I’m afraid you’re right — but I’m not sure we can make it, with this wind. Remember — we can’t go down as quickly as we can rise.”

That was true enough; the power-packs could be charged at only a tenth of their discharge rate. If they lost altitude and pumped gravitational energy back into them too fast, the cells would overheat and probably explode.

☢

Five thousand feet above the ground, Harper began to expect the explosion at any moment. They were falling swiftly, but not swiftly enough; very soon they would have to decelerate, lest they hit at too high a speed. To make matters worse, they had completely miscalculated the air speed at ground level. That infernal, unpredictable wind was blowing a near-gale once more. They could see streamers of snow, torn from exposed ridges, waving like ghostly banners beneath them. While they had been moving with the wind, they were unaware of its power; now they must once again make the dangerous transition between stubborn rock and softly yielding sky.

☢

“… still quite young when I realized that there was something wrong with Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation. In particular, there seemed to be a fallacy underlying the Principle of Equivalence. According to this, there is no way of distinguishing between the effects produced by gravitation and those of acceleration.

“But this is clearly false. One can create a uniform acceleration; but a uniform gravitational field is impossible, since it obeys an inverse square law, and therefore must vary even over quite short distances. So tests can easily be devised to distinguish between the two cases, and this made me wonder if …”

artwork by Michael Whittlesea

artwork by Michael Whittlesea

artwork by Michael Whittlesea

From THE CRUEL SKY by Arthur C. Clarke (1967)

Intertron Lifter Buck Rogers in the 25th Century artwork by Rick Yager (1948)

Han Solo frozen in carbonite, carried by repulsorlift

Anti-grav unit from classic Star Trek

Nomad space probe with two anti-grav units, from ST:TOS The Changeling

Anti-grav unit carrying a blue antimatter bomb from ST:TOS Obsession

Anti-grav unit carrying a blue antimatter bomb from ST:TOS Obsession

artwork by Leo Summers

artwork by McKenna

artwork by Darrell K. Sweet

First Men in the Moon

"Cavorite" is a gravity shield. If you place a sheet of cavorite between an object and Terra's center, the object is no longer subject to Terra's gravity. Cavor's space ship is covered with cavorite roll-up window shades. All the shades are down except for the one facing the planet you want to travel to. The ship will be attracted to the planet; since the attraction of all other planets, moons, and the Sun are cut off.

This of course violates the law of conservation of energy, which is a no-no. But what did you expect from something written in 1901?

The object of Mr. Cavor's search was a substance that should be "opaque" — he used some other word I have forgotten, but "opaque" conveys the idea — to "all forms of radiant energy." "Radiant energy," he made me understand, was anything like light or heat, or those Rontgen Rays there was so much talk about a year or so ago, or the electric waves of Marconi, or gravitation. All these things, he said, radiate out from centres, and act on bodies at a distance, whence comes the term "radiant energy." Now almost all substances are opaque to some form or other of radiant energy. Glass, for example, is transparent to light, but much less so to heat, so that it is useful as a fire-screen; and alum is transparent to light, but blocks heat completely. A solution of iodine in carbon bisulphide, on the other hand, completely blocks light, but is quite transparent to heat. It will hide a fire from you, but permit all its warmth to reach you. Metals are not only opaque to light and heat, but also to electrical energy, which passes through both iodine solution and glass almost as though they were not interposed. And so on. Now all known substances are "transparent" to gravitation. You can use screens of various sorts to cut off the light or heat, or electrical influence of the sun, or the warmth of the earth from anything; you can screen things by sheets of metal from Marconi's rays, but nothing will cut off the gravitational attraction of the sun or the gravitational attraction of the earth. Yet why there should be nothing is hard to say. Cavor did not see why such a substance should not exist, and certainly I could not tell him. I had never thought of such a possibility before. He showed me by calculations on paper, which Lord Kelvin, no doubt, or Professor Lodge, or Professor Karl Pearson, or any of those great scientific people might have understood, but which simply reduced me to a hopeless muddle, that not only was such a substance possible, but that it must satisfy certain conditions. It was an amazing piece of reasoning. Much as it amazed and exercised me at the time, it would be impossible to reproduce it here. "Yes," I said to it all, "yes; go on!" Suffice it for this story that he believed he might be able to manufacture this possible substance opaque to gravitation out of a complicated alloy of metals and something new — a new element, I fancy — called, I believe, helium, which was sent to him from London in sealed stone jars. Doubt has been thrown upon this detail, but I am almost certain it was helium he had sent him in sealed stone jars. It was certainly something very gaseous and thin. If only I had taken notes…

☢

(ed note: Cavor creates a sheet of Cavorite, which immediately causes widespread local devastation on the scale of a tornado strike) "But the explosion — " "It was not an explosion. It's perfectly simple. Only, as I say, I'm apt to overlook these little things. Its that zuzzoo business on a larger scale. Inadvertently I made this substance of mine, this Cavorite, in a thin, wide sheet…." He paused. "You are quite clear that the stuff is opaque to gravitation, that it cuts off things from gravitating towards each other?" "Yes," said I. "Yes." "Well, so soon as it reached a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the process of its manufacture was complete, the air above it, the portions of roof and ceiling and floor above it ceased to have weight. I suppose you know — everybody knows nowadays — that, as a usual thing, the air has weight, that it presses on everything at the surface of the earth, presses in all directions, with a pressure of fourteen and a half pounds to the square inch?" "I know that," said I. "Go on." "I know that too," he remarked. "Only this shows you how useless knowledge is unless you apply it. You see, over our Cavorite this ceased to be the case, the air there ceased to exert any pressure, and the air round it and not over the Cavorite was exerting a pressure of fourteen pounds and a half to the square in upon this suddenly weightless air. Ah! you begin to see! The air all about the Cavorite crushed in upon the air above it with irresistible force. The air above the Cavorite was forced upward violently, the air that rushed in to replace it immediately lost weight, ceased to exert any pressure, followed suit, blew the ceiling through and the roof off….    "You perceive," he said, "it formed a sort of atmospheric fountain, a kind of chimney in the atmosphere. And if the Cavorite itself hadn't been loose and so got sucked up the chimney, does it occur to you what would have happened?"    I thought. "I suppose," I said, "the air would be rushing up and up over that infernal piece of stuff now."     "Precisely," he said. "A huge fountain— "     "Spouting into space! Good heavens! Why, it would have squirted all the atmosphere of the earth away! It would have robbed the world of air! It would have been the death of all mankind! That little lump of stuff!"    "Not exactly into space," said Cavor, "but as bad — practically. It would have whipped the air off the world as one peels a banana, and flung it thousands of miles. It would have dropped back again, of course — but on an asphyxiated world! From our point of view very little better than if it never came back!"

☢

"Imagine a sphere," he explained, "large enough to hold two people and their luggage. It will be made of steel lined with thick glass; it will contain a proper store of solidified air, concentrated food, water distilling apparatus, and so forth. And enamelled, as it were, on the outer steel — " "Cavorite?" "Yes." "But how will you get inside?" "There was a similar problem about a dumpling." "Yes, I know. But how?" "That's perfectly easy. An air-tight manhole is all that is needed. That, of course, will have to be a little complicated; there will have to be a valve, so that things may be thrown out, if necessary, without much loss of air." "Like Jules Verne's thing in A Trip to the Moon." But Cavor was not a reader of fiction. "I begin to see," I said slowly. "And you could get in and screw yourself up while the Cavorite was warm, and as soon as it cooled it would become impervious to gravitation, and off you would fly — " "At a tangent." "You would go off in a straight line — " I stopped abruptly. "What is to prevent the thing travelling in a straight line into space for ever?" I asked. "You're not safe to get anywhere, and if you do — how will you get back?" "I've just thought of that," said Cavor. "That's what I meant when I said the thing is finished. The inner glass sphere can be air-tight, and, except for the manhole, continuous, and the steel sphere can be made in sections, each section capable of rolling up after the fashion of a roller blind. These can easily be worked by springs, and released and checked by electricity conveyed by platinum wires fused through the glass. All that is merely a question of detail. So you see, that except for the thickness of the blind rollers, the Cavorite exterior of the sphere will consist of windows or blinds, whichever you like to call them. Well, when all these windows or blinds are shut, no light, no heat, no gravitation, no radiant energy of any sort will get at the inside of the sphere, it will fly on through space in a straight line, as you say. But open a window, imagine one of the windows open. Then at once any heavy body that chances to be in that direction will attract us — "

From FIRST MEN IN THE MOON by H. G. Wells (1901)

What Goes Up

This is a story by Sir Arthur C. Clarke for his collection Tales of the White Hart (a selection of scientific shaggy-dog stories). It is a tall tale, but contains a bit of scientific truth.

6,000 km ≅ 4,000 mi From XKCD: Gravity Wells

"You'll all recollect, I'm sure, the scientist Cavor in Wells's First Men in the Moon, and the wonderful gravity-screening material Cavorite he discovered?" "I'm afraid dear old Wells didn't go into the question of Cavorite very thoroughly. As he put it, it was opaque to gravity just as a sheet of metal is opaque to light. Anything placed above a horizontal sheet of Cavorite, therefore, became weightless and floated up into space." "Well, it isn't as simple as that. Weight represents energy — an enormous amount of it — which can't just be destroyed without any fuss. You'd have to put a terrific amount of work into even a small object in order to make it weightless. Antigravity screens of the Cavorite type, therefore, are quite impossible — they're in the same class as perpetual motion."

(ed note: the point being that the Cavorite expends no energy when it degravitationalizes something. However, as we shall see, it is perfectly permissable to degravitationalize something provided you pay the horrific energy cost)

☢    "Now, our Australian Dr. Cavor wasn't searching for antigravity, or anything like it. In pure science, you can be pretty sure that nothing fundamental is ever discovered by anyone who's actually looking for it — that's half the fun of the game. Dr Cavor was interested in producing atomic power: what he found was antigravity. And it was quite some time before he realised that was what he'd discovered." "What happened, I gather, was this: the reactor was of a novel and rather daring design, and there was quite a possibility that it might blow up when the last pieces of fissile material were inserted. So it was assembled by remote control in one of Australia's numerous convenient deserts, all the final operations being observed through TV sets." "Well, there was no explosion — which would have caused a nasty radioactive mess and wasted a lot of money, but wouldn't have damaged anything except a lot of reputations. What actually happened was much more unexpected, and much more difficult to explain." "When the last piece of enriched uranium was inserted, the control rods pulled out, and the reactor brought up to criticality — everything went dead. The meters in the remote-control room, two miles from the reactor, all dropped back to zero. The TV screen went blank. Cavor and his colleagues waited for the bang, but there wasn't one. They looked at each other for a moment with many wild surmises: then, without a word, they climbed up out of the buried control chamber." "The reactor building was completely unchanged: it sat out there in the desert, a commonplace cube of brick holding a million pounds' worth of fissile material and several years of careful design and development. Cavor wasted no time: he grabbed the jeep, switched on a portable Geiger counter, and hurried off to see what had happened." "He recovered consciousness in hospital a couple of hours later. There was little wrong with him apart from a bad headache, which was nothing to the one his experiment was going to give him during the next few days. It seemed that when he got to within twenty feet of the reactor, his jeep had hit something with a terrific crash. Cavor had got tangled in the steering wheel and had a nice collection of brusies; the Geiger counter, oddly enough, was quite undamaged and was still clucking away quietly to itself, detecting no more than the normal cosmic-ray background." "Seen from a distance, it had looked a perfectly normal sort of accident that might have been caused by the jeep going into a rut. But Cavor hadn't been driving all that fast, luckily for him, and anyway there was no rut at the scene of the crash. What the jeep had run into was something quite impossible. It was an invisible wall, apparently the lower rim of a hemispherical dome, which entirely surrounded the reactor. Stones thrown up in the air slid back to the ground along the surface of this dome, and it also extended underground as far as digging could be carried out. It seemed as if the reactor was at the exact centre of an impenetrable, spherical shell." "Of course, this was marvellous news and Cavor was out of bed in no time, scattering nurses in all directions. He had no idea what had happened, but it was a lot more exciting than the humdrum piece of nuclear engineering that had started the whole business." "By now you're probably all wondering what the devil a sphere of force — as you science fiction writers would call it — has to do with antigravity. So I'll jump several days and give you the answers that Cavor and his team discovered only after much hard work and the consumption of many gallons of that potent Australian beer." "The reactor when it had been energised, had somehow produced an antigravity field. All the matter inside a twenty-foot-radius sphere had been made weightless, and the enormous amount of energy needed to do this had been extracted, in some utterly mysterious manner, from the uranium in the pile. Calculations showed that the amount of energy in the reactor was just sufficient to do the job. Presumably the sphere of force would have been larger still if there had been more ergs available in the power source." "I can hear someone just waiting to ask a question, so I'll anticipate them. Why didn't this weightless sphere of earth and air float up into space? Well, the earth was held together by its cohesion, anyway, so there was no reason why it should go wandering off. As for the air, that was forced to stay inside the zone of zero gravity for a most surprising and subtle reason which leads me to the crux of this whole peculiar business." "Better fasten your seat belts for the next bit: we've got a bumpy passage ahead. Those of you who know something about potential theory won't have any trouble, and I'll do my best to make it as easy as I can for the rest." "People who talk glibly about antigravity seldom stop to consider its implication, so let's look at a few fundamentals. As I've already said, weight implies energy — lots of it. That energy is entirely due to Earth's gravity field. If you remove an object's weight, that's precisely equivalent to taking it clear outside Earth's gravity. And any rocket engineer will tell you how much energy that requires." Harry turned to me and said: "There's an analogy I'd like to borrow from one of your books, Arthur, that puts across the point I'm trying to make. You know — comparing the fight against Earth's gravity to climbing out of a deep pit." "You're welcome," I said. "I pinched it from Doc Richardson, anyway." "Oh," replied Harry. "I thought it was too good to be original. Well, here we go. If you hang on to this really very simple idea, you'll be OK. To take an object clear away from the Earth requires as much work as lifting it four thousand miles against the steady drag of normal gravity. Now the matter inside Cavor's zone of force was still on the Earth's surface, but it was weightless. From the energy point of view, therefore, it was outside the Earth's gravity field. It was inaccessible as if it was on top of a four-thousand-mile-high mountain." "Cavor could stand outside the antigravity zone and look into it from a point a few inches away. To cross those few inches, he would have to do as much work as if he climbed Everest seven hundred times. It wasn't surprising that the jeep stopped in a hurry. No material object had stopped it, but from the point of view of dynamics it had run smack into a cliff four thousand miles high. . . ."

From What Goes Up by Arthur C. Clarke (1965)

Perry Rhodan

I wish to acknowledge the help I received from Michel Van for this section. He wishes to acknowlege the work of the late Rainer Castor, who did a yeoman's work on the scientific aspects of the Perry Rhodan universe. And who was a personal friend of Mr. Van.

☢

In the 1960's Perry Rhodan books, an antigrav is a black box where you feed in power then a miracle occurs! It levitates! Useful for making spacecraft gently lift off, and also handy for antigravity elevators. About Perry Rhodan issue #300, antigrav was developed into a propulsion system. It was more versatile than the old fashion Impuls engine, but it was a power hog. Only smaller spacecrafts could use antigrav propulsion with the relatively weak fusion reactors for power. It wasn't until the 35th century with the advent of the Schwarzschild power reactors that huge spacecraft could use antigrav propulsion.

But in the real world year 2000, author Rainer Castor joined the Perry Rhodan writing team. He invented the details of the system inside the antigrav black box.

The primitive antigravity system is Robert Forward's protational field, which is an excellent choice. Field generators rotate Bose-Einstein condensates to generate the gravitational equivalent of a magnetic field. This is used to create a gravitational field for ship propulsion. But the propulsive force is weak and it is a power hog.

The advanced system uses hypercrystals (quartz crystals embedded with five-dimensional particles). The propulsive force is strong. Still a power hog, though.

Finally the Andruckabsorber ("pressure absorber") or Inertial Compensator was invented. It reduces the inertia of the ship and crew, which means the same propulsive thrust will give the ship a much higher acceleration. It reduces inertia by pushing part of the ship's atoms into hyperspace. There is a limit to how much you can push into hyperspace before the ship gets sucked in entirely, makes a random hyperspace jump to a random location, and shreds your andruckabsorber.

As a side note, the FTL drive in E. E. "Doc" Smith's classic Lensman series is the inertialess drive.

☢

Perry Rhodan antigravity is based on manipulating gravitons. The study of graviton manipulation will lead physicist to the development of faster-than-light hyperspace propulsion.

Perry Rhodan Antigravtriebwerk units have three modes: •Gravo neutralizer / Gravo damper: reduces an existing gravitational field •Gravo amplifier / Gravitator: amplifies an exsisting gravitational field •Repulsor: produces an artificial repulsive force, anti-gravity, a synthetic gravity field of opposite polarity to natural fields

Gravo neutralizers and amplifiers are used to generate artifical gravity inside a spacecraft's habitat module, and to adjust planetary gravity to a comfortable level. Neutralizers are also used along with engines for vehicles (from personal backpack flying units to large cargo aircraft). Amplifiers are also used for attractor beams and for prison bondage fields.

Repulsors are used as defensive armor and as repellor rays.

However their main use is as a reactionless propulsion system: "gravo-lift". Dense objects called "effective masses" are acted upon by the repulsors. These objects are anchored to the main thrust-bearing structural members of the aircraft or starship. When the repulsors push the effective mass in the desired direction, thrust is created on the ship's structure. Yes, this violates Newton's Third Law, but this is a relatively mild violation compared to other equipment in the Perry Rhodan universe.

From my attempts to comprehend the Google Translate version of the German language Perry Rhodan wiki entry, I get the impression that the repulsor units can move their associated effective masses in any direction. Repulsors are not limited to repelling the effective mass directly away.

Antigravaggregat (antigravity engine) from a DIANA class starship from Perry Rhodan The spherical objects labeled "wirkungsmasse" are the effective masses. They are composed of wolfram (i.e., tungsten, "wolfram" is why the chemical symbol for tungsten is "W"). The cylindrical objects are the repulsors. Text and artwork by Gregor Paulmann click for larger image

Spacecraft Antigravschacht (antigravity elevator) from Perry Rhodan Artwork by Gregor Paulmann click for larger image

Spacecraft Antigravschacht (antigravity elevator) from Perry Rhodan Artwork by Gregor Paulmann click for larger image

Ironwolf

Ironwolf was a sadly short-lived comic book title by Howard Chaykin. The protagonist: Lord Ironwolf, is the ruler over a planet covered with valuable antigravity wood. Starships are constructed out of the stuff. The evil Empress wants to offer large quantities of the wood as a bribe to the outer barbarians. Ironwolf refuses, is outlawed, and becomes a rebel in his flagship, the Limerick Rake. In order to prevent the wood from falling into the barbarian's hands, he is forced to fusion bomb his own planet to destroy the forests in a firestorm.

Howard Chaykin's comic Ironwolf

Ironwolf's starship the Limerick Rake, built out of antigravity wood

Space: 1889

Space: 1889 is a role-playing game that came out about the same time that K. W. Jeter coined the term "Steampunk".

In 1870 Thomas Edison invents the "ether propeller" which can propel Victorian spaceships via the luminiferous aether. He travels to Mars with Scottish soldier of fortune Jack Armstrong, and discovers that Mars is indeed inhabited. The Great Powers of Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and the USA rush to establish colonial empires on various regions of Mercury, Venus and Mars.

Mars is particularly valuable, since it is the soul source of the antigravity Liftwood.

A British Aphid-class Aerial gunboat is hit

In Space: 1889, the Martian natives fly aerial boats constructed out of the antigravity "Liftwood". Image from the spin-off wargame Sky Galleons of Mars.

Sky Galleons of Mars cover art by Flavio Bolla click for larger image

Four-Day Planet

In many of H. Beam Piper's novels they use the Abbot Lift-and-Drive aka "contragravity". It is used everywhere, from starships, to aircraft, to armored fighting vehicles, to trucks, to cargo skids, to luggage, to small floating floodlamps.

They apparently require quite a bit of power. However this is not a problem with the widespread availability of tiny radiation-free nuclear power cells, some as small as a AAA battery. They are sheathed in "collapsium", which is condensed matter that will not allow radiation to escape nor allow the batteries to be broken open. Collapsium must be a nice thing to have. But in the real world the closest equivalent is neutronium, which explodes like a supernova if you remove it from the hypergravity of a neutron star.

Cover for Four-Day Planet. Artwork by Michael Whelan click for larger image

Murell was interested in everything he saw, in the brief time while we were going down along the docks to where the Javelin was berthed. I knew he'd never actually seen it before, but he must have been studying pictures of it, because from some of the remarks he made, I could tell that he was familiar with it.

Most of the ships had lifted out of the water and were resting on the wide concrete docks, but the Javelin was afloat in the pool, her contragravity on at specific-gravity weight reduction. She was a typical hunter-ship, a hundred feet long by thirty abeam, with a squat conning tower amidships, and turrets for 50-mm guns and launchers for harpoon rockets fore and aft. The only thing open about her was the air-and-water lock under the conning tower. Julio, who was piloting the car, set it down on the top of the aft gun turret. A couple of the crewmen who were on deck grabbed our bags and hurried them inside. We followed, and as soon as Julio lifted away, the lock was sealed.

Immediately, as the contragravity field dropped below the specific gravity of the ship, she began submerging. I got up into the conning tower in time to see the water of the boat pool come up over the armor-glass windows and the outside lights come on. For a few minutes, the Javelin swung slowly and moved forward, feeling her way with fingers of radar out of the pool and down the channel behind the breakwater and under the overhang of the city roof. Then the water line went slowly down across the windows as she surfaced. A moment later she was on full contragravity, and the ship which had been a submarine was now an aircraft.

☢

A hunter-ship looks big on the outside, but there's very little room for the crew. The engines are much bigger than would be needed on an ordinary contragravity craft, because a hunter-ship operates under water as well as in the air.

☢

Finally, however, he quieted down, and the boat swung him around, bringing the tail past our bow, and the ship cut contragravity to specific-gravity level and settled to float on top of the water.

☢

(ed note: from the description, it appears that the contragravity field reduces the influence of gravity on whatever is in the field. Either the submarine is build so it will sink to the bottom of Davy Jone's Locker without an active contragravity field (specific gravity greater than 1.0), or the contragravity can increase the influence of gravity as well as decrease it.)

From FOUR-DAY PLANET by H. Beam Piper (1961)

The Secret of the Ninth Planet

The Secret of the Ninth Planet is an archetypal Winston Science Fiction juvenile novel. Evil aliens are stealing Terra's sunlight and diverting the energy to Pluto. Oh noes! And by an outlandish series of events, the eighteen year old protagonist gets the golden opportunity to accompany a mission in an experimental antigravity spaceship to take the battle to the enemy. I mean ordinarily it would be the height of insanity to take a minor on a deadly combat tour in an untested spacecraft, but gee, the plot just gives them no choice. And what a trip it is! Nothing less than a grand tour of the entire solar system, visiting each planet in turn.

Like I said: archetypal Winston Science Fiction juvenile novel

"We have in my company's experimental grounds one virtually untested vessel which may be able to make a flight to Mars, or any other planet, in the time allowed. This is the craft we refer to as A-G 17, the seventeenth such experiment, and the first to succeed. It is powered by an entirely new method of flight, the force of anti-gravity." Burl hung breathlessly on his next words. "You probably know that work on the scientific negation of gravity has been going on since the early 1950's. It was known shortly after experiments had been conducted on atomic and subatomic particles that grounds had at last been found by means of which a counteraction to gravity might be set up. Early subatomic studies showed that such a force was not only theoretically possible, but that certain subparticles actually displayed such tendencies. On the basis of these first discoveries, work has been going on in the development of negative gravitational drive for at least twenty years. As early as 1956, there were not less than fourteen such projects under way in virtually all the leading aircraft industries of the United States, not to mention the rest of the world. In the last few years, at the direction of the Air Force, these projects have been consolidated, placed under one main roof, and brought to its present status, which is, we believe, the one of final triumph."

☢    It was still, thought Burl, a large crew for a spaceship. No rocket built to date had ever been able to carry such a load. But by then he had realized that the strict weight limitations imposed by rocket fuels no longer applied to this new method of space flight.

☢    The A-G 17 loomed suddenly above them, and Burl's first impression was of a glistening metal fountain roaring up from the ground, gathering itself high in the sky, as if to plunge down again in a rain of shining steel. The ship was like a huge, gleaming raindrop. It stood two hundred feet high, the wide, rounded, blunt bulk of it high in the air, as if about to fall upward instead of downward. It tapered down to a thin, perfectly streamlined point which touched the ground. It was held uprightly by a great cradle of girders and beams. At various points the polished steel was broken by indentations or inset round dots that were thick portholes or indications of entry ports. Around its equator, girding the widest section was a ring of portholes, and there were scattered rings of similar portholes below this. As the three men drew near the tail, the great bulk loomed overhead, and Burl felt as if its weight were bearing down on him as they walked beneath.

☢    Suiting action to the word, the three went over to one of the loading platforms, climbed on the wiry little elevator, and were hoisted up fifty feet to the port in the side of the ship. They entered well below the vast, overhanging equatorial bulge which marked the wide end of the teardrop-shaped vessel. They walked through a narrow plastic-walled passage, broken in several places by tight, round doors bearing storage vault numbers. At the end of the passage they came to a double-walled metal air lock. They stepped through and found themselves in what was evidently the living quarters of the spaceship. The Magellan was an entirely revolutionary design as far as space vehicles were concerned. Its odd shape was no mere whimsy, but a practical model. If a better design were to be invented, it would only come out of the practical experience of this first great flight. It had long been known, ever since Einstein's early equations, that there was a kinship between electricity, magnetism, and gravitation. In electricity and magnetism there were both negative and positive fields manifesting themselves in the form of attraction and repulsion. These opposing characteristics were the basis for man's mastery of electrical machinery. But for gravitation, there had seemed at first no means of manipulating it. As it was to develop, this was due to two factors. First, the Earth itself possessed a gravitational phenomenon in this force outside of that intense, all-pervading field. Second, to overcome this primal force required the application of energy on such scales as could not be found outside of the mastery of nuclear energy. There was a simple parallel, Burl had been told the day before by Sam Oberfield, in the history of aviation. A practical, propeller-driven flying machine could not be constructed until a motor had been invented that was compact, light and powerful enough to operate it. So all efforts to make such machines prior to the development of the internal combustion engine in the first days of the twentieth century were doomed to failure. Likewise, in this new instance, a machine to utilize gravitation could not be built until a source of power was developed having the capacity to run it. Such power was found only in the successful harnessing of the hydrogen disintegration explosion — the H-bomb force. The first success at channeling this nuclear power in a nonbomb device had been accomplished in England in 1958. The Zeta-ring generator had been perfected in the next decade. Only this source of harnessed atomic power could supply the force necessary to drive an A-G ship. The nose of the Magellan housed an H-power stellar generator. Within the bulk of the top third of the ship was this massive power source, its atomic components, its uranium-hydrogen fuel, and the beam that channeled the gravitational drive.

(ed note: in fewer words, it's a fusion power reactor) "Negating gravity is not a simple matter like inventing a magic sheet of metal that cuts off the pull of the Earth, such as H. G. Wells wrote about," Oberfield had explained. "That is impossible because it ignores all the other laws of nature; it forgets the power of inertia, it denies the facts of mass and density. It takes just as much energy to lift an anti-gravity ship as to lift a rocketship. The difference is only in the practicality of the power source. A rocketship must burn its fuel by chemical explosion in order to push its cargo load upward. Its fuel is limited by its own weight and by the awkwardness of its handling. This A-G ship also must supply energy, foot-pound for foot-pound, for every foot it raises the vehicle. But due to the amount of energy supplied by this new generator, such power is at last available in one compact form in such concentration that this ship could propel itself for hundreds of years." He went on to explain that what then happened was that the vessel, exerting a tremendous counter-gravitational force, literally pushed itself up against Earth's drive. At the same time, this force could be used to intensify the gravitational pull of some other celestial body. The vessel would begin to fall toward that other body, and be repelled from the first body, Earth in this case. As every star, planet, and satellite in the universe was exerting a pull on every other one, the anti-gravity spaceship literally reached out, grasped hold of the desired gravitational "rope" hanging down from the sky, and pulled itself up it. It would seem to fall upward into the sky. It could increase or decrease the effect of its fall. It could fall free toward some other world, or it could force an acceleration in its fall by adding repulsion from the world it was leaving. In flight, therefore, the wide nose was the front. It would fall through space, pulled by the power beam generated from this front. The rear of the spaceship was the tapering, small end. As Burl was shown over the living quarters it became plain to him that the actual living spaces in the Magellan were inside a metal sphere hanging on gymbals below the equatorial bulge that housed the power drive. The bulk of this sphere was always well within the outer walls of the teardrop, and thus protected from radiation. Being suspended on gymbals, the sphere would rotate so that the floor of the living quarters was always downward to wherever the greatest pull of gravity might happen to be. Burl and the others explored the three floors that divided the inner sphere, all oriented toward Earth. The central floor, housing the sleeping quarters and living quarters, was compact but roomier than might have been expected. There were five bunkrooms, each shared by two men. There was a main living and dining room. On the lowermost floor was the cookroom, a small dispensary, and immediate supplies. On the upper floor was the control room, with its charts and television viewplates which allowed visi n all directions from sending plates fixed on the surface in various areas. In the spaces between the inner sphere and the outer shell were the basic storage areas. Here supplies and equipment were being stocked against all possible emergencies. In the tapering space of the tail below the sphere was a rocket-launching tube. Stored in the outer shells were various vehicles for planetary exploration.

☢    The great generators were beginning to push against Earth's gravity and, as their force moved upward to match Earth's, the weight of everything in their sway decreased accordingly. Lockhart's first move was simply that to reduce the pull of Earth to zero. In a few moments that point was accomplished. A state of weightlessness was obtained within the Magellan. Those watching outside from bunkers in the surrounding mountains saw the huge teardrop shiver and begin to rise slowly above its cradle of girders. It floated gently upward, moving slowly off as the force of Earth's centrifugal drive began to manifest itself against the metal bubble's great mass. Everyone on the crew had experienced zero gravity, either in the same tests Burl had undergone or on actual satellite flights, and thus far, no one was too uncomfortable. The entire structure of the ship quivered, and Burl realized that the inner sphere which housed their air space was hanging free on its gymbals. Lockhart rang a second gong, then turned a new control. The pitch of the generators, faintly audible to them, changed, took on a new keening. The ship seemed suddenly to jump as if something had grasped it. The feeling of weightlessness vanished momentarily, then there was a moment of dizziness and a sudden sensation of being upside down. For a shocking instant, Burl felt himself hanging head downward from a floor which had surprisingly turned into a ceiling. He opened his mouth to shout, for he thought he was about to plunge onto the hard metal of the ceiling which now hung below him so precipitously. Then there was a whirling sensation, a sideways twisting that swung him about against the straps. As it came, the room seemed to shift. The curved base of the control room, which had been so suddenly a floor, became in a moment a wall, lopsided and eerie. Then it shifted again. and, startlingly, Burl sagged back into his cushioned seat as the hemispherical room again resumed its normal aspect.

From The Secret of the Ninth Planet by Donald Wollheim (1959)

Larry Niven

FLATLANDER

Her full name was Slower Than Infinity. She had been built into a General Products No. 2 hull, a three-hundred-foot spindle with a wasp-waist constriction near the tail. I was relieved. I had been afraid Elephant might own a flashy, vulnerable dude’s yacht. The two-man control room looked pretty small for a lifesystem until I noticed the bubble extension folded into the nose. The rest of the hull held a one-gee fusion drive and fuel tank, a hyperspace motor, a gravity drag, and belly-landing gear, all clearly visible through the hull, which had been left transparent.

☢

By then we were close enough to use the gravity drag to slow us. The beautiful thing about a gravity drag is that it uses very little power. It converts a ship’s momentum relative to the nearest powerful mass into heat, and all you have to do is get rid of the heat. Since the ST8’s hull would pass only various ranges of radiation corresponding to what the puppeteers’ varied customers considered visible light, the shipbuilders had run a great big radiator fin out from the gravity drag. It glowed dull red behind us. And the fusion drive was off. There was no white fusion flame to hurt visibility.

☢

The red glow of the radiator fin became more pronounced. So did the dull uniformity of the planetary surface. The planet was a disk now beyond the front window; if you watched it for a while you could see it grow. Turning ship to face the planet had made no difference to the gravity drag.

☢

We came out of hyperspace near the two Sirius suns. But that wasn’t the end of it, because we still faced a universe squashed by relativity. It took us almost two weeks to brake ourselves. The gravity drag’s radiator fin glowed orange-white for most of that time. I have no idea how many times we circled around through hyperspace for another run through the system.

(ed note: the ship had been boosted to relativistic velocity when they paid some technologically advanced aliens to do it. But after the mission they have to slow down via gravity drag.)

From FLATLANDER by Larry Niven (1967)

GRENDEL

With Lloobee missing and with the hyperwave smashed, the Argos proceeded to Gummidgy at normal speed. Normal speed was top speed; there are few good reasons to dawdle in space. It took us six hours in hyperdrive to reach the edge of CY Aquarii’s gravity well. From there we had to proceed on reaction drive and gravity drag.

☢

“We could find the ship that brought him down. You can’t hide a spaceship landing. The gravity drag makes waves on a spaceport indicator.”

☢

That was at five-gee acceleration, fusion drive and gravity drag, with four gees compensated by the internal gee field.

☢

And I watched the Drunkard’s Walk, its fusion drive off, floating down ahead of me on its gravity drag.

From GRENDEL by Larry Niven (1968)

Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter

AGRAV

artwork by Bob Pepper

Lucky said, "You were saying, Lieutenant, we would have to reach our quarters by Agrav. Were you going to explain what that means?"

The lieutenant, who had also been staring fondly at the V-frog, paused to gather his wits before answering. "Yes. It's simple enough. We have artificial gravity fields (paragravity) here on Jupiter Nine as on any asteroid or on any space ship for that matter. They are arranged at each of the main corridors, end to end, so that you can fall the length of them in either direction. It's like dropping straight down a hole on Earth." Lucky nodded. "How fast do you drop?" "Well, that's the point. Ordinarily, gravity pulls constantly and you fall faster and faster…"

"Which is why I ask my question," interposed Lucky dryly.

"But not under Agrav controls. Agrav is really A-grav: no gravity, you see. Agrav can be used to absorb gravitational energy or store it or transfer it. The point is you only fall so fast, you see, and no faster.

With a gravitational field in the other direction, too, you can even slow down. An Agrav corridor with two pseudo-grav fields is very simple and it has been used as a steppingstone to an Agrav ship which works in a single gravitational field. Now Engineers' Quarters, which is where your rooms will be, is only a little over a mile from here and the most direct route is by Corridor A-2. Ready?"

"We will be once you explain how we're to work Agrav."

"That's hardly a problem." Lieutenant Nevsky presented each with a light harness, adjusting them over the shoulders and at the waist, talking rapidly about the controls.

And then he said, "If you'll follow me, gentlemen, the corridor is just a few yards in this direction."

☢

"Look here," Norrich said. He held up one of the round counters he had been holding. "Gravity is a form of energy. An object — such as this piece I'm holding — which is under the influence of a gravitational field but is not allowed to move is said to have potential energy. If I were to release the piece, that potential energy would be converted to motion—or kinetic energy, as it is called. Since it continues under the influence of the gravitational field as it falls, it falls faster and faster and faster." He dropped the counter at this point, and it fell.

"Until, splash," said Bigman. The counter hit the floor and rolled.

Norrich bent as though to retrieve it and then said, "Would you get it for me, Bigman? I'm not sure where it rolled."

Bigman suppressed his disappointment. He picked it up and returned it.

Norrich said, "Now until recently that was the only thing that could be done with potential energy: it could be converted into kinetic energy. Of course the kinetic energy could be used further. For instance, the falling water of Niagara Falls could be used to form electricity, but that's a different thing. In space, gravity results in motion and that ends it.

"Consider the Jovian system of moons. We're at Jupiter Nine, way out. Fifteen million miles out. With respect to Jupiter, we've got a tremendous quantity of potential energy. If we try to travel to Jupiter One, the satellite Io, which is only 285,000 miles from Jupiter, we are in a way, falling all those millions of miles. We pick up tremendous speeds which we must continually counteract by pushing in the opposite direction with a hyperatomic motor. It takes enormous energy. Then, if we miss our mark by a bit, we're in constant danger of continuing to fall, in which case there's only one place to go, and that's Jupiter—and Jupiter is instant death. Then, even if we land safely on lo, there's the problem of getting back to Jupiter Nine, which means lifting ourselves all those millions of miles against Jupiter's gravity. The amount of energy required to maneuver among Jupiter's moons is just prohibitive."

artwork by Karl Stephan

"And Agrav?" asked Bigman.

"Ah! Now that's a different thing. Once you use an Agrav converter, potential energy can be converted into forms of energy other than kinetic energy. In the Agrav corridor, for instance, the force of gravity in one direction is used to charge the gravitational field in the other direction as you fall. People falling in one direction provide the energy for people falling in the other. By bleeding off the energy that way, you yourself, while falling, need never speed up. You can fall at any velocity less than the natural falling velocity. You see?"

Bigman wasn't quite sure he did but he said, "Go on."

"In space it's different. There's no second gravitational field to shift the energy to. Instead, it is converted to hyperatomic field energy and stored so. By doing this, a space ship can drop from Jupiter Nine to Io at any speed less than the natural falling speed without having to use any energy to decelerate. Virtually no energy is expended except in the final adjustment to Io's orbital speed. And safety is complete, since the ship is always under perfect control. Jupiter's gravity could be completely blanketed, if necessary.

"Going back to Jupiter Nine still requires energy. There is no getting around that. But now you can use the energy you had previously stored in the hyperatomic field condenser to get you back. The energy of Jupiter's own gravitational field is used to kick you back."

☢

The first Agrav ship ever to be built was named Jovian Moon and it was not like any ship Lucky had ever seen. It was large enough to be a luxury liner of space, but the crew and passenger quarters were abnormally crowded forward, since nine tenths of the ship's volume consisted of the Agrav converter and the hyperatomic force-field condensers. From the midsection, curved vanes, ridged into a vague resemblance to bat's wings, extended on either side. Five to one side, five to the other, ten in all.

Lucky had been told that these vanes, in cutting the lines of force of the gravitational field, converted the gravity into hyperatomic energy. It was as prosaic as that, and yet they gave the ship an almost sinister appearance.

From LUCKY STARR AND THE MOONS OF JUPITER by Isaac Asimov (1957)

Grav Constrained Matter

From The Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society, No.1 (1979). With helix trees and TDX explosive artwork by Yours Truly

This is really weird stuff. Common matter falls down in a gravity field. Antigravity matter falls up in a gravity field. But gravitationaly constrained matter can neither fall up nor down, it can only move at 90° to the gravity field. Or at least move with great difficulty.

So far I've only found very few examples of this unconventional concept. With the exception of those silly Planar Shockwaves you see in movies like the Special Editions of the original Star Wars trilogy and space-based video games, CITIES IN FLIGHT by James Blish (1956)TDX is a high explosive containing gravitationally polarized carbon atoms. They can only move at right angles to the gravity gradient. Useful for cutting down trees with the planar explosion.Polity Series by Neal Asher (2006)planar explosives constructed by molecular engineering produce 2D blastsTHE CITY AND THE STARS by Arthur C. Clarke (1956)The moving sidewalks in the city of Diaspar are composed of matter that is fluid perpendicular to the gravity gradient but solid parallel to the gradient.

TDX EXPLOSIVE

On the whole, however, the plans were simple, and putting them into effect had seemed heavy but relatively uncomplicated labor. Some opposition, of course, had been expected from the local bandit towns. But Amalfi had not expected to lose nearly 20 per cent of his crews during the first month after the raid on Fabr-Suithe.

It was Miramon who brought the news of the latest work camp found slaughtered. Amalfi was sitting under a tree fern on high ground overlooking the city, watching a flight of giant dragonflies and thinking about heat transfer in rock. “You are sure they were adequately protected?” Miramon asked cautiously. “Some of our insects—” Amalfi thought the insects, and the jungle, almost disturbingly beautiful. The thought of destroying it all occasionally upset him. “Yes, they were,” he said shortly. “We sprayed out the camp areas with dicoumarins and fluorine-substituted residuals. Besides—do any of your insects use explosives?”

“Explosives! There was dynamite used? I saw no evidence—” “No. That’s what bothers me. I don’t like all those felled trees you describe; that sounds more like TDX than dynamite or high explosive. We use TDX ourselves to get a cutting blast—it has the property of exploding in a flat plane.” Miramon goggled. “Impossible. An explosion has to expand evenly in all directions that are open to it.” “Not if the explosive is a piperazohexynitrate built from polarized carbon atoms. Such atoms can’t move in any direction but at right angles to the gravity radius. That’s what I mean. You people are up to dynamite, but not to TDX.”

From CITIES IN FLIGHT by James Blish (1956)

SOLID/LIQUID ROADWAYS

(ed note: the roadways are sort of a high-tech moving sidewalk)

His mild annoyance vanished almost at once. There was no reason why Alystra should not come with him if she desired. He was not selfish and did not wish to clutch this new experience to his bosom like a miser. Indeed, he might be able to learn much from her reactions.

She asked no questions, which was unusual, as the express channel swept them out of the crowded heart of the city. Together they worked their way to the central high-speed section, never bothering to glance at the miracle beneath their feet. An engineer of the ancient world would have gone slowly mad trying to understand how an apparently solid roadway could be fixed at the sides while toward the center it moved at a steadily increasing velocity. But to Alvin and Alystra, it seemed perfectly natural that types of matter should exist that had the properties of solids in one direction and of liquids in another.

As Alvin and Alystra moved outward from the city’s heart, the number of people they saw in the streets slowly decreased, and there was no one in sight when they were brought to a smooth halt against a long platform of brightly colored marble. They stepped across the frozen whirlpool of matter where the substance of the moving way flowed back to its origin, and faced a wall pierced with brightly lighted tunnels. Alvin selected one without hesitation and stepped into it, with Alystra close behind. The peristaltic field seized them at once and propelled them forward as they lay back luxuriously, watching their surroundings.

From THE CITY AND THE STARS by Arthur C. Clarke (1956)

Implications

THE GRAVITY WARS

Tesla and Edison had the War of the Currents. There was the struggle over gaslights vs. electric bulbs. Then there was VHS vs. Betamax (for those of you old enough to remember videotaping). Mac and Microsoft still aren't talking. Wherever there's a way to build an invention there's likely to be several. But then at Low Stellar and Late Solar levels of technology you get the Gravity Wars!

Gravity control in most settings makes space so much easier (meaning you can get to it and get killed quicker and cheaper.) Instead of using a honking huge rocket to reach orbit you can use a consumer friendly launch with a reasonable payload to fuel ratio. You just throw a switch and some of the Earth's (or other planet's) gravity is negated. Doing a space time sidestep you find yourself in orbit.

This is going to piss off many powerful and wealthy people.

Think about it. You're running a surface to orbit transport company and have invested in a laser launch system or space tower or even just a reusable rocket and launch pad. That's $$$$! Then along comes Pop Jenkins who builds an anti-grav car in his garage for GHU's sake! the cost of getting to orbit becomes the price of some current (pennies unless you're buying it in New York City). What would your reaction be? What would the headlines read?

Local Inventor Dies in Garage Fire! Plucky Nephew and Brainy Neighbor Girl Feared Dead as Well! Page 2

Maybe I'm being a little cynical. Maybe Pop Jenkins announces his discovery from orbit in his Solar Winnebago. The secret is out. What the hell do you do with your infrastructure? All those rockets and launch platforms are junk and all your revenue will dry up.

Even worse, anti-gravity negates many reasons for going into space. A popular form form of MacGuffinite is microgravity manufacture. Now you can have microgravity or true zero gravity anywhere. So why even go to space?

Wait! Your company has some long term contracts? Smart. Even if transport to orbit costs go from $10,000 a kilo to $0.25 you have contracts! Tough s**t! Build an anti-grav transport with a loan or your savings. Use the increased profit from using it to retire your rocket fleet and build more anti-grav transports. Meanwhile delay the anti-grav revolution as much as you can!

Legislation- You need to carefully monitor and license this new tech. Why you could drive a shuttle up to light speed and have it smack into a planet!

Economics- If you need Element X to produce anti-grav then Element X becomes very expensive. Or in a rift on legislature processing and acquiring Element X requires special licenses.

Health Concerns- the long term effects of artificial gravity on the human body are unknown! This needs further study!

National Security- This new technology can threaten the nation and must be restricted to the military. This might even be a fair cop. Those planet smashing gigs are pretty scary.

Slander! Anti-gravity is weakening the Earth's gravitational field/causing global warming/immorality and pulling meteors at your ship. Besides a little coriolis force never hurt anyone and keeps the coaster manufacturers in business. Those people have kids!

More than likely the new tech will have drawbacks and limits. If it's very short ranged it might only be used to provide gravity on space stations and low gravity worlds to keep settlers from becoming anorexic beanpoles. Those beautiful rotating space stations and passenger sections are all suddenly out of fashion though.

Perhaps anti-gravity is a repulsive force instead of a shield or nullification. In that case it works when you have a planet or other massive body. The chemical rocket guys are out of business. The ion rocket cartel is still going strong for deep space missions. Just to further ruin Doc Jenkins' day, getting to orbit and being in an orbit are two different things. If anti-gravity lifts you a couple hundred klicks you are just hovering. Shut off the anti-grav and you fall. Worse, there are things moving in orbit that can hit you like little bits of dynamite. So an anti-grav might reduce the fuel and thrust needed to get to orbit but not negate it but Big Rocket stays in business.

It does feel a little immoral though. Like you build a fusion reactor that uses hydrocarbons as fuel so Big Oil (boo!) stays in business or a super rocket fueled by tobacco.

From THE GRAVITY WARS by Rob Garitta (2016)

Paragravity

"Para" means "at or to one side of, beside, side by side". The idea is that "paragravity" means "ersatz-gravity" or "synthetic gravity". What we want to do is somehow generate 1 Terran gravity without the need of using 1 Terran mass (i.e., a sphere that weighs 5,972,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons). Preferably by something you can turn on and off with the flick of a switch, and that can be adjusted over a range of gravitational values.

Yes, the Starship Enterprise can have 1 gee of gravity inside if it carries on its belly a planet or black hole that has the same mass as Terra, but this ain't practical. For one thing it means the Enterprise's impulse drive would have to be capable of accelerating Planet Terra itself to the second star on the right straight on until morning if it had a sufficiently strong tow cable. We want to somehow generate 1 gee of synthetic gravity with something as lightweight as floor decking.

☢

The standard use for paragravity is to provide artificial gravity for crews in spacecraft without the need for cantankerous centrifuges. Artificial gravity is important, due to the severe health risks of free fall.

But if you use paragravity to lay the ship's decks at ninety degrees to the thrust axis like a passenger airplane, RocketCat will kick you in the gonads.

Paragravity can also be used for acceleration compensation, i.e., preventing rocket thrust from turning the crew into a thin layer of chunky salsa on the decks. The acceleration limit for astronauts is about 30 gees for no longer than ten minutes. And that is pushing it. However if the spacecraft is accelerating at 100 gees but the paragravity is pulling the astronauts upwards at 99 gees, the astronauts will experience a net force of only one gee downward. Just like on Terra.

Or a paragravity drive that acts on all the ship and crew atoms equally. So regardless of the acceleration, the crew floats around inside the ship in free fall.

Another use is to use paragravity to create attractor and pressor beams. While they are great for grappling spacecraft and cargo, they can also be adapted into a propulsion system that is almost a reactionless drive. Or a super-efficient mass driver rocket. Or a meteor repellor. Or a defensive repulsor field warding off missiles and other kinetic energy weapons. Or gravitic-confinement fusion power generator. Or super-efficient coilgun. Or super efficient particle beam weapon. Or otherwise weaponized.

Let's face it: paragravity is going to have a thousand and one uses. Just like electromagnetism. Remember when lasers were invented and the only application people could think of was a ray gun? Nowadays they are in everything: from surveying equipment, to laser gyroscopes, to making holograms, to optical tweezers, to scanning the bar-code on your groceries. Paragravity is going to be much like that.

☢

Crib notes for the second paragraph above: Attractor and Pressor beams    Narrow beams that can be focused on an object to move them closer or farther. According to physics there is not straightforward way to make these. Electromagnets will omnidirectionally attract all ferromagnetic objects in range, not just objects in a narrow beam. They will not repel an object unless it is diamagnetic or magnetic with the like pole facing. Not to mention the lack of stability and the fact that the range is probably measured in meters. Lasers used as optical tweezers can attract and repel, but the force is measured in piconewtons and the maximum size of the object is measured in nanometers or micron. Powerful lasers can repel an object by vaporizing part of it to make a crude rocket jet (i.e., an impromtu laser launcher). Neither of which is anything like the tractor beams you see in Star Trek. In theory a laser-like coherent beam of gravitational waves could be focused on an object to move them closer. Repelling objects does not seem to be possible, though, unless paragravity allows repulsive gravity. Gravitic-Confinement Fusion Power GeneratorThere are currently no practical fusion power designs. The problem is: it is a challenge to confine the equivalent of a miniature exploding thermonuclear warhead. You cannot confine it with chamber walls made of matter because the sun-hot temperatures will instantly vaporize them. Current research is to confine the fusion reaction using walls made of energy. Inertial confinment uses inertia and a battery of laser beams. Magnetic confinement uses powerful magnetic fields. And so far for every design that stops one way that the fusion plasma wriggles out of the confinement, the fusion plasma reveals ten new ways to squirm out. In theory a strong gravity field will do the trick. After all, that's the method used by stars for their fusion reactions.Super Efficient Particle Beam Weapon    Particles with a negative charge (electrons) are accelerated using coils with a positive charge (because unlike charges attract). Particles with a positive charge (protons), are accelerated with negatively charged coils for the same reason. Particles with no charge (neutrons) cannot be accelerated with charged coils. Actually charged particles are accelerated with arrays of coils. At any given microsecond the coil immediately in front of a cloud of electrons is negatively charged (to attract) while the coil just behind is positively charged (to repel). As the cloud passes a coil that coil's polarity is reversed. Of course targeted ships can defend themselves from charged particle beam weapons by using defensive fields with positive or negative charges. They cannot use such fields to defend against neutral particle beams, but that's not a problem because you cannot make neutron weapons in the first place. Ah, but you could accelerate electrons, protons, and neutrons all at once using paragravity. This would allow efficient electron and proton beams, and allow neutron beams to exist at all. The drawback is that ships can defend themselves with repulsive paragravity.

THE PROBLEM WITH GRAV-PLATES

I have very few soap boxes that I climb up on and one of them is gravity generators or gravplates. My main gripe is with gravity plates. Why, when you have perfectly good torchship capable of 1G acceleration, do you need gravity plates? What's gravity? Curved space-time. We've done enough experiments and observations to confirm what Einstein said it was. Curved space… and time. We won't worry about time right now. And what curves space? Mass, lots of it. The property of "mass" is a manifestation of potential energy transferred to particles when they interact ("couple") with the Higgs field, which had contained that mass in the form of energy. So, by that definition, you need a lot of potential energy to make a lot of mass.

So let's do the numbers. What is 1G?

g = m / (r / 6380)2

where:

g = gravitational acceleration (earth gravities) m = mass of the Earth in Earth masses (1, which is 5.972×1024 kg just so you know) r = radius of the Earth in kilometers (6380 km)

Therefore the equation works out to 1G, which is an acceleration of 9.8 m/s2.

Let's propose that a gravity plate is 1 meter square, and consists of one hundred 10cm×10cm×10cm generator cells (1000 cubic centimeters). So we just need to work out how much energy one cell needs to have mass to generate 1G. Solve for m in the above equation:

m = (g * r2) / 40,704,400

g = 1 gees and r = 0.0001 kilometers (10 cm)

m = (g * r2) / 40,704,400 m = (1 * 0.00012) / 40,704,400 m = 0.00012 / 40,704,400 m = 0.00000001 / 40,704,400 m = 2.45673686×10-16 Earth masses = 1,467,163,252.79 kg

1,467,163,252.79 kg in a 1000 cubic cm generator cell means a density of 1,467,163.25 kg/cm3. This is denser than (electron) degenerate matter (10,000 kg/cm3) but less than neutronium (neutron degenerate matter), (5.5×1012 kg/cm3). This is per cell (100 cells per gravity plate).

The amount of energy needed to create the necessary energy density to simulate that mass (E=mc2) is 1.32044693×1017 joules. That's a bit shy of the total energy from the Sun that strikes the face of the Earth each second. Per cell (1/100th of a gravity plate). And all this assumes 100% efficiency, with no loss anywhere. Even at 1% heat loss, the amount of heat would be 1.3×1012 joules, about equal to the total fuel energy of 48,765L of Jet A-1 fuel, each second.

Now multiply this by the typical square meterage of your average Free Trader. Turn on the gravity and watch your ship shine as bright as a star for a brief moment…

by John Reiher (2017)

THE RISEN EMPIRE

Scientifically speaking, the Larten Theory of Gravities was three decades outmoded, but it still served well enough for Navy textbooks. So, as far as Lieutenant-Commander Laurent Zai was concerned, there were four flavors of graviton: hard, easy, wicked, and lovely.

Hard Gravity was also called real gravity, because it could only be created by good old mass, and it was the only species to occur naturally. Thus fell to it the dirty and universal work of organizing solar systems, creating black holes, and making planets sticky.

The opposite of this workhorse was Easy Gravity, unrelated to mass save that easy gravity was hapless against a real gravity well. Hard gravitons ate easy ones for lunch. But in deep space, easy gravity was quite easy to make; only a fraction of a starship's energy was required to fill it with a single, easy gee. Easy gravity had a few problems, though. It was influenced by far-off bodies of mass in unpredictable ways, so even in the best starships the gee-field was riddled with microtides. That made it very hard to spin a coin in easy gee, and pendulum clocks, gyroscopes, and houses of cards were utterly untenable. Some humans found easy gee to be sickening, just as some couldn't stand even the largest ship on the calmest sea.

Wicked Gravity took up little room in the Navy's manuals. It was as cheap as easy gee, and stronger, but couldn't be controlled. It was often called chaotic gravity, its particles known as entropons. In the Rix Incursion, the enemy had used wicked gee as a devastating but short-range starship weapons. Exactly how these weapons worked was unclear—the supporting evidence was really a lack of evidence. Any damage that followed no understood pattern was labeled "wicked."

The Lovely particle was truly queen of the gravitons. Lovely gee was transparent to hard gravity, and thus when the two acted upon matter together it was with the simple arithmetic of vector addition. Lovely gravity was superbly easy to control; a single source could be split by quasi-lensing generators into whirling rivulets of force that pulled and pushed their separate ways like stray eddies of air around a tornado. A carefully programmed lovely generator could make a seemingly strewn pack of playing cards "fall" together into a neat stack. A stronger burst could tear a human to pieces in a second as if some invisible demon had whirled through the room, but leave the organs arranged by increments of mass on a nearby table. Unfortunately, a few million megawatts of power were necessary for any such display. Lovely gee was costly gee. Only Imperial pleasure craft, a few microscopic industrial applications, and the most exotic of military weapons used lovely generation.

From THE RISEN EMPIRE by Scott Westerfeld (2003)

Robert Forward

The late Dr. Robert L. Forward was a real physicist whose life's work was gravity research. He invented the Forward Mass Detector and had 18 patents to his name, including the Statite. He was the science fiction writer's friend, writing fiction himself and producting research on juicy SF projects like time travel, negative matter, antimatter rockets, and interstellar laser sail starships.

This means all of his material is not science fiction. It is real.

His most accessable book on these topics is the collection of science essays Indistinguishable from Magic.

Given his life's work, he does have a few things to say on the topic of gravity.

The main thing he said that stuck in my mind was about creating fields. He said modern technology uses electromagnetic fields everywhere, because they are so easy to create. All you have to do is take powerful electric charges (electrons) and move them near the speed of light along a path (as a current in a wire).

So in order to use gravitic fields, all you have to do is take powerful gravitational charges and move them near the speed of light along a path. Unfortunately "powerful gravitational charges" means white dwarf star material (1×109 kg/m3), neutronium (4×1017 kg/m3), or Primordial black holes (up to 1023 kg each). It takes titanic particle accelerators to move tiny subatomic particles near the speed of light, the mind boggles at what you'd need to accelerate something so dense that a teaspoon full would weigh as much as Mount Everest.

Since this is utterly beyond our current technology, we do not use gravitic fields.

INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC

(ed note: This is not science fiction, it is reality)

The Einstein Theory of Gravity is more complex than the two previous theories of gravity. In a simplified form it can be expressed as:

"A mass causes space to curve. Other masses move in that curved space."

In the Einstein view of gravity, mass does not cause gravity. Instead mass curves space and curved space causes gravity. A good analogy is to imagine a rubber sheet stretched over a frame. If you put a heavy ball bearing in the center of the rubber sheet, the weight of the ball would cause a curved depression. The mass of the heavy ball bearing has "curved" the rubber sheet "space". If you then drop a tiny marble on the curved rubber sheet, the marble would immediately start to roll toward the center as if the large ball were attracting it. But there is no direct attraction between the ball bearing and the marble, the ball bearing is curving the rubber sheet and the marble is responding to the curvature of the rubber (and the gravity of the Earth). If the marble were tossed properly into the curved depression in the rubber sheet, it would go into an "orbit" around the heavy ball bearing at the center.

☢

Because the Einstein Theory of Gravity is more complex than the Ug or Newton theories, it can give us more handles by which we can control gravity. There are at least two ways that we can use the Einstein Theory of Gravity to negate the gravity field of the Earth. There are also two ways we can use the Einstein Theory of Gravity to make a mass push instead of pull.

☢

(Method One: Special Relativity: Protational Field)

In the scientific studies of electricity, it has been found that electricity and magnetism are related. If you change or move electricity, you make magnetism, and if you change or move magnetism, you make electricity again. This transformation between electricity and magnetism is used to make your automobile run. The electricity in your car battery is only twelve volts, not strong enough to run your spark plugs. This low voltage electricity is used to create magnetism in the spark coil. The magnetism temporarily stored in the coil is then released very rapidly when the points open. This rapidly changing magnetic field then generates the powerful, high-voltage sparks that are used by the spark plugs. By using the magnetic field as an intermediate step, the automotive engineers have found a way to convert weak electric forces into strong electric forces.

The Einstein Theory of Gravity says that gravity behaves the same way as electricity. If you take a mass and the gravity field that surrounds it, and move the mass very rapidly, you can create a new field, the gravitational equivalent of magnetism. It is not magnetism, but a completely new field (Protational Field). If you can then cause that new field to change, then you can create a stronger gravity field than you started with. More importantly, that stronger gravity field can be made to appear at a place where there is no mass, and can be made either attractive or repulsive.

Moving an electric field (Q) makes a charge flow (I), which makes a magnetic field (B). Moving or changing a magnetic field makes an electric field. Moving a gravitational field (M) makes a mass flow (T), which makes a protational field (P). Moving or changing a protational field makes a gravitational field.

Conceptually, there are a number of ways that such a gravity machine could be made. One idea is to roll up some hollow pipe to form a long coil, like the curly cord on a telephone. [See Figure 10.] We then bend the long coil around until the two ends meet to form a curly closed ring.

Figure 10 Antigravity machine based on Special Relativity Accelerating mass currents produce increasing protational field, which produces constant upward gravitational field

P = Protational Field (Lense—Thirring) T = Accelerating mass current G = Gravity Field

If the pipes are filled with massive liquid and the liquid is moved back and forth in the pipes rapidly enough, then an alternating push-pull gravity field will be generated at the center of the ring. If the machine was big enough, and the liquid was dense enough and moving fast enough, then we would have a gravity catapult that could launch and retrieve space ships by its gravity repulsion and attraction.

How big? How dense? How fast? Unfortunately, the machine has to be as big as the distance over which you want the gravity effects to operate (i.e., the range of the gravity field is about equal to the diameter of the coil). The liquid has to be as dense or denser than white-dwarf-star material (1×109 kg/m3), and the speed of the flow has to be so high that the ultradense liquid will approach the speed of light in a few milliseconds (implying that the energy requirements will be astronomical, and maybe implying that the gravity field can only be generated for a few milliseconds).

I am afraid that it will be some time before we have all that gravitational technology well in hand. But we do have the theory needed to design our gravity catapult, and some time in the long distant future we will have college classes full of bright students taking their first course in Gravitational Engineering, studying the turbulent flow in ultradense matter and producing more and more efficient designs for the gravitational attractor and repulsor beam intensities to minimize passenger discomfort during the launch or retrieval of an interstellar passenger liner.

☢

(Method Two: General Relativity: Frame Dragging)

The Einstein Theory of Gravity can give us yet another way to control gravity. One of the strangest facets of the Einstein Theory of Gravity is the concept of curved space. The method by which a massive object causes a curvature in space is difficult to really comprehend. It is as if the mass had grabbed hold of space and pulled the space into it. This grip of mass on space is still maintained when the mass is moving. The space seems to move along with the mass. This effect, called the "dragging of the space-time coordinate frame", is the basis for another future magic type of antigravity machine.

If you are near a rapidly moving dense mass, you will find yourself "dragged" along in the direction of the moving mass. One could envision a "lift" shaft, lined with pipes full of rapidly flowing ultradense fluid that wafts you rapidly up to the top of a mile-high building. But more likely this "drag" effect will be used in space as a gravity catapult for shipping purposes within the Solar System. This machine would again be in the form of a ring of ultradense matter, but this time the ring would be uniformly whirling from inside-out, like a gigantic smoke-ring.

Antigravity machine based on General Relativity

If a spaceship entered such a toroidal gravity catapult through the hole from one side, it would be expelled out the other side of the hole with a greatly increased velocity. If the spaceship were falling in toward the Sun from the asteroid belt with a high velocity, it would be gently stopped in Earth orbit by threading the torus in the opposite direction. Since the forces on the spaceship during acceleration and deceleration are gravitational forces which act equally on every atom in the ship, all the atoms in the spacecraft are stopped at the same rate and at the same time. So, even though the accelerations and decelerations can be at rates equivalent to hundreds of Earth gravities, the passengers on those spacecraft will not even have to turn in their martini glasses for "landing" in the Earth-Moon system, much less buckle their seatbelts, stow their overhead luggage, raise their seatbacks, and secure their tables.

From INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC by Robert Forward (1995)

Le Sage's Repulsive Gravity

Le Sage's 1748 theory of gravitation is based on the non-intuitive idea that gravity is a repulsive, not attractive force. The force can be shielded by matter.

How does this work?

Imagine yourself far from any planet. Your body is bombarded by repulsive gravity from the entire universe around you. Since all the repulsion pushing you to the left is balanced by the repulsion pushing you to the right, the net result in the left-right axis is zero. The same applies in any other axis, so if you were in the depths of space you'd experience zero gravitational acceleration.

Now imagine that Terra is below you. Suddenly the gravitational repulsion of the universe coming from below is diminished by the shielding provided by the matter of Terra. The repulsion coming from above is now stronger than the repulsion from below. The net result is one Terran gravity of acceleration, pushing you in the direction of Terra.

Alas, Le Sage's theory is pretty much discredited nowadays, because it makes predictions that do not occur in the real world.

For one thing, it assume a select frame of reference, that is, the repulsive gravity particles are evenly distributed in all directions. Unfortunately, if the object starts to move in relation to that frame, it will be hit with more gravity particles in head-on collisions than in rear-end collisions. The effect is that everything will move like it is embedded in tar or other thick liquid. Which doesn't happen in the real world.

Recall Not Earth

C.C. MacApp's nearly forgotten and definitely underrated novel Recall Not Earth actually uses Le Sage's Repulsive Gravity theory.

In the novel, scientists invent a "gravity shield" where by adjusting a knob the shield will reduce the repulsion effect from the universe to any desired degree. Starships incorporate an array of gravity shields on their hulls facing in all directions. By turning on the appropriate shield, the starship can instantly accelerate in the appropriate direction.

The best part is since gravitational acceleration affects all atoms equally (starship and crew), the crew does not feel the acceleration. The ship can be accelerating at 100 gees but the crew is still floating around inside. The reason this does not happen with a rocket is because the rocket acceleration affects only the atoms of the rocket engine, which pushes on the thrust frame of the spacecraft, which pushes on the spacecraft's habitat module, which pushes on the bodies of the crew, who get mashed into their acceleration couches.

This technique is kind of in a gray area between antigravity and paragravity, since is uses gravity shields (antigravity) to generate gravity (paragravity). I'm filing it under paragravity because effects are more important than causes. You quickly learn that if you play the Hero System RPG. For instance, in the Hero System, a given "power's" cause can be a laser beam, bullet, spray of burning liquid, hypnotic stigmata, thown rock, poison dart, homing missile, boomerange, arrow, swarm of angry hornets or psychokinetic thrust. But the imporant part is the effect: in this case "energy blast", defined as "inflicting damage on your opponent at range". The cause is more or less window dressing.

So the important part is the effect: generating a gravity field for acceleration. The fact that it is done by using gravity shields in a Le Sage universe is window dressing. So I am filing this under "paragravity".

The Chelki, under the direction of a Full Male who was second in command here on Akiel, had done an excellent job of refitting and conditioning the old Vul ship (and the eight smaller ones as well). The grav drive was tuned so precisely that John could lift the sixty-thousand-ton vessel a half-inch from the concrete floor of the vast grotto where she lay hidden and set her down again in increments of a quarter-inch, all without the slightest jar or sensation of inertia. Such tuning was important; in combat, a ship's computers (to say nothing of her flesh-and-blood pilots) might demand that she halt instantly, from a velocity of an appreciable fraction of light-speed, or dart away just as instantly on a different course. The gravs had to act upon every component (including passengers) at the same exact moment and with the same force, else she'd be torn apart or her passengers squashed by acceleration.

It was peculiar, he mused, how so many species (of humanoids, at least) discovered the gray drive (and related null drive) at about the same point in their technological development, almost as if it were programmed into the course of science.

☢

Mankind had developed the grav drive within a reasonable time after two monumental discoveries: first, that gravity was a push, not a pull; second, that the push could be screened off by a sheet of any of several special alloys under the influence of certain force fields distantly related to electricity.

This is why a push had always been mistaken for a pull: one of the basic facts of the "normal" universe is that all of space — every cubic centimeter of it, from all directions and all distances up to (and perhaps including) whatever "infinity" exists — repels matter. It repels matter ceaselessly, as if trying to squeeze it out of existence.

But, as if there were some conscious community of mutual assistance, each particle of matter shields every other particle against this push by space. That is as if one opaque ball cast a shadow upon another. And, while space shoves against matter from all directions, there is nothing correlated in this shove; no transverse action or other baffling peculiarity, as with the front of a light wave. Each discrete quantum of space aims a determined straight-line punch continuously at every particle, as if no other quantum of space existed. The punches do not get tangled up or canceled out or deflected. They do reinforce each other, but only in an additive straight-line way.

In one thing the old physics was partly correct: the force of a push does vary inversely with distance, but not in. direct ratio or in the ratio of squares or cubes. The ratio, which can be measured with some accuracy by an ingenious experiment (which, incidentally, led to the invention of the mass detector), has something to do with the number of dimensions that exist in "normal" space. And that is not a matter to discuss casually.

So, the situation exists that every particle of matter is being shoved at from every direction, but is shielded to some tiny extent by every other particle. But the mutual shielding of two particles is only along the straight line joining them. Therefore, what can two particles do but move toward each other? Along that one line, the pressure upon them is lessened by a very small fraction.

Naturally, two electrons, for instance, separated by a distance of several thousand light-years, would take a very long time to come together (not even considering that they were not the only two particles in space). But time is long, and space is patient. Hence particles become atoms, and atoms molecules, and molecules solid masses (if one can stomach that latter inexactitude).

There are counterforces that prevent space from squeezing all matter into one inconceivable ball. One such force is inertia ("centrifugal force" in the case of two particles or rocks or stars orbiting each other). A second such force is the natural repulsion between particles having like charges: electron repelling electron; positron repellng positron. Another is the pressure of radiant energy, as in the terrific effort of a hot star to explode. And there are others not describable in such simple terms.

So, when a considerable mass has been pushed together, it has a considerable effect of shielding against space. For instance, a man standing upon a planet is partly shielded from almost one hundred and eighty degrees of space. The other half of space pushes him against the planet. Semi-primitive man, with his reasonable but unreliable tendency to see things as they appear, called this effect "gravity" and thought it was a pull by the planet. Null-age man, with his perhaps not reasonable propensity for the complex (fore­shadowed, maybe, by such utterly improbable developments as the internal-combustion engine), seized upon the true nature of "gravity" and put it to work (as had, long before, various other equally antipractical, venturesome, stubborn species).

☢

All particles of matter act as natural shields against the push of space, but with limited efficiency. Artificial shields can be made that perform, at optimum, with awesome efficiency. Thus, if a person standing on Earth held a shield above his head and activated it, he would be propelled violently into the air by the residual "space push" penetrating the planet and shoving at him from below. So would a cone of soil (though, since the shielding falls off with distance from the shield, and also because of the geometry of the situation, the cone would not be very long).

The residual push penetrating Earth could be, and was, calculated at approximately two hundred and fifteen gees, and from that (assuming various things) it was clear that Earth, in effect, screened off slightly less than one-half of one percent of the push from half of space. Or: maximum theoretical "gravity," anywhere, was two hundred and sixteen gees.

John had never found that theory particularly reassuring. Two hundred gees, or considerably less, could make puree of a man!

(Note: it is possible to build a shield that will stop the push from one direction only. That is desirable in self-propelled missiles, in certain instruments, and in special tools.)

(Further note: due to certain peculiar properties of space and of shields, it is possible to design the latter to produce a "lee" of a particular shape: conical, spreading, parallel beam, and so forth. For instance, the use of high shielding and a long tapering cone, combined with the one-way effect, gives the weapon called the "rupter" — intense "push" is applied to the target or a small zone of it, and when the push is applied and interrupted and reapplied at a suitable rate, the target can be shaken to pieces. Rupters have ranges limited, in practice, to a few miles. Another example of special shields is in arranging "artificial gravity" within a ship. Without artificial gravity, passengers would suffer various discomforts, some fatal.)

☢

Obviously, if you build a shield into or onto a structurally strong container, and activate it, the whole container will be urged, to some degree, in the direction of the shield. If you take a cylindrical tank of, say, one thousand gallons capacity, put an airtight hatch in it, and fit a shield flat upon one end, you have the fundamentals of a spaceship. Such a ship, if the shield is designed for variable and closely controlled input of power, can rise slowly and gently from a planet's surface without pulling a divot of the planet with it.

Commonly, ships are cylinders of high-strength steel, less than twice as long as their diameters, with shields at either end (occupying the full cross section as nearly as possible) and smaller auxiliary plates at various points of the cylindrical walls (arid sometimes others distributed along cross sections between the two ends). Application of power to any shield or combination of shields is controlled by a special computer, which is usually in turn controlled by the main computer, since manual control might be jerky and dangerous. A ship in space can. achieve startling acceleration, because passengers arc accelerated by the "space push" along with the rest of the ship. Anomalies exist, off the axis of the ship, and at the rear; but these are canceled or counteracted by properly designed and adjusted auxiliary plates. A combat ship can dart to the sides, too, though not with the acceleration it can achieve along its axis. Due to various limitations of structural materials, power feed, passenger reaction, etc., acceleration (in practice) is limited to about seventeen gees (in normal space, that is). Seventeen gees is not enough to dodge a swarm of computer-coordinated missiles, but it can make them work.

☢

The null drive is something else again. Very soon after development of the new grav-drive technology and science, there were several breakthroughs in understanding the nature of space itself.

The real savants claimed that there must be quite a number of "spaces," each positioned to the others in such a way that time was involved, along with various dimensions. John Braysen was willing to accept that without being harangued at length about it.

There appeared to be no immediate prospect of switching from "normal" space (that is, "our" continuum) to any of the other spaces. However, there was some kind of limbo, or state of existence that was none of the spaces, into which an object could be shifted. The way this was done was awesome: the object (a ship and passengers, for instance) had to have every particle charged with a kind of energy related to, but not identical with, the field that produced gravity shielding. When this charge reached a critical intensity, a little extra surge caused it (to all exterior observations) to cease to exist in normal space. Passengers felt only an instant of odd disorientation.

In this strange limbo (called "null"), ordinary gray drives could accelerate the "ghost" of the ship at a rate fantastically greater than in normal space. That hull acceleration didn't require exceptional power, but to attain readiness for null did. Conduits to feed that power without melting had a practical limitation: the best rate of charging that Earth's or any other known technology could achieve was a little over four minutes.

So you couldn't "break out" of null and reenter immediately.

One of the puzzling things was that the tremendous power thus fed into matter could be discharged so instantly with very little detectable "spill." A little static, a momentary mild blue glow, were the only phenomena yet detected.

Travel in null was not instantaneous. There was a limit of some sort; and, to simplify as much as possible the terrible problems of navigation, the apparatus was standardized to fit some little-understood natural velocity that approximated four hundred and ninety light-years per hour. Usually a ship going, say, one hundred light-years, could judge its breakout point to within one-tenth light-year of its target. From there you made an additional short null hop or hops, like a golfer sinking a putt.

From RECALL NOT EARTH by C.C. MacApp (1970)

Eldraeverse

HANDWAVIUM: PARAGRAVITY

Okay, let’s talk about paragravity.

First up, a note on nomenclature. Paragravity is one of the two things that an Imperial habtech might be referring to when they talk about artificial gravity, the other being spin gravity. Unlike spin gravity, which is “powered” by good old centrifugal force, paragravity is produced by ontotechnological space magic that does wonderfully complex things involving information physics and grand unified theories and other such things to poke the universe in exactly the right way – basically, one branch of the mass-inertia-and-momentum manipulating vector control.

Which is to say that it is produced by gravity rotors, suitcase-sized boxes with a power connector, a ‘weave connector, and a thermal management connector on the outside, filled with solid-state hardware that is a proprietary product of Mariseth Gravitics, ICC. And into whose internal workings we shall thus respectfully avoid going.

What we’re talking about here is how they work on the outside.

The field of paragravity (the gravity envelope) can only be created between two gravity rotors of opposed polarity. That gets you a straight field (with perhaps some convex distortion at the edges) between the two, which imposes a force functionally identical to mass-generated gravity (i.e., affecting all atoms, etc., equally) on everything with mass inside it. This creates a consistent down direction towards what, for the sake of designation, we shall call the “positive” rotors.

(You have to have a closed envelope, and can’t operate an unpaired gravity rotor even if you wanted to: since the universe is functionally infinite in whatever direction you’re pointing it, energy requirements for the half-field head asymptotically for infinity, at which point the circuit breakers save you from a messy ‘splosion.)

Both momentum and energy are conserved, as they would have to be.

The former is the reason that you gravity rotors should be bolted firmly to the structure of the hab; whatever force they exert is, per Callaneth’s Lemma (or Newton’s Third Law, whatever name you prefer), reciprocally exerted too, half to each rotor in the pair.

While difficult to arrange even deliberately, this does imply that if you can get enough mass in one spot and move it just right, you can get the gravity rotors to tear themselves free and leap in the appropriate reciprocal direction.

With regard to the latter: it takes energy to establish the gravity envelope, but once it’s up and running, maintaining it takes only minimal energy physically speaking. (I.e., it still consumes quite a bit of energy in the rotor while it’s up and going, because rooting the universe ain’t cheap; that energy just doesn’t go into the envelope. It’s this waste that makes paragravity a real expensive thing to run.)

That, however, is only true so long as nothing is moving within it. Falling objects, moving in the down direction of the envelope, take energy from the envelope as they gain kinetic energy. (Likewise, when you lift an object within the envelope against its downforce, that pushes energy into the envelope, which is a surge effect that the hardware has to cope with. Alas, it’s not something that can be harvested in the majority of applications.) You could call this paragravitational potential energy if you like, since it sits in essentially the same place in the relevant equations.

While it takes the rotors a little while to initialize from a cold start (although some of this time is self-diagnostics and the like), once up and running, though, you can change the parameters of the gravity envelope very quickly; and you can generate pretty much any amount of gravity you want up to their capacity so long as you’re willing to spend the energy (which varies proportionately) needed to do it.

This is what lets you use the exact same technology for inertial damping; you just have appropriately oriented gravity rotors cancel out your engine thrust inside the starship – while bearing in mind that this will have certain effects on your structural load. (Likewise, you can use them when grounded – but since they don’t block planetary gravity, if you want 1G in the cabin when landed on a 3G world, you will actually be running the paragravity system at -2G.)

The drawback, however, is that the same lack of “inertia” in operation that lets you change your gravity quickly means that they fail equally quickly – and shut down essentially instantly if the power fails, just like an electromagnet’s field collapses – so failing to keep up maintenance schedules may mean being abruptly smashed to the deck with a force of twelve gravities! Caveat engineer.

From HANDWAVIUM: PARAGRAVITY by Alistair Young (2015)

Cities in Flight

James Blish's classic Cities in Flight series have paragravity machines called Dillon-Wagoner Graviton Polarity Generators (commonly called "Spindizzies"). They use the (now discredited) Blackett effect aka "gravitational magnetism". Control the spin and you control the gravity. In the novel it has lovingly constructed baffle-gab explanations with just enough real science to stub your toe on and fool you into thinking it is actually plausible. The joker in the deck is that the efficiency of a spindizzy goes up as the mass of the spacecraft increases. The novels center around entire cities uprooted and turned into starships via spindizzies, turning into interstellar migrant laborers escaping the economic collapse of Terra. In the latter novels, entire planets are moved with spindizzies.

CITIES IN FLIGHT

Artwork by David Mattingly

Joke image about the paragravity Spindizzy from James Blish's Cities in Flight series

“Sure. It’s a thing called the Blackett equation. Deals with a possible relationship between electron-spin and magnetic moment. I understand Dirac did some work on that, too. There’s a G in the equation, and with one simple algebraic manipulation you can isolate the G on one side of the equals-sign, and all the other elements on the other.” (Not a crackpot notion this time. Real scientists have been interested in it. There’s math to go with it.)

“Status?” (Why was it never followed, then?)

“The original equation is about status seven, but there’s no way anybody knows that it could be subjected to an operational test. The manipulated equation is called the Locke Derivation, and our boys say that a little dimensional analysis will show that it’s wrong; but they’re not entirely sure. However, it is subject to an operational test if we want to pay for it, where the original Blackett formula isn’t.” (Nobody’s sure what it means yet. It may mean nothing. It would cost a hell of a lot to find out.)

“Do we have the facilities?” (Just how much?)

“Only the beginnings.” (About four billion dollars, Bliss.)

“Conservatively?” (Why so much?)

“Yes. Field strength again.”

(That was shorthand for the only problem that mattered, in the long run, if you wanted to work with gravity. Whether you thought of it, like Newton, as a force, or like Faraday as a field, or like Einstein as a condition in space, gravity was incredibly weak. It was so weak that, although theoretically it was a property of every bit of matter in the universe no matter how small, it could not be worked with in the laboratory. Two magnetized needles will rush toward each other over a distance as great as an inch; so will two balls of pith as small as peas if they bear opposite electrical charges. Two ceramet magnets no bigger than doughnuts can be so strongly charged that it is impossible to push them together by hand when their like poles are opposed, and impossible for a strong man to hold them apart when their unlike poles approach each other. Two spheres of metal of any size, if they bear opposite electrical charges, will mate in a fat spark across the insulating air, if there is no other way that they can neutralize each other.

(But gravity — theoretically one in kind with electricity and magnetism — cannot be charged on to any object. It produces no sparks. There is no such thing as an insulation against it — a di-gravitic. It remains beyond detection as a force, between bodies as small as peas or doughnuts. Two objects as huge as skyscrapers and as massive as lead will take centuries, to crawl into the same bed over a foot of distance, if nothing but their mutual gravitational attraction is drawing them together; even love is faster than that. Even a ball of rock eight thousand miles in diameter — the Earth — has a gravitational field too weak to prevent one single man from pole-vaulting away from it to more than four times his own height, driven by no opposing force but that of his spasming muscles.)

☢

Now all this seemed to me to have nothing to do at all with gravity, and I said so to my team chief, who brought the thing to my attention. But I was wrong (I suppose you’re already ahead of me by now). Another man, Prof. P. M. S. Blackett, whose name was even familiar to me, had pointed out the relationship. Suppose, Blackett said (I am copying from my notes now), we let P be magnetic moment, or what I have to think of as the leverage effect of a magnet — the product of the-strength of the charge times the distance between the poles. Let U be angular momentum — rotation to a slob like me; angular speed times moment of inertia to you. Then if C is the velocity of light, and G is the acceleration of gravity (and they always are in equations like this, I’m told), then:

P = BG½U / 2C

(B is supposed to be a constant amounting to about 0.25. Don’t ask me why.)

Admittedly this was all speculative; there would be no way to test it, except on another planet with a stronger magnetic field than Earth’s — preferably about a hundred times as strong. The closest we could come to that would be Jupiter, where the speed of rotation is about 25,000 miles an hour at the equator — and that was obviously out of the question.

Or was it? I confess that I never thought of using Jupiter, except in wish-fulfillment daydreams, until this matter of the Locke Derivation came up. It seems that by a simple algebraic manipulation, you can stick G on one side of the equation, and all the other terms on the other, and come up with this:

G = (2PC / BU)2

To test that, you need a gravitational field little more than twice the strength of Earth’s. And there, of course, is Jupiter again. None of my experts would give the notion a nickel — they said, among other things, that nobody even knew who Locke was, which is true, and that his algebraic trick wouldn’t stand up under dimensional analysis, which turned out to be true — but irrelevant. (We did have to monkey with it a little after the experimental results were in.) What counted was that we could make a practical use of this relationship.

Once we tried that, I should add, we were astonished at the accompanying effects: the abolition of the Lorentz-Fitzgerald relationship inside the field, the intolerance of the field itself to matter outside its influence, and so on; not only at their occurring at all — the formula doesn’t predict them — but at their order of magnitude. I’m told that when this thing gets out, dimensional analysis isn’t the only scholium that’s going to have to be revamped. It’s going to be the greatest headache for physicists since the Einstein theory; I don’t know whether you’ll relish this premonitory twinge or not.

☢

"But the one job that only the Bridge could do was that of confirming, or throwing out, the Blackett-Dirac equations.”

“Which are—?”

“They show a relationship between magnetism and the spinning of a massive body — that much is the Dirac part of it. The Blackett Equation seemed to show that the same formula also applied to gravity; it says G equals (2PC / BU)2, where C is the velocity of light, P is magnetic moment, and U is angular momentum. B is an uncertainty correction, a constant which amounts to 0.25.

“If the figures we collected on the magnetic field strength of Jupiter forced us to retire the equations, then none of the rest of the information we’ve gotten from the Bridge would have been worth the money we spent to get it. On the other hand, Jupiter was the only body in the solar system available to us which was big enough in all relevant respects to make it possible for us to test those equations at all. They involve quantities of infinitesimal orders of magnitudes.

“And the figures showed that Dirac was right. They also show that Blackett was right. Both magnetism and gravity are phenomena of rotation.

“I won’t bother to trace the succeeding steps, because I think you can work them out for yourself. It’s enough to say that there’s a drive-generator on board this ship which is the complete and final justification of all the hell you people on the Bridge have been put through. The gadget has a long technical name — The Dillon-Wagoner gravitron polarity generator, a name which I loathe for obvious reasons — but the technies who tend it have already nicknamed it the spindizzy, because of what it does to the magnetic moment of any atom — any atom within its field.

“While it’s in operation, it absolutely refuses to notice any atom outside its own influence. Furthermore, it will notice no other strain or influence which holds good beyond the borders of that field. It’s so snooty that it has to be stopped down to almost nothing when it’s brought close to a planet, or it won’t let you land. But in deep space well, it’s impervious to meteors and such trash, of course; it’s impervious to gravity; and it hasn’t the faintest interest in any legislation about top speed limits. It moves in its own continuum, not in the general frame.”

“You’re kidding.” Helmuth said.

“Am I, now? This ship came to Ganymede directly from Earth. It did it in a little under two hours, counting maneuvring time. That means that most of the way we made about 55,000 miles per second — with the spindizzy drawing less than five watts of power out of three ordinary No. 6 dry cells.”

☢

“The fundamental equation of the Blackett-Dirac scholium reads as follows:

P = BG½U / 2C

where P is magnetic moment, U is angular momentum, C and G have their usual values, and B is a constant with the value 0.25 approximately. A first transform of this identity gives:

G = (2PC / BU)2

which is the usual shorthand form of the primary spindizzy equation, called the Locke Derivation. Blackett, Dirac and Locke all assumed that it would hold true for large bodies, such as gas-giant planets and suns. Show on the blackboard by dimensional analysis why this assumption is invalid.”

As far as Chris was concerned, the answer could have been much more simply arrived at; Dr. Braziller could just have told him that this relationship between gravitation and the spin of a body applied only to electrons and other submicroscopic objects, and disappeared, for all practical purposes, in the world of the macrocosm; but that was not her way. Had she only told him that, it would have come into his mind as a fact like any other fact — for instance, like the facts that the memory cells of the City Fathers were constantly pouring into his ears and eyes — but by her lights he would not have understood it. She wanted him to repeat not only the original reasoning of Blackest, Dirac and Locke, but to see for himself, not just because she told him so, where they had gone astray, and hence why a natural law which had first been proposed in the gas-lit, almost prehistoric year of 1891, and was precisely formulated as the Lande Factor in 1940, nevertheless failed to lift so much as a grain of sand off the Earth until the year 2019.

From CITIES IN FLIGHT by James Blish (1956)

THE RISE AND FALL OF GYRO-GRAVITY

artwork by William R. Warren, Jr.

James Blish’s famous “cities in flight” series, first published in the Astoundings of the 1950s and later collected in Cities in Flight (Avon, 1970), used a device called a spindizzy (or “Dillon-Waggoner gravitron polarity generator”), a wondrous contraption that used principles from the “Blackett-Dirac equations” to transform rotation and magnetism into gravitational attraction or repulsion, making enough antigravity to lift whole cities and in the bargain providing impenetrable shielding and faster-than-light travel, Both spindizzy and Blackett-Dirac equations were purely the products of Blish’s far-ranging imagination, but the work of P.M.S. Blackett is real.

Blackett was a prominent British astronomer who noticed a correlation between the rotation rates, the gravitational ﬁelds, and the magnetic ﬁelds of the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter. In a paper in the British joumal Nature, Blackett presented an empirical equation relating these quantities. He went on to suggest that there might be a previously unsuspected principle of nature by which magnetic fields are generated directly in massive electrically neutral rotating bodies like the Earth.

A few years later, a science fact article in John W. Campbell’s Astounding Science Fiction described Blackett’s work as the possible discovery of a new law of nature. The author of that article suggested that if gravity and rotation could produce magnetism, then rotation and magnetism might produce gravity and even antigravity. With some nudging from Campbell, James Blish picked up Blackett’s ball and ran with it. Hence, the spindizzy.

In the SF of James Blish the ideas of Blackett lead to the stars, but unfortunately they never got off the ground in the real world of physics and astronomy. Improved measurements of the magnetic ﬁelds of various objects in the Solar System did not fit the predictions of Blackett’s “law,” nor did the geological evidence that the terrestrial magnetic tield undergoes periodic reversals. The present “standard” explanation of planetary magnetism is that in the liquid cores of planetary objects are dynamic currents that are coupled like dynamos to the planetary rotation. These currents generate the magnetic fields of the objects.

Over the recent 1989 Christmas holidays, however, it appeared that the spindizzy and gyro-gravity might be due for a renaissance. A paper entitled “Anomalous Weight Reduction on a Gyroscope’s Right Rotations about the Vertical Axis on the Earth” appeared in the December 18, 1989 issue of the journal Physical Review Letters. It is the work of two Japanese physicists, Hideo Hayasaka and Sakae Takeuchi of the department of radiation engineering, Tohoku University, in Sendai, Japan. The paper presented detailed evidence that three different motor-driven gyroscope rotors made of brass, aluminum, and silicon-steel each showed a weight loss of up to 12 milligrams (weight) or a few parts in 100,000 in overall weight when the gyro was spun clockwise (as viewed from above) at between 3 and l3 thousand RPM. The gyros showed no weight-loss effect when spun counter-clockwise. The clockwise-spin data showed that the weight loss of the gyro depends linearly on the rotation rate of the gyro. The weight loss data is very regular. ln fact, it is too regular for strict consistency with the error bars of the experimental data points. The Hayasaka-Takeuchi paper was careful to emphasize that no known physical effect, including general relativity, can account for an effect of this size and rotational dependence.

There was a considerable delay before the gyro-gravity paper actually appeared in print. It was first submitted to the rapid publication journal Physical Review Letters (PRL) on March 7, 1988, but it required an additional 21 months before it appeared in PRL, a journal which ordinarily published within 4-8 weeks after submission. Reportedly the paper was delayed because the PRL editors and referees were very skeptical of the reported effect but could find nothing wrong with the. experimental techniques described. After repeated revision of the paper, some re-refereeing, and much editorial deliberation, the paper was finally published.

As soon as it appeared, science-oriented journalists were quick ,to realize the anti-gravity implications of gyrogravity. In late December they conducted an intensive telephonic search for scientists and others who were willing to provide quotable comments on the work. This search was made more difficult because most universities and many government laboratories were closed for holidays. One of the most memorable comments on gyro-gravity reported in the press came from “a noted UFO expert,” who said that the result must be correct because it is well known in UFO circles that the engines of ﬂying saucers work by gyro-gravity.

Scientists among the quoted “experts” tended more toward skepticism and caution. Many said that the effect must be reproduced in other laboratories before it could be taken seriously. There were also some feelings that the Japanese result was likely to be wrong because it had a very peculiar and unphysical spatial dependence—it did not change sign when the gyro’s spin direction was reversed but instead went to zero.

At a small number of laboratories, experiments were set up to test whether the Hayasaka-Takeuchi effect could be reproduced. There was less of a “gold rush” atmosphere about these experiments than had been the case with the cold fusion furor of the previous year. Perhaps this is because there was more skepticism that the effect was real. Or perhaps the expensive equipment and manpower investment in cold fusion negative results of last year has made the scientific community more cautious about “table-top” experiments with spectacular results.

In any case, the results from a few follow-up experiments to test the Hayasaka-Takeuchi effect have now began to appear. A group at the University of Colorado in Boulder and the National Institute for Science and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards) has reported in a paper that has just been accepted by Physical Review Letters. To within their observed error of ±0.5 milligrams, the Boulder group observed no weight loss of the gyro and no dependence on whether its vertical rotation was clockwise or counter-clockwise. They used a brass rotor with a hardened steel shaft rotated at speeds between 1,000 and 9,000 RPM. The rotor turned on jeweled bearings. lt had about three times the mass of the rotors used by Hayasaka and Takeuchi and an overall sensitivity to the reported effects that was about 10 times greater. There were, of course, other differences in method. The Boulder experiment had very little magnetic material in the gyro, placed it in a Lucite chamber, spun it up with a jet of compressed nitrogen blown tangenially on a nylon gear, and did not evacuate the chamber. Hayasaka and Takeuchi used an integral electric motor to drive their rotor (which included magnetic material). The gyro rotated on ball bearings and was enclosed in an evacuated steel container. In a related paper that has just appeared in the journal Nature, Dr. S. H. Salter, a mechanical engineer at the University of Edinburgh, presents calculations showing that the Hayasaka-Takeuchi observations might be explained by the action of vibrations from the rotating gyro on the ball bearings of the appa- ratus.

Thus, at present gyro-gravity seems to be in trouble. The effect has not been reproduced with similar apparatus, and the observed effects might plausibly result from vibrations. I would hope, however, that before the laboratory tests are abandoned altogether, someone will try using a rotor Which, like the one in the Haylasaka-Takeuchi apparatus, contains significant magnetic material. As we SF readers know, a proper spindizzy requires rotation and magnetism to operate properly.

From THE RISE AND FALL OF GYRO-GRAVITY by John G. Cramer (1990)

Tales Of The Flying Mountains

In Poul Anderson's Tales of the Flying Mountains, the solar system is opened up by the discovery of "gyrogravitics" (geegees). Mr. Anderson was probably inspired by Blish's spindizzies, since "spin" and "gyro" are related terms. In the stories, it started off as the director of NASA investigating a crack-pot theory as busy-work in a desperate effort to keep NASA alive until the director could retire. The director was pretty sure it was a dead end, but didn't care since it would keep Congress from killing NASA for a few years. By the time the research crashed and burned the director expected to be safely retired.

Then the Soviet space agency started studying it (probably for the same reason). This sparked an arms race, and the money poured in. The nations could not afford to have a gyrogravitics gap! Amazingly, it actually resulted in a working space drive and a tractor beam. The solar system was inadvertently opened up by two bureaucrats just trying to hang on to their jobs.

Amusingly enough, the tractor beam obeyed a super-duper inverse square law: it had a range of only a few centimeters. It worked, but the ship with the tractor had to be practically in contact with the object it was moving.

"I'm delighted to explain. Have you heard of gyrogravitics?"

Stanhope shook his knaggy head. Carter of Virginia said, slowly, "Has to do with atomic theory, doesn't it."

"That's right," Harleman answered. "I don't claim to follow the mathematics myself, but I've had scientists give me a lay explanation. It grew out of the effort to reconcile relativity and quantum mechanics. Those two branches of physics, both indispensable, were at odds on certain fundamental questions. Is nature or is nature not deterministic—describable by differential equations? Well, you may have read how Einstein once declared he couldn't believe that God plays dice with the world, while Heisenberg thought cause-and-effect was nothing but the statistics of large numbers, and Bohr suggested in his complementarity principle that both views might be true. Later, building on the work of such as Dyson and Feinberg—" Harleman saw them drifting away again. Damn! I spent too much time with Emett last night. That jargon of his soaked into my skin.

"Well, the point is, gentlemen," he said, "in the newest theory, matter and energy are described by their properties from the equations, equations like those of a rotating force-field. Including gravitation."

Carter jerked to an upright sitting position. "Wait a minute!" he exclaimed. "You aren't leading up to antigravity, are you? I happen to know what the Air Force has been doing in that line for the past fifty years. It's no secret they've drawn absolute blanks. Antigravity belongs with witches on broomsticks. I could reach Mars easier by ... by astral projection."

"Not antigravity, sir," Harleman told him. "Gyrogravitics."

"A change of labels doesn't—"

"Please sir. I've had some most interesting discussions with a Mr. Quentin Emett. Some of you may have heard of him: an independent investigator—"

"Means he hasn't got his Ph.D.," Thomasson said grimly.

"Well, yes, he does happen to lack a union card," Harleman replied.

☢

"Mr. Emett's ideas are unorthodox, true. He proposes to develop a generator which, by means of nuclear resonance rotations, will create fields that we can call gravitational, or antigravitational, or pseudogravitational, or whatever we like. I think 'gyrogravitic' is probably the best word, though if we can get this work authorized, the R and D effort should have a more suitable name such as, for example, Project Dyna-Thrust."

Carter sneered. "And you'll make your spaceships weightless and float them right off Earth, eh?"

"No, sir." Emett had carefully rehearsed Harleman. "Conservation of energy and momentum are not violated. In effect, a gyrogravitic drive should react against the entire mass of the ambient universe. You'll still need power to rise, or accelerate, or maneuver in any other way. But it'll be minimum power; you won't be throwing energy out in exhaust gases. The power plant can be minimal too; since you can hover free, or nearly free, you don't need a huge motor to raise you as fast as possible. Any energy source will do—fuel cells, batteries, nuclear reactors, I suppose even steam engines—though no doubt as a side benefit we'll get small, portable fusion plants. A ship like this would be almost one hundred percent efficient, silent, unpolluting, economical to build, capable of going anywhere. The capability would derive in part from interior gyrogravitic fields. These would provide weight though the ship be in free fall, cushion against pressure when it accelerates, ward off solar-storm particles, meteoroids, and similar hazards." Harleman ratcheted up his enthusiasm. "In short, gyrogravitlcs can give us the whole Solar System."

"So can sorcery," Carter grumbled, "if only we can discover how to make it work."

Harleman talked nominally to them all, actually to Stanhope: "My belief is, the United States can't write off its huge investment in NASA, and in any case, positively not overnight. Research must go on. One advantage of Mr. Emett's proposal is its modest cost. If we establish Project Dyna-Thrust, it should be feasible to discontinue various other activities and thus reduce the total budget—without feeling that we have broken faith with our predecessors or abandoned the Endless Frontier of Science."

From "Nothing Succeeds Like Failure" collected in TALES OF THE FLYING MOUNTAINS by Poul Anderson (1970)

Carrot On A Stick

This is a surprisingly common piece of handwavium found in science fiction to use paragravity for spacecraft propulsion. The word "handwavium" is a clue that this is utter bilge.

Remember the old "carrot on a stick" trick? You sit on a horse or donkey. You use a stick to dangle a carrot in front of the animal's nose. It then walks forward trying to get the carrot. Since it never gets any closer, it keeps on walking until it collapses. TV tropes calls this "Motivation on a Stick."

The idea is your spacecraft (the donkey) is equipped with a magic handwavium paragravity device (the stick) that creates a bodiless point source of gravity (the carrot) a couple of meters in front of your spacecraft's nose. With lots of gravity. The ship and everything in it falls into the point gravity source. But this includes the paragravity gizmo. Which means the point gravity source moves forward, exactly like the carrot is moved forward by the stick. The ship keeps accelerating until the paragravity gizmo runs out of electricity.

The advantages is that the ship and everything is being accelerated by the force of gravity, which acts on all the atoms equally. Meaning that the ship can accelerate at 500 gees without turning the crew into wall-gazpacho. Heck, at 500 gees the crew is still floating in free fall.

☢

You can also use this to alter your vector. On your donkey, you can make it turn to the right by manipulating the stick so the carrot moves to the right. This allows you to steer the donkey. In a similar manner, you can use the paragravity gizmo to change the position of the point gravity source. Make it appear to starboard, and the ship will start accelerating in that direction. Make it appear in the opposite direction of the ship's current vector for deceleration.

☢

Baron Munchausen

The disadvantage is it won't work.

First off there is the sticky problem of the "stick", meaning how do you push the point gravity source forwards so the ship does not ram it? If you push it forwards with 500 gees, Newton will insist that the reaction pushes the ship backwards with 500 gees. So the net result is the ship just sit there.

If instead of a point gravity source you are using a physical paragravity machine, the machine will be attracted to the ship with the same force as the ship will be attracted to the machine. They will ram each other. But if you mount the machine on a framework attached to the ship's nose to prevent ramming, then the machine's gravity will attract the ship with a force of X while the machine's motion transmitted through the framework will push back with a force of -X, and the net motion will be X - X = 0.

This is similar to that tired old gag of propelling a sailboat by blowing on a sail with an electric fan. The wind from the fan will hit the sail, the action pushing the boat forward. Alas, the reaction on the fan from expelling the wind will move the fan backwards. If the fan is bolted to the sailboat, the action and the reaction will cancel out. Net motion of zero. If the fan is not bolted to the boat, it will go flying backwards and fall off the aft end. (Airboats do not count since the fan is not blowing on a sail attached to the boat, it is purely using the reaction of expelling the air)

Common hand-waves desperately used at this point are either [a] bodiless point sources of gravity have no inertia or [b] the gravity point is created and held in existence only long enough to yank the ship. Then a new point is created a bit further ahead. The ship moves forward in stroboscopic jerks. In William Keith's Star Carrier series, this is done by a control on the gravity generator called a bootstrapper.

The entire drive comes under the heading of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. Much in the same way Baron Munchausen lifted himself and his horse out of the swamp and into the air, by pulling upwards on his pigtail.

But the major problem is that while paragravity is technically unobtainium, all the plausible techniques have the created gravity field centered inside the gizmo. Not at some distance away.

☢

Be that as is may, there are quite a few science fiction novels that use this contraption. Invaders from the Infinite by John W. Campbell jr. (1961)The attractive ray makes a section of the mesh of the space-time continuum emit gravity waves. This can be used to move a ship, asteorid, planet, star, or whatever you have the energy for. Since the gravity is coming from the mesh of space, the attractive ray violates Newton's law of action and reaction. Total handwavium.The Tar-Aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster (1972)Kurita-Kita gravity drive ships look like a balloon stuck on the handle of a plumber's helper. The "suction cup" is the ship's nose, the balloon is to the rear. The suction cup is the gravity field generator, the balloon is the habitat and payload module. It operates like a standard carrot-on-a-stick drive.

In addition, in some handwaving way near lightspeed it generates a "cone shaped region of stress" that in some manner allows the ship to travel faster than light. Captains are encourage not to enter FTL travel while inside a solar system, since at that point the gravity field has the mass of a good sized sun and could alter the orbits of the planets. Hmmmm, sounds like a huge case of Jon's Law to me.The Ring of Charon by Roger MacBride Allen (1990)The Charonian aliens gravity technology can accelerate and levitate large masses by creating artificial gravitational point sources. But while natural gravitation sources are isotropic, the gravity of artificial gee points can be confined to narrow beams.The Gentle Giants of Ganymede by James P. Hogan (1978)The main drive is a torus shaped ring at the ship's nose. It accelerates quantum black holes which travel inside the torus. In some handwaving way this generates a quote "space-time distortion" unquote which the ship continuously 'falls' into.Path of the Fury by David Weber (1992)The Fasset drive creates a black hole in front of the ship, which the ship falls into. But the generators move with the ship, pusing the black hole ahead. Standard carrot-on-a-stick drive.Man-Kzin Wars VIII: Choosing Names edited by Larry Niven (1998)I have not read this collection, I am getting my information second hand. In Larry Niven's original Kzin stories, the Kzinti use the "gravity planar" aka "gravity polarizer" for propulsion. But apparently one of the authors in this collection didn't get the memo, and invented a totally non-canon propulsion system that was basically a carrot-on-a-stick drive. The author specified that the gizmo used magnetic monopoles in its construction since those are a signature Larry Niven touch.Earth Strike: Star Carrier by Ian Douglas (William H. Keith, Jr.) (2010)The spacefighters project a point gravity source capable of accelerating the fighter at 50,000 gees. They can accelerate close to c in about ten minutes flat. In combat though they keep to much slower velocities otherwise aiming their weapons would be impossible. The fighters are crazy maneuverable since the point gravity source can be instantly positioned anywhere to alter the ship's vector in any direction at 50k g.

The huge capital ships and carriers cannot use this drastic propulsion because they are about a kilometer long. At 50k g the gravity gradient across a twenty meter fighter is negligible. But the gradient across a one kilometer battleship will create tidal forces capable of ripping the ship apart.Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet by Wataru Mitogawa (2013)The Machine Caliber combat mecha fly by using "artificial gravity sinks." This is a very maneuverable carrot-on-a-stick drive, since a gravity sink can be created at any position nearby the Machine Caliber.

THE TAR-AIYM KRANG

Kurita-Kita gravity drive ship from Alan Dean Foster's Humanax series. Artwork by Rob Caswell

He got only the slightest glimpse of their ship, the Gloryhole. That was enough. Sandwiched in among bloated freighters and pudgy transports she looked like a thoroughbred in a barnyard. She still had the inevitable shape of a doublekay (Kurita-Kita) drive ship, a balloon stuck on to the end of a plumber’s helper, but the lines were different from most. The balloon at one end was the passenger and cargo space, and the plunger at the other the generating fan for the posigravity field. Instead of being wide and shallow, like a plate, the Gloryhole’s generating fan was narrower and deep, chalicelike. The passenger-cargo area was still balloon-shaped, but it was a streamlined, tapered balloon. Simply on looks alone one could tell that the Gioryhole was faster than any regular freighter or liner aspace.

☢    ‘Oh, there’s no real danger from change over. The companies like to make a big thing of it to give their passengers a slight thrill. Sure, once in a while you’ll hear about something happening. A meteor will make a millions-to-one infringement on the gravity well of a ship at the moment of shift and the ship will turn inside out, or something equally weird. Those are real exceptions.

☢    ‘I’ve never been on a doublekay drive ship before. I’m no physicist, but could you maybe give me a quickee explanation of how the thing works? One that even my simple mind could understand’?’ She sighed. ‘Okay. What the Caplis generator does … that’s what we hold in the “fan” up ahead … is in effect produce a powerful but concentrated gravitational field at the nose of the ship. As soon as the field exceeds the natural one of the ship, the ship moves towards it, naturally attracted by a “body” of greater “mass” than itself. Being part of the ship, the doublekay drive unit naturally goes along with it. But the unit, having moved forward, is set to keep the field at a constant distance from the hull of the craft. Therefore the field is moved forward also. The ship will try to catch up to it again, and so on, ad infinitum. The field is in effect pulling the ship instead of pushing it, as the shuttle rockets do, Doublekay vessels actually move in a series of continuous jerks, so rapid and close together that they seem to be one smooth, unbroken pull. The increase or decrease in the size of the field determines the speed of the ship. ‘Being a wave and not a particle form of energy, gravity isn’t affected in the same way that mass is on approaching the speed of light. The doublekay field creates a coneshaped zone of stress behind it, in which mass acts differently than it does under normal circumstances. That’s why when we exceed the speed of light I don’t see through you or something. Once we’ve made that initial breakthrough, or “change over,” our rate of travel goes up enormously. It’s something like riding the back of a very tame SCCAM shell. ‘Our initial power comes from a small hydrogen “spark-plug” … I wonder sometimes where that word came from … up near the generator housing in the tube section of the ship. Once started up, the field can be “channelled” to a certain extent. That’s where we get our gravity for the ship and power to run the lights and a lit o bar and things. “In the event of a drive failure there are provisions for converting the fan loan old ion-type drive, powered by the hydrogen plug. It would take twelve years at its best speed to get from Moth to Power Line, the nearest inhabited planet. Farther out where the stars are more scattered it’s even worse. But twelve years or so is better than never. Stranded ships have been saved that way … those that managed to overcome problems like lack of food and insanity. But the rate of failure for doublekay drives in miniscule. Only rarely can a mere human manage to screw one up.’

From THE TAR-AIYM KRANG by Alan Dean Foster (1972)

GRAVFIGHTER

“Blue Omega Strike, Omega One,” Allyn said over the squadron’s tac channel. “Engage squadron taclink.” Gray focused a thought, and felt an answering sensation of pressure in the palm of his left hand. The twelve fighter craft were connected now by laser-optic comnet feeds linking their on-board AIs into a single electronic organism. “And gravitic boost at fifty kay,” Allyn continued, “in three…two…one…punch it!” A gravitational singularity opened up immediately ahead of Gray’s Starhawk. He was falling. In fact, he was accelerating now at fifty thousand gravities, falling toward the artificial singularity projected ahead of his gravfighter, but since the high-G field affected every atom of the Starhawk and of Lieutenant Gray uniformly, he was not reduced to a thin organic smear across the aft surfaces of the cockpit. In fact, he felt nothing whatsoever beyond the usual and somewhat pleasant falling sensation of zero gravity. Outwardly, there was no indication that within the first ten seconds of engaging the gravitic drive, he was traveling at five hundred kilometers per second relative to the America, his speed increasing by half a million meters per second with each passing second. The stars remained steady and unmoving, unwinking in the night. After one minute he’d be traveling at three thousand kilometers per second, or 1 percent of the speed of light. And in ten minutes he’d be pushing hard against c itself.

☢    Vector changes in space-fighter combat were a lot trickier than for an atmospheric fighter; they were possible at all only because gravitic propulsive systems allowed the fighter to project a deep singularity above, below, or to one side or the other relative to the craft’s current attitude. Intense, projected gravity wells whipped the fighter around onto a new vector, bleeding off velocity to throw an extra burst of power to the inertial dampers that, theoretically at least, kept the pilot from being squashed by centripetal acceleration. Enough gravities seeped through the straining damper field to press Gray back against the yielding nanofoam of his seat; stars blurred past his head.

☢    “Does that mean we’re going to do a skew-flip, Admiral? To start decelerating?” “No, sir, it does not. You’re thinking of the gravitic drives on the fighters. The Alcubierre Drive works differently…an entirely different principle.” “I don’t understand.” Koenig wondered if that man had been briefed at all…or if he’d been given a technical download that he’d failed to review. Quintanilla seemed to read Koenig’s expression. “Look, I’m here as a political liaison, Admiral. The technology of your space drive is hardly my area of expertise.” Obviously, Koenig thought. “The type of gravitational acceleration we use on the fighters won’t work on capital ships,” he said, “vessels over about eighty meters in length. With ships as large as the America, projecting an artificial singularity pulling fifty-kay gravs or so ahead of the vessel would cause problems—tidal effects would set up deadly shear forces within the ship’s hull that would tear her to bits. “So for larger ships, we use the Alcubierre Drive. It manipulates the fabric of spacetime both forward and astern, essentially causing space to contract ahead and expand behind. The result is an enclosed bubble of spacetime with the ship imbedded inside. The ship is not accelerating relative to the space around it, but that space is sliding across the spacetime matrix at accelerations that can reach the speed of light, or better.”

☢    The beam caught his Starhawk aft, slashing through shields, vaporizing critical portions of the gravfighter’s projection bootstrappers. Fighters under drive fell toward an artificial gravitational singularity projected in the desired direction of acceleration; bootstrapper was the slang term for the electronics that continually refocused the singularity ahead of the ship from picosecond to picosecond. With the bootstrapper disabled and the singularity still powered, Sandoval’s Starhawk fell into its own drive field, its nose crumpling as the fighter began whipping around the pinpoint singularity in a high-velocity blur. In another instant, about a quarter of the fighter was consumed, smashed down into subatomic debris at the singularity’s event horizon. The rest sprayed into surrounding space, most of the mass transformed into a blinding flash of energy. The remaining four members of the Dragonfires continued the attack.

From EARTH STRIKE by William H. Keith, Jr. (under pseudonym Ian Douglas) (2010)

THE RING OF CHARON

artwork by Boris Vallejo

(ed note: Coyote Westlake is an rock-rat whose habitat module is currently attached to her claim on tiny asteroid AC125DN1RA45. When she regains conciousness, she finds the asteroid is under acceleration)

Coyote Westlake woke up with a pounding headache, slumped in a corner of her habitat shed. What the hell had she been drinking last night?

Lying there without moving a muscle, she carefully reviewed the night before. Wait a second, she thought. I didn’t have anything to drink. I haven’t had a drink in weeks. There was a very good reason for that: there wasn’t a drop of booze left in the hab shed or the ship.

Clearly something was wrong. She had to think this out. But the reflexes of an experienced drinker had taught her to keep her eyes shut when she found herself in this sort of position, being careful not to move a muscle while she took stock of her situation. Getting up and moving was a quick invitation to particularly messy forms of vertigo — especially in zero gee. She lay still, eyes shut, and tried to remember.

If she hadn’t been drinking the night before, then this was not a hangover. She had gone to bed early and stone cold sober, in a good mood even. Then what the hell had happened? She needed more data. She cautiously opened one eye, and then the other, and found herself staring at what seemed to be the forward bulkhead of the hab shed, at the far end of the cabin from her bunk. She was pasted, facedown, to the wall of the shed. She realized her nose was somehow both numb and sore at the same time, and the pain in her head was across her forehead. She must have slammed herself facefirst into the wall somehow. That, as least, would explain the headache — but how the hell had she thrown herself across the cabin? Even in zero gee, it was a hell of a stunt. Had she leapt out of bed during a nightmare?

Moving cautiously to avoid the stomach-whirling nausea she still half-expected, she reached out with both her hands and pushed herself away from the bulkhead. She drifted back away from the wall — and then was astonished to find herself drifting back down toward it. No, not drifting — falling. She scrambled in midair and managed to swing herself around fast enough to land, rather awkwardly, on her rump rather than her face again. Falling? In zero gee? Not zero anymore. She would estimate it as about a twentieth gee or so (5% of a gee).

She sat there, staring at the cabin above her — above her — in utter bewilderment. Her bunk was bolted to the aft wall of the cabin — which had now become the ceiling. The sheet was caught by one of the restraint clips, or otherwise it would have fallen too. Now it hung absurdly down. She glanced around the forward bulkhead she was sitting on and found it littered with bits and pieces of equipment that had slammed down with her. She reached up and felt a bump on the top of her head. Something must have clipped her as it fell.

She stood up, as carefully as she could, and tried to think. When she had gone to sleep, her hab shed had been bolted to the side of asteroid AC125DN1RA45, a tiny hunk of rock less than half a kilometer across, far too small to generate any gravity field worth mentioning. Maybe a ten-thousandth of a gee, tops. Now, suddenly, she was in a gee field hundreds of times stronger than that. What the hell was going on? Had someone moved her hab shelter for some reason?

Her shelter was a cylinder about fifteen meters long. Or, now, fifteen meters tall, with Coyote standing on the bottom looking up. At its midsection was an airlock system. There were two viewports at the midsection as well, one set into the airlock and the other set into the bulkhead opposite. One port afforded a view of the asteroid’s surface, the other a view spaceward. What she couldn’t see through the ports she ought to be able to see using the remote-control exterior camera. The camera’s controls were set into the wall by the airlock.

It took her two or three tries, and two or three crashes, before she managed to jump precisely enough to grab a handhold by the airlock and clip herself into place with the restraint belts intended for holding small pieces of cargo. She looked through the rockside port first and breathed a sigh of relief. RA45’s dark bulk was still there. She recognized not only the rumpled landscape, but her own mining gear. And there was the drill pit down into the rock’s interior.

Then she looked out the spaceward viewport and discovered something was missing after all. Not on the rock. In the sky.

In a horrifying flash she realized what she wasn’t seeing. Her ship. The Vegas Girl was gone. No, wait a second. There it was, a tiny blinking dot of light far to sternward, the Girl’s tracking strobe.

How the hell could this have happened? She had left the Vegas Girl in a perfectly matched orbit relative to RA45. There was no way she could have drifted that far while Coyote was asleep.

Unless she had been sleeping for one hell of a long time. She checked her watch and compared it to the time display on the hab shed’s chronometer. She even checked the date, just to be sure she hadn’t slept around the clock. But no, she had been out only a few hours. How far had her ship drifted?

Coyote grabbed the radar range-and-rate gun out of its rack and aimed it through the spaceward viewport, lining up the sights on the Girl. It was a low-power portable unit, not really meant to work at long range. Normally she used it to establish distance from and velocity toward an asteroid, but it could track her ship just as handily. She got the blinking strobe in the sights and pulled the trigger. The gun pinged cheerfully twice to indicate it had gotten a good range and rate on its target. Coyote checked the gun’s tracking data display. And her heart nearly stopped. The Vegas Girl was over one hundred kilometers astern, and the ship was moving away at over three hundred meters a second.

But wait a moment. The tracker just showed relative velocity, not which object was doing the moving. She peered out the port again, and spotted the triple-blink beacon she had left on RA46, the last rock she had worked. She swore silently. RA46 was in the wrong part of the sky. She fired a ranging pulse at it and got back virtually the same velocity value. The Girl was stationary relative to RA46. So it wasn’t the ship moving. It was this rock. It was moving at nearly twelve hundred kilometers an hour relative to the ship! But how the hell—

Good Golly God. She wasn’t in a gravity field — that was a one-twentieth-gee acceleration she was feeling. But for how long? Coyote knew that velocity could accumulate at a hellacious rate under even modest acceleration.

Even so, she was startled by the results when she ran the problem. Assuming one-twentieth gee (5% of a gee), that meant the rock had been accelerating for only ten or eleven minutes. Somehow, the numbers were the most frightening thing.

But how the devil could a dumb rock accelerate that fast? Or even at all? Coyote sure as hell would have noticed if someone had landed on RA45 and rigged it for acceleration. The fusion engines required would have been twice the size of her hab shelter. Even if it had happened under her local horizon, it would have been a massive engineering job and she would have felt the vibration of the work rattling RA45. But even the high-end miners who routinely maneuvered their rocks into more convenient orbits never got their boost up over one or two percent of a gee (one-fiftieth-gee). Asteroids were just too massive to make any better headway than that. Even then, the vibration was nearly enough to shake the rock apart.

Except this baby was cooking along at about three times that velocity without so much as a quiver. She hung in the restraint straps, staring at the range gun’s tiny control panel, utterly baffled. And starting to get very scared. This was a budget hab shelter. It had no radio powerful enough to call for help. No escape pod, either. And without a ship, she had no way off this rock.

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artwork by Zoltán Boros

Up until a few days ago, space had made sense. She had known the rules. She was a rock miner. She tracked down smaller asteroids, rocks too small to interest the big-time boys. She bored through the rocks, refined whatever metals and volatiles she could find on the spot, and hauled her refined goods back to make a sale. She had some fun on Ceres or one of the big habs, and then back out again. It was a stable, understandable life.

The world surrounding her was equally understandable. The asteroids moved in predictable patterns, and she knew how to keep her ship ticking, knew she would die if she got it wrong, knew how to play a dicker with the traders. It was simple.

She had worked as well as she could with the limited hardware aboard the tank — as she now thought of the hab shelter. She spent her days at the bottom of a cylinder five meters across and fifteen meters high, and was determined at least to make her situation as tolerable as she could. She had gotten her bunk off the ceiling and put it on the floor. She’d rigged lines and ropes so she could climb up to the control panel, and had reset all the restraints and handholds to allow her to move more easily.

The trickiest job was reprogramming the hab’s tiny position-reporter computer to provide her with tracking data. She felt a real need to keep at least a rough track of where the hell she was going. If she was doing her crude astrogation right, and assuming a constant acceleration and turnaround halfway there, RA45 was headed straight for Mars. She still had not the faintest idea as to why this was happening. Who was doing this? Toward what goal? And how? She had rigged her exterior-view camera on the longest cable she could manage and spooled the cable out far enough for the camera to give her a view of the asteroid’s aft end, trying to get a look at the engines that were doing this. But there were no engines, there was nothing at all back there. Just more rock. Damn it, something was accelerating this rock. If the something wasn’t outside the rock, it had to be inside the asteroid, somehow. But then how was the acceleration even happening? A rocket inside the rock couldn’t work. That meant a reactionless drive.

Enough of the anything-for-a-buck Las Vegas Free-state tradition had stuck with her that it occurred to her, even in her current predicament, that a reactionless drive ought to be worth something.

That, and the risk of madness by boredom, were enough to set her to work trying to solve the puzzle. She took her first crack at it by sitting and thinking. This drive seemed to have some attributes of a rocket, and some attributes of a gravity field. Like a rocket, it obviously could be started and presumably stopped at will. Like gravity, it worked without throwing mass in one direction to move in another.

But gravity couldn’t be pointed in one direction — it radiated out spherically from the center of a mass.

But if the whole rock were simply falling forward under the influence of some sort of external gravity field, her body would have been pulled along by the gee field precisely as much as the asteroid itself. The relative acceleration between herself and the asteroid would be exactly zero — in other words, she should have been in free-fall, effectively in zero gee. But she was in a very definite five-percent field. Or was it five? That was still just a guess. There had to be a way to measure it.

What was accelerating her? A magic rocket that didn’t need propellant or fuel or nozzles, or magic gravity you could point in any direction?

She sat there on the bottom of her tank and worried at the puzzle, perfectly aware of what she was really doing: struggling to keep her mind off another little problem. No matter how the propulsion system worked, she was going to be in a hell of a mess when this rock piled into Mars.

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How did it go? Coyote Westlake tried to remember the lessons from her old pilot’s physics course text on the differences between rockets and gravity.

No matter where in the system you measure, a rocket-propelled system shows acceleration in the same direction and at the same strength. Not so with gravity. Gravity pulls in from all directions, radially, toward a central point. The further you get from the source, the weaker it gets. So measurements at different points inside a gravity field should reveal different values for both direction and strength of acceleration.

That clear in her mind, Coyote set to work experimenting. She dropped weights from the ceiling and timed the fall to measure rate of acceleration. She hung other weights on lines to measure direction. Crude stuff, but the answers they gave were damn confusing. Things dropped from the side of the cylinder furthest from the asteroid fell at virtually the same speed as things dropped from closer in, but nothing dropped in a straight line. Everything curved in toward the asteroid as it fell, and curved more sharply when dropped on the rockward side of the shed.

Weighted cords did not hang straight up and down the way plumb lines were meant to. Instead, they curved throughout their lengths in strange, disturbing patterns, as if they were drawing the gee-field lines of force in midair. It was as if she were in a cross-breed field, somewhere between linear acceleration and a gravity field.

Directionalized gravity. Suppose someone, somehow, had put a gravity source — a powerful one — just in front of the asteroid, and then set the gee source moving, accelerating? And suppose that someone focused the gee source’s gravity field, somehow, so its entire force was directed through the body of the asteroid, and with just a little of it slopping over to pass through her hab shelter, for example. Think of it as a tractor beam, she told herself. The asteroid would be set to falling, pulled toward the moving gee source, and her hab shelter, outside the path of the beam but physically attached to the asteroid, would experience forward linear acceleration as it was dragged along, with the result that things inside the shed would fall backwards. Plus a little leakage from the tractor beam, pulling in toward the rock. It fits the facts of her situation. Maybe it was even true. That ancient and mythical patron of engineers, Saint Ruben of Goldberg, would have loved it.

The whole theory depended, however, on there being something to provide a gravity field just ahead of the asteroid. And her exterior camera revealed that there was nothing there.

Okay then. Run through the facts. There was no rocket pushing the asteroid from behind. And nothing visible to produce the tractor beam that seemed to be pulling it from in front. What did that leave?

How about something inside the rock, some projector or gadget that produced and accelerated the focused gravity field that seemed to be pulling the asteroid along? A gizmo that in effect pulled the asteroid along by its own bootstraps.

From THE RING OF CHARON by Roger MacBride Allen (1990)

INVADERS FROM THE INFINITE

(ed note: this is pretty much pure unmitigated technobable) “We tried throwing the planet into Sirius. They merely left the planet hurriedly as it fell toward the star, and broke free from our attractive ray.” ...Taj Lamor had some of his men bring an attractive ray projector to the ship. The apparatus turned out to be nearly a thousand tons in weight, and some twenty feet long, ten feet wide and approximately twelve feet high. It was impossible to load the huge machine into the Ancient Mariner, so an examination was conducted on the spot, with instruments whose reading was intelligible to the terrestrians operating it. Its principal fault lay in the fact that, despite the enormous energy of matter given out, the machine still gobbled up such titanic amounts of energy before the attraction could be established, that a very large machine was needed. The ray, so long as maintained, used no more power than was actually expended in moving the planet or other body. The power used while the ray was in action corresponded to the work done, but a tremendous power was needed to establish it, and this power could never be recovered. Further, no reaction was produced in the machine, no matter what body it was turned upon. In swinging a planet then, a spaceship could be used as the base for the reaction was not exerted on the machine. ...“As I see it, the ray is actually a directed gravitational field. Now here is one thing that makes it more interesting, and more useful. It seems to defy the laws of mechanics. It acts, but there is no apparent reaction! A small ship can swing a world! Remember, the field that generates the attraction is an integral, interwoven part of the mesh of Space. It is created by something outside of itself. Like the artificial matter, it exists there, and there alone. There is reaction on that attractive field, but it is created in Space at that given point, and the reaction is taken by all Space. No wonder it won’t move. “The work considerations are fairly obvious. The field is built up. That takes energy. The beam is focused on a body, the body falls nearer, and immediately absorbs the energy in acquiring a velocity. The machine replenishes the energy, because it is set to maintain a certain energy-level in the field. Therefore the machine must do the work of moving the ship, just as though it were a driving apparatus. After the beam has done what is wanted, it may be shut off, and the energy in the field is now available for any work needed. It may be drained back into power coils such as ours for instance, or one might just spend that last iota of power on the job. “As a driving device it might be set to pull the entire ship along, and still not have any acceleration detectable to the occupants. ...“But how is it that the machine is not moved when exerting such force on some other body?” he asked at last. “Oh, the ray concentrates the gravitational force, and projects it. The actual strain is in space. It is space that takes the strain, but in normal cases, unless the masses are very large, no considerable acceleration is produced over any great distance. That law operates in the case of the pulled body; it pulls the gravitational field as a normal field, the inverse-square law applying. “But on the other hand, the gravity-beam pulls with a constant force. “It might be likened to the light-pressure effects of a spot light and a star. The spotlight would push the sun with a force that was constant, no matter what the distance, while the light pressure of the sun would vary as the inverse square of the distance. “But remember, it is not a body that pulls another body, but a gravitational field that pulls another. The field is in space. A normal field is necessarily attached to the matter that it represents, or that represents it as you prefer, but this artificial field has no connection in the form of matter. It is a product of a machine, and exists only as a strain in space. To move it you must move all space, since it, like artificial matter, exists only where it is created in space. “Do you see now why the law of action and reaction is apparently flouted? Actually the reaction is taken up by space.”

From INVADERS FROM THE INFINITE by John W. Campbell jr. (1961)

McAndrews Balanced Drive

Ship is moving towards lower right corner (looks like it is upside down) Artwork by Vincent di Fate

This was invented by Charles Sheffield, a scientist who was a science fiction author on the side. His "Balanced Drive" is not precisely a carrot-on-a-stick drive. Which is a good thing, since it means this drive can actually work. The bad news is it is unobtainium. The laws of physics do not forbid it, we can calculate its performance, but actually building the monster is way beyond the state-of-the art.

As you recall the advantage of a carrot-on-a-stick is to allow huge acceleration with your spacecraft without killing the crew. The idea is to accelerate the ship at huge levels, but subject the habitat module to an opposed gravitational force in order to counteract the harmful acceleration effects. Sounds simple but as always the devil is in the detail.

The spine of the ship is the "stick." It is 250 meters long and 4 meters in diameter. The combined hab and payload module is threaded on the spine. The module can move along the spine.

The "carrot" part is where the fun begins. It is a disk one hundred meters in diameter and one meter thick. It is composed of electromagnetically stablized compressed matter, with a whopping density of 1,170 tons per cubic centimeter. Less dense than a neutron star, but only just. Mass of the disk is about 9.2×1012 tons, a bit over the mass of Mount Everest.

If you were sitting right in the center of the disk you'd experience exactly 50 gees of gravity and would quickly die. If you were 246 meters away from the disk you'd experience exactly one gee of gravity, due to the distance. This is why the spine is 250 meters long.

The point is: by moving the hab module along the spine, you can alter the gravity it experiences from the disk over a range of 1 to 50 gees.

The ship uses a disk instead of a sphere in order to make the lines of gravitation approximately parallel to the spine, instead of converging to the center of the dense sphere. The tidal forces are about one gee per meter, which isn't much of a problem.

Finally, on the rim of the gravity disk you mount unreasonably strong rocket engines that are powered by a virtually infinite power source. Something that can accelerate a disk of solid neutronium with a mass of Mount Everest at 50 gees for months at a time.

The arrangement is the disk at the top with the rockets firing downward (on the rim so the exhaust does not vaporize the hab module), the spine in the middle, and the hab module at the bottom.

So say you want to crank up the ship so it is accelerating at 32 gees. About the level that will break the crew's bones in five minutes. The rocket engines are gradually throttled up to 32 gees. The crew experiences a rocket acceleration of 32 gees downward, because the rockets accelerate the gravity disk, which tugs on the spine, which tugs on the hab module.

Meanwhile the hab module is moved so it is about 20 meters from the gravity disk. There the crew experiences a gravitational acceleration of 33 gees upward. So 32 gees of rocket acceleration downward plus 33 gees of gravitational acceleration upwards means the crew feels a comfy one gee upward. This is why it is called the "balanced drive."

Naturally you'll need some kind of fail-safe to rapidly move the hab module if the engines fail. The gravity disk can kill you with acceleration just as easily as the rocket engines.

MOMENT OF INERTIA

When the ship was explained to me, I decided that McAndrew didn't really see round corners when he thought. It was just that things were obvious to him before they were explained, and obvious to other people afterwards. I had been saying "inertia-less" to Mac, and he had been just as often saying "impossible." But we hadn't been communicating very well. All I wanted was a drive that would let us accelerate at multiple gees without flattening the passengers. To McAndrew, that was a simple requirement, one that he could easily satisfy—but there was no question of doing away with inertia, of passengers or ship. "Take it back to basics," said Wenig, when he was showing me how the Dotterel worked. "Remember the equivalence principle? That's at the heart of it. There is no way of distinguishing an accelerated motion from a gravitational field force, right?" I had no trouble with that. It was freshman physics. "Sure. You'd be flattened just as well in a really high gravity field as you would in a ship accelerating at fifty gee. But where does it get you?" "Imagine that you were standing on something with a hefty gravity field—Jupiter, say. You'd experience a downward force of about two and a half gee. Now suppose that somebody could accelerate Jupiter away from you, downwards, at two and a half gee. You'd fall towards it, but you'd never reach it—it would be accelerating at the same rate as you are. And you'd feel as though you were in free fall, but so far as the rest of the Universe is concerned you'd be accelerating at two and a half gee, same as Jupiter. That's what the equivalence principle is telling us, that acceleration and gravity can cancel out, if they're set up to be equal and opposite." As soon as you got used to Wenig's accent, he was easy to follow—I doubt if anybody could get into the Institute unless he was more than bright enough to explain concepts in easy terms. I nodded. "I can understand that easily enough. But you've just replaced one problem with a worse one. You can't find any drive in the Universe that could accelerate Jupiter at two and a half gee." "We cannot—not yet, at any rate. Luckily, we don't need to use Jupiter. We can do it with something a lot smaller, and a lot closer. Let's look at the Dotterel and the Merganser. At McAndrew's request I designed the mass element for both of them." He went across to the window that looked out from the inside of the Institute to raw space. The Dotterel was floating about ten kilometers away, close enough to see the main components. "See the plate on the bottom? It's a hundred meter diameter disk of compressed matter, electromagnetically stabilized and one meter thick. Density's about eleven hundred and seventy tons per cubic centimeter—pretty high, but nothing near as high as we've worked with here at the Institute. Less than you get in anything but the top couple of centimeters of a neutron star, and nowhere near approaching kernel densities. Now, if you were sitting right at the center of that disk, you'd experience a gravitational acceleration of fifty gee pulling you down to the disk. Tidal forces on you would be one gee per meter—not enough to trouble you. If you stayed on the axis of the disk, and moved away from it, you'd feel an attractive force of one gee when you were two hundred and forty-six meters from the center of the disk. See the column growing out from the disk? It's four meters across and two hundred and fifty meters long." I looked at it through the scope. The long central spike seemed to be completely featureless, a slim column of grey metal. "What's inside it?" "Mostly nothing." Wenig picked up a model of the Dotterel and cracked it open lengthwise, so that I could see the interior structure. "When the drives are off, the living-capsule is out here at the far end, two hundred and fifty meters from the dense disk. Gravity feels like one gee, toward the center of the disk. See the drives here, on the disk itself? They accelerate the whole thing away from the center column, so the disk stays flat and perpendicular to the motion. The bigger the acceleration that the drives produce, the closer to the disk we move the living-capsule up the central column here. We keep it so the total force in the capsule, gravity less acceleration, is always one gee, toward the disk." He slid the capsule along an electromechanical ladder closer to the disk. "It's easy to compute the right distance for any acceleration—the computer has it built-in, but you could do it by hand in a few minutes. When the drives are accelerating the whole thing at fourteen gee, the capsule is held a little less than fifty meters from the disk. I've been on a test run in the Merganser where we got up to almost twenty gee. Professor McAndrew intended to take it up to higher accelerations on this test. To accelerate at thirty-two gee, the capsule must be about twenty meters from the disk to keep effective gravity inside to one gee. The plan was to take the system all the way up to design maximum—fifty gee thrust acceleration, so that the passengers in the capsule would be right up against the disk, and feel as though they were in free fall. Gravity and thrust accelerations will exactly balance." I was getting goose bumps along the back of my neck. I knew the performance of the uncrewed med ships. They would zip you from inside the orbit of Mercury out to Pluto in a couple of days, standing start to standing finish. Once in a while you'd get a passenger on them—accident or suicide. The flattened thing that they unpacked at the other end showed what the human body thought of a hundred gee. "What would happen if the drives went off suddenly?" I said. "You mean when the capsule is up against the disk—at maximum thrust?" Wenig shook his head. "We designed a safeguard system to prevent that, even on the prototypes. If there were a sign of the drive cutting off, the capsule would be moved back up the column, away from the disk. The system for that is built-in."

☢    The Dotterel worked like a dream. At twenty gee acceleration relative to the Solar System, we didn't feel anything unusual at all. The disk pulled us towards it at twenty-one gee, the acceleration of the ship pulled us away from it at twenty gee, and we sat there in the middle at a snug and comfortable standard gravity. I couldn't even feel the tidal forces, though I knew they were there.

From MOMENT OF INERTIA by Charles Sheffield (1980)

Negative Matter Drive

The late Dr. Robert L. Forward was a real physicist whose life's work was gravity research. He invented the Forward Mass Detector and had 18 patents to his name, including the Statite. He was the science fiction writer's friend, writing fiction himself and producting research on juicy SF projects like time travel, negative matter, antimatter rockets, and interstellar laser sail starships.

This means all of his material is not science fiction. It is real. Unlike the carrot-on-a-stick drive, it will actually work. Which is disconcerting because the blasted thing is a reactionless drive, with all that implies. Including Burnside's Advice and your science fiction universe dealing with the implications of dirt-cheap planet-wrecking weapons.

His most accessable book on these topics is the collection of science essays Indistinguishable from Magic.

Given his life's work, he does have a few things to say on the topic of gravity.

This is not precisely a "carrot-on-a-stick" drive, but it does have a lot of similarities.

Safety tip: since it is possible to create a chunk of negative matter along with an equal mass of normal matter with no energy, the implication is that a piece of negative matter making contact with normal matter will result in both pieces annihilating each other. Unlike matter making contact with antimatter, no energy is released since no energy was needed to make them. The two chunks will dissolve each other until one or the other is consumed.

INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC

(ed note: This is not science fiction, it is reality)

Negative Matter

As unbelievable as these machines for controlling gravity might seem, they at least use a form of matter which we know exists, even if it is presently found only in the interiors of far distant stars. There are speculations that there might exist another type of matter. It has very strange properties. If it ever could be found or made, then a whole new era of gravity control would open up.

All the matter that we know of is the type called regular (positive) matter. Yet both the Newton and the Einstein Theories of Gravity allow the existence of an opposite form of matter, called negative matter. According to the theories of gravity and mechanics, an atom of negative matter would repel all other matter (including other atoms of negative matter).

Now, the first thing you should realize is that negative matter is not "antimatter". Antimatter is different from regular matter in its quantum mechanical properties, not its gravitational properties. Although it has yet to be proven experimentally, we are fairly sure that antimatter attracts other forms of matter, just like normal matter. Negative matter, however, would repel other forms of matter.

We do not know how to make negative matter. But when we do, we will discover that it will not cost us any energy to make that negative matter. Because the rest mass energy of a particle is proportional to its mass (E=mc2), the rest mass energy of a negative mass particle is negative! That means that if we always create equal amounts of positive and negative matter at the same time, it will cost us no net energy to do so! One can imagine a future scene in some huge laboratory, where great machines apply intense electric, magnetic, and gravitational forces to some microscopic point in empty space. The energy levels of the fields are raised higher and higher until the "nothing" itself is ripped apart into a ball of regular matter and an equal sized ball of negative matter, the whole process using no net energy except for the losses in the generating machines.

Once we have our negative matter, we can start using it to make antigravity machines. But we must be very careful how we handle the negative matter. Unlike a chunk of regular matter, which responds to your push by moving away, if you push on a chunk of negative mater, it will come toward you! (If by mistake, you pushed on some negative matter, and it started to move toward you, you must quickly run around behind it and give it a slap on the rear to bring it to a halt!)

Now that we have learned how to control our working material, the simplest antigravity machine that we can make is to form the negative matter into a dense disc and lay it on a good strong floor. If the disc is dense enough and thick enough, then the repulsive gravity field on both sides of the disc will be one Earth gravity. That negative gravity field from the disc would then cancel the gravity field of the Earth. In the region above the disc, the gravity attraction would be zero and you could float there in free fall. (and in a space ship in free fall, such a disc in the ceiling would provide Terra normal gravity by repelling you downward)

The negative gravitational field of negative matter can also be used for gravity propulsion. If you place a ball of very dense negative matter near a similar dense ball of regular matter (which is incidentally attached to your spaceship), you will find that the negative matter ball will repel the regular matter ball, which in turn will attract the negative matter ball. The two dense balls will start to move off in a straight line at a constantly increasing speed. The acceleration will be the strength of the gravitational attraction of one ball for the other, with the negative matter ball chasing after the positive matter ball and the positive matter ball carrying your spaceship along with it. (Question: how do you stop this when you've reached your destination?)

You might at first worry that I'm getting something for nothing. First there were two balls of matter, both standing still, with no kinetic energy. Then, after a while they are both moving off together at high speed with no propulsion energy being expended. You might think that would prove that negative matter is impossible, since it looks like the law of conservation of energy is being violated.

But if you look very closely, you will find that negative mass propulsion does not violate any laws of physics. It is true that the ball of regular mass gains speed and increases its kinetic energy [E=1/2(+m)v2], so it looks like it is getting energy out of nowhere. But while it is doing so, the ball of negative matter is gaining negative energy [E=1/2(-m)v2] and the total energy of the two masses is zero, just as it was when they were standing still. Thus, negative mass propulsion does not violate the law of conservation of energy.

By the same type of argument, you can also show that negative mass propulsion does not violate that other important law of physics, the law of conservation of momentum. For while the momentum of the positive ball of mass is increasing, the momentum of the negative ball of mass is decreasing, resulting in zero net momentum, even though the two balls started out standing still and now are moving off at high speeds.

So far as we know, negative matter doesn't exist. We don't know why it doesn't. After all, both the positive and negative forms of electricity exist, so why not the positive and negative forms of mass? Perhaps there is some yet unknown law of physics that prevents it from forming. But even if we can never obtain this indistinguishable from magic material, we can still devise ways to control gravity with just regular matter, if just work hard and use enough energy and intelligence.

From INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC by Robert Forward (1995)

TIMEMASTER

(ed note: Randy's asteroid prospectors discovered an alien creature, which they named the Silverhair. It is apparently composed of negative matter. And so it the "ball", which is basically Silverhair poop.) “ After I gave him all the facts and showed him some video segments, he conceded that maybe negative matter could exist after all. What really convinced him was the description of my injury, where the cut edges looked like a thin sliver of material had been evaporated.” “Why is that?” asked Randy. “Well, as Steve explains it, according to one theory, when negative matter touches normal matter, equal amounts vanish—nothing is left, not even energy. The process is called nullification. It’s like the annihilation of matter by antimatter, but in the nullification process, since the normal matter has positive rest mass and the negmatter has negative rest mass, the net rest mass is zero, so zero energy is released. That’s why we didn’t notice any radiation when the Silverhair and I collided.” “What else did Steve have to say?” asked Randy. “He told us to look for electric or magnetic fields around the Silverhair and the ball,” said Jim. “Negative-matter particles repel each other gravitationally, so they would normally tend to spread far apart from each other. But since the negative-matter particles in the Silverhair and the ball are jammed together at high density, there must be some other force field involved that holds them together.” Philippe spoke up. “Hiroshi found a very strong positive electric field associated with both the ball and the Silverhair. It’s as if the material were all made of particles with the same charge.” “Normally, particles of the same charge would repel each other and be pushed apart,” said Jim. “But according to Steve, when you attempt to repel a negative-matter particle, it responds in a perverse manner and comes toward you.” “That explains one thing,” said Randy. “Siritha noticed some static-cling effects of space dust on her helmet. But there was nothing large—no lightning bolts.” “Both the Silverhair and the ball rapidly develop a cloud of orbiting electrons around them,” said Philippe. “They must attract the negative electrons from the plasma in space while repelling the positive ions. The negative electric charge of the electron cloud cancels out the positive electric charge of the negative matter, unless, of course, you get inside the orbiting cloud of electrons and very close to the surface of the negative matter. Hiroshi got some good measurements of the electric field around the ball by enclosing it in a plastic container, sweeping up all the electrons near the ball with a grounded metallic plate, then making measurements inside the container while all the interfering electrons were forced to stay outside the container. We then did some experiments on the ball.” “What kind of experiments?” asked Randy, looking intently at Philippe. “Since the ball is charged,” Philippe answered, “it’s easy to push it by charging up a metal plate placed near it. Of course, being negative matter, when you push it, it comes toward you.” “That can get dangerous, said Jim, holding up his cast. “If it gets too close, you get nullified.” “In the experiment Hiroshi did,” Philippe went on, “he used a metal plate with a negative electric charge so it would attract the positive electric charge of the ball. The ball pulled away in the opposite direction, pulling the test apparatus, the power supply, and Hiroshi along with it. When Hiroshi saw what was happening, he quickly turned the field off. He then had to reverse the field and push on the ball for a while to bring it to a halt again.” “It was just as Steve predicted,” said Jim in awe. “A true reactionless space drive.” “A space drive?” exclaimed Randy in amazement. “That is correct,” said Philippe, his voice deepening as his face turned deadly serious. “When that ball of negative matter was pulling Hiroshi and his test apparatus along, there was nothing going in the opposite direction. There was no reaction mass and no energy source involved, but they moved nevertheless. That means a large enough negative-matter ball electrostatically coupled to a positive-matter spacecraft can propel the spacecraft at any acceleration the crew can stand for as long as you want. Flight to the stars at near light speed is no longer a dream. . .”    When the enormity of the finding hit Randy, a broad smile spread across his face. An interstellar space drive! He had dreamed of exploring the stars and now his dream, could come true! He leaned forward over the table, eyes on Philippe. “What are the limitations?” he asked, knowing there must be some. “The mass of the negative matter must be exactly equal and opposite to the positive mass of the spacecraft,” said Philippe. “If it isn’t, then the separation distance between the mass and the spacecraft will change with time. If it gets too close, you risk nullification. If it gets too far away, you risk losing it.” “You have to control the mass of one or the other, then,” mused Randy. “Not easy.” He thought some more. “Didn’t you say the silver ball has a mass of ten tons?” “Yes,” said Philippe. “A negative ten tons.” “Then that one ball can drive a ten-ton spacecraft. Do you think you could arrange for a demonstration using one of the prospector flitters? They mass around ten tons.” “Perhaps,” said Philippe, thinking. His finger rose to feel the mustache under his nose, then followed it across his face and up over his ear as he thought further about the idea. “Yes,” he said finally. “Do it!” said Randy. “I’m going to get some breakfast and then go hack out to see the Silverhair. I wonder if Bob can get it to lay more of those silver eggs.” “Careful,” warned Philippe. “Don’t kill the goose ...”

(ed note: since the "eggs" are Silverhair poop, Randy now has access to a steady supply of negative matter)

☢    A week later, Philippe took Randy to the hangar cavity on the other side of Hygiea. “We’ve installed the negmatter drive in the hold,” said Philippe, leading the way as he and Randy floated in through the cargo, door in their space suits. “Right at the center-of-mass of the ship.” In the center of the cargo bay was a large, cubical metal box nearly twice as tall as Randy. Surrounding the box were some large power supplies. A technician was tying up some stray wires. “Is the negmatter ball in there?” asked Randy. “Ready to go,” said Philippe. “All six high-voltage supplies are operating and pushing on the ball equally from all directions. In the control room is a three-axis maglev joyball just like the ones that are used in the drop capsules on the rotovators. You push the ball forward, the fore and aft power supplies change their voltages, the negmatter ball gets pushed in the backward direction, and it responds by moving in the forward direction, pushing the spacecraft ahead of it. If you want to go sideways or vertically, just move the ball in that direction and the power supplies for those axes will respond.”

☢    “Don’t want to get out of sight of the base,” said Randy, he pulled the joyball to one side to bring them around in a large circle. “We’re going sideways!” he complained. “With only one ball of negmatter, I was unable to obtain any torque control,” said Hiroshi. “l’ll fix that,” said Bob, firing some attitude rockets and tuming the ship around so that it faced in the direction it was traveling. “You just do what you want with the drive controls; boy-boss, and granddaddy Bob will follow your every move and keep us lined up with the straight and narrow.” After Randy and Bob had completed a few more practice turns, a warning chime carne from the engineering console in front of Hiroshi. Randy instinctively pulled back on the joyball until they were once again in free-fall. “ls there a problem?” he asked apprehensively. “The ball of negative matter is starting to drift away from the center of the drive control box,” reported Hiroshi. “As Bob uses fuel to control our orientation, the mass of the spacecraft slowly decreases.” “Too bad we can’t control the mass of the ship” said Randy. “There is a way to do that,” said Hiroshi. “But I didn’t include that feature in this first design.” “In that case,” said Randy, pushing forward on the controls again, “let’s head for base and rework the drive. I want to go back to Earth in style!”

☢    “Hiroshi’s new six-degree-of-freedom negmatter drive is pretty complicated,” said Philippe. “It has linear drive and torque control in all three axes. For control of the ship’s mass, the hull is covered with activated metal foam that absorbs and holds on to any gas or dust that strikes it. With a constant flow of positive matter coming in, we can afford to shoot propellant out from ion engines to provide mass trim and drag makeup.” “lt’s amazing how fast Hiroshi and the rest of your techs solved the engineering problems of coping with negmatter,” said Randy. “Since the negmatter is electrically charged, it turned out to be easy,” said Philippe. “You use radio fields to make the balls vibrate. If you vibrate them at just the right frequency, you can make them break into two, three, or four pieces, or even spit out little droplets.” “Glop those small pieces together and you can make any-sized ball you want,” said Randy. “I still think it’s amazing. ”...     “You sure are a lucky bastard, Randy,” started Steve. “One little find, and you end up owning a spacewarp, a reactionless space drive, and a nearly infinite source of free energy.” “Free energy?” Randy repeated, a little taken aback. “Yep,” said Steve. “When negative matter and positive matter interact through long-distance forces, the negative matter gains negative kinetic energy, while the positive matter gains positive kinetic energy. Take a drop of highly charged negative matter, push on it with electric fields until it is going at nearly the speed of light, and in return you get electrical energy back. The only limit on the amount of energy you can get is how close to the speed of light you can push the negative matter before losing control of it.” “That could cause a serious hazard,” said Randy. “The whole solar system contaminated with high-speed negative-matter particles.” “Simple solution,” replied Steve. “Just direct the high-speed negative matter into a beam stop. Generic dirt will do. The negmatter with all its negative kinetic energy will just disappear when it hits the dirt and nullifies.” “Hmmm,” said Randy. “Looks like I had better start an energy production division.”

(ed note: and you know that eventually somebody is going to weaponize this. Disintegrator ray or what?)

From TIMEMASTER by Robert Forward (1992)

NEGABOMB

artwork by Hubert Rogers

(ed note: the dreaded negaspheres and negabombs from E. E. "Doc" Smith's LENSMAN series are apparently antimatter, but in some respects they act like negative matter) This was sheerest exaggeration, of course, for nothing could have kept the Lensman from watching the construction of that first apparatus. He watched the erection of a spherical shell of loosely latticed truss-work some twenty feet in diameter. He watched the installation, at its six cardinal points, of atomic exciters, each capable of transforming ten thousand pounds per hour of substance into pure energy. He knew that those exciters were driving their intake screens at a ratio of at least twenty thousand to one; that energy equivalent to the annihilation of at least six hundred thousand tons per hour of material was being hurled into the center of that web from the six small mechanisms which were in fact super-Bergenholms. Nor is that word adequate to describe them; their fabrication would have been utterly impossible without Medonian conductors and insulation. "But I want to see it work, you big lug!" Kinnison retorted, only half playfully. "Come back in three-four days—maybe a week; but don't expect to see anything but a hole." "That's exactly what I want to see, a hole in space," and that was precisely what, a few days later, the Lensman did see. The spherical framework was unchanged, the machines were still carrying easily their incredible working load. Material—any and all kinds of stuff—was still disappearing; instantaneously, invisibly, quietly, with no flash or fury to mark its passing. But at the center of that massive sphere there now hung poised a… a something. Or was it a nothing? Mathematically, it was a sphere, or rather a negasphere, about the size of a baseball; but the eye, while it could see something, could not perceive it analytically. Nor could the mind envision it in three dimensions, for it was not essentially three-dimensional in nature. Light sank into the thing, whatever it was, and vanished. The peering eye could see nothing whatever of shape or of texture; the mind behind the eye reeled away before infinite vistas of nothingness.

☢    The master technician had cut his controls and every pound of metal and other substance surrounding the negasphere had fallen into that enigmatic realm of nothingness. No connection or contact with it was now possible; and with its carefully established intrinsic velocity it rushed engulfingly toward the doomed planet One of the mastodonic fortresses, lying in its path, vanished utterly, with nothing save a burst of invisible cosmics to mark its passing. It approached its goal. It was almost upon it before any of the defenders perceived it, and even then they could neither understand nor grasp it. All detectors and other warning devices remained static, but… Gigantic pressors shoved against it: beams of power sufficient to deflect a satellite; beams whose projectors were braced, in steel-laced concrete down to bedrock, against any conceivable thrust. But this was negative, not positive matter—matter negative in every respect of mass, inertia, and force. To it a push was a pull. Pressors to it were tractors—at contact they pulled themselves up off their massive foundations and hurtled into the appalling blackness. Then the negasphere struck. Or did it? Can nothing strike anything? It would be better, perhaps, to say that the spherical hyper-plane which was the three-dimensional cross-section of the negasphere began to occupy the same volume of space as that in which Jalte's unfortunate world already was. And at the surface of contact of the two the materials of both disappeared. The substance of the planet vanished, the incomprehensible nothingness of the negasphere faded away into the ordinary vacuity of empty space. Jalte's base, the whole three hundred square miles of it, was taken at the first gulp. A vast pit opened where it had been, a hole which deepened and widened with horrifying rapidity. And as the yawning abyss enlarged itself the stuff of the planet fell into it, in turn to vanish. Mountains tumbled into it, oceans dumped themselves into it. The hot, frightfully compressed and nascent material of the planet's core sought to erupt—but instead of moving, it, too, vanished. Vast areas of the world's surface crust, tens of thousands of square miles in extent, collapsed into it, splitting off along crevasses of appalling depth, and became nothing. The stricken globe shuddered, trembled, ground itself to bits in paroxysm after ghastly paroxysm of disintegration. GRAY LENSMAN by E. E. "Doc" Smith (1939)

☢    Haynes assembled Grand Fleet. Then, while the two black speedsters kept unobtrusively on with the task of plotting the line, Civilization's mighty armada moved a few thousand parsecs aside and headed at normal touring blast for the nearest outcropping of the Second Galaxy. There was nothing of stealth in this maneuver, nothing of finesse, excepting in the arrangements of the units. First, far in the van, flew the prodigious, irregular cone of scout cruisers. They were comparatively small, not heavily armed or armored, but they were ultra-fast and were provided with the most powerful detectors, spotters, and locators known. They adhered to no rigid formation, but at the will of their individual commanders, under the direct supervision of Grand Fleet Operations in the Z9M9Z, flashed hither and thither ceaselessly—searching, investigating, mapping, reporting. Backing them up came the light cruisers and the cruising bombers—a new type, this latter, designed primarily to bore in to close quarters and to hurl bombs of negative matter. Third in order were the heavy defensive cruisers. These ships had been developed specifically for hunting down Boskonian commerce raiders within the galaxy. They wore practically impenetrable screen, so that they could lock to and hold even a super-dreadnought. They had never before been used in Grand Fleet formation; but since they were now equipped with tractor zones and bomb-tubes, theoretical strategy found a good use for them in this particular place. Next came the real war-head—a solidly packed phalanx of maulers. All the ships up ahead had, although in varying degrees, freedom of motion and of action. The scouts had practically nothing else; fighting was not their business. They could fight, a little, if they had to; but they always ran away if they could, in whatever direction was most expedient at the time. The cruising bombers could either take their fighting or leave it alone, depending upon circumstances—in other words, they fought light cruisers, but ran away from big stuff, stinging as they ran. The heavy cruisers would fight anything short of a mauler, but never in formation: they always broke ranks and fought individual dog-fights, ship to ship. But that terrific spear-head of maulers had no freedom of motion whatever. If knew only one direction—straight ahead. It would swerve aside for an inert planet, but for nothing smaller; and when it swerved it did so as a whole, not by parts. Its function was to blast through—straight through—any possible opposition, if and when that opposition should have been successful in destroying or dispersing the screens of lesser vessels preceding it. A sunbeam was the only conceivable weapon with which that stolid, power-packed mass of metal could not cope; and, the Patrolmen devoutly hoped, the zwilniks didn't have any sunbeams—yet. A similar formation of equally capable maulers, meeting it head-on, could break it up, of course. Theoretical results and war-game solutions of this problem did not agree, either with each other or among themselves, and the thing had never been put to the trial of actual battle. Only one thing was certain—when and if that trial did come there was bound to be, as in the case of the fabled meeting of the irresistible force with the immovable object, a lot of very interesting by-products. Flanking the maulers, streaming gracefully backward from their massed might in a parabolic cone, were arranged the heavy battleships and the super- dreadnoughts; and directly behind the bulwark of flying fortresses, tucked away inside the protecting envelope of big battle-wagons, floated the Z9M9Z—the brains of the whole outfit. There were no free planets, no negaspheres of planetary anti-mass, no sunbeams. Such things were useful either, hi the defense of a Prime Base or for an all-out, ruthlessly destructive attack upon such a base. Those slow, cumbersome, supremely powerful weapons would come later, after the Patrol had selected the planet which they intended to hold against everything the Boskonians could muster. This present expedition had as yet no planet to defend, it sought no planet to destroy. It was the vanguard of Civilization, seeking a suitable foothold hi the Second Galaxy and thoroughly well equipped to argue with any force mobile enough to bar its way.

☢    And the Patrol's psychologists had had ideas, based upon facts which they had gathered from Kinnison and from Illona and from many spools of tape—ideas by virtue of which it was eminently possible that the conventional light cruisers of Civilization, with their heavier screen and more and hotter beams, could vanquish the light cruisers of the foe, even though they should turn out to be negative-matter bombers. Hence the fifty-fifty division of types; but, since Haynes was not thoroughly sold upon either the psychologists or their ideas, the commanders of his standard light cruisers had received very explicit and definite orders. If the Boskonians should have negabombs and if the high-brows' idea did not pan out, they were to turn tail and run, at maximum and without stopping to ask questions or to get additional instructions. Haynes had not really believed that the enemy would have negabombs, they were so new and so atrociously difficult to handle. He wanted—but was unable—to believe implicitly in the psychologist's findings. Therefore, as soon as he saw what was happening, he abandoned his tank for a moment to seize a plate and get into full touch with the control room of one of the conventional light cruisers then going into action. He watched it drive boldly toward a Boskonian vessel which was in the act of throwing bombs. He saw that the agile little vessel's tractor zone was out. He watched the bombs strike that zone and bounce. He watched the tractor-men go to work and he saw the psychologists' idea bear splendid fruit. For what followed was a triumph, not of brute force and striking power, but of morale and manhood. The brain-men bad said, and it was now proved, that the Boskonian gunners, low-class as they were and driven to their tasks like the slaves they were, would hesitate long enough before using tractor- beams as pressors so that the Patrolmen could take their own bombs away from them! For negative matter, it must be remembered, is the exact opposite of ordinary matter. To it a pull is, or becomes, a push; the tractor beam which pulls ordinary matter toward its projector actually pushed negative matter away. The "boys" of the Patrol knew that fact thoroughly. They knew all about what they were doing, and why. They were there because they wanted to be, as Illona had so astoundingly found out, and they worked with their officers, not because of them. With the Patrol's gun-crews it was a race to see which crew could capture the first bomb and the most. Aboard the Boskonian how different it was! There the dumb cattle had been told what to do, but not why. They did not know the fundamental mechanics of the bomb-tubes they operated by rote; did not know that they were essentially tractor-beam projectors. They did know, however, that tractor beams pulled things toward them; and when they were ordered to swing their ordinary tractors upon the bombs which the Patrolmen were so industriously taking away from them, they hesitated for seconds, even under the lash. This hesitation was fatal. Haynes' gleeful gunners, staring through their special finders, were very much on their toes; seconds were enough. Their fierce-driven tractors seized the inimical bombs in mid-space, and before the Boskonians could be made to act in the only possible opposition hurled them directly backward against the ships which had issued them. Ordinary defensive screen did not affect them; repulsor screen, meteorite—and wall-shields only sucked them inward the faster. And ordinary matter and negative matter cannot exist in contact. In the instant of touching, the two unite and disappear, giving rise to vast quantities of intensely hard radiation. One negabomb was enough to put any cruiser out of action, but here there were usually three or four at once. Sometimes as many as ten; enough almost, to consume the total mass of a ship. A bomb struck; ate in. Through solid armor it melted. Atmosphere rushed out, to disappear en route—for air is normal matter. Along beams and trusses the hellish hyper-sphere travelled freakishly, although usually in the direction of greatest mass. It clung, greedily. Down stanchions it flowed; leaving nothing in its wake, flooding all circumambient space with lethal emanations. Into and through converters. Into pressure tanks, which blew up enthusiastically. Men's bodies it did not seem to favor—not massive enough, perhaps—but even them it did not refuse if offered. A Boskonian, gasping frantically for air which was no longer there and already half mad, went completely mad as he struck savagely at the thing and saw his hand and his arm to the shoulder vanish instantaneously, as though they had never been.

SECOND STAGE LENSMAN by E. E. "Doc" Smith (1941)

From the LENSMAN SERIES by E. E. "Doc" Smith

☢

LATE BREAKING NEWS

A new theory brings up the possibility that negative matter actually exists. Which means that Timemaster might be science-fact, not science-fiction.

☢

Astronomers can observe objects like stars and calculate gravitational effects. Then they ran into some serious anomalies. The main one was that the galaxies as observed cannot exist. Their mass can be calculated by counting the stars and nebula. The problem is that there is not enough mass to keep the galaxies from flying apart into individual stars. The secondary problem is sightings of gravitational lenses. Blasted galaxies did not have enough mass to cause the degree of lensing observed.

So there has to be some matter in galaxies that cannot be observed. This was given the unoriginal name of Dark Matter. There is a lot of it, too, about 85% of the matter in the entire universe is dark matter.

Meanwhile there was a totally different anomaly. The universe was created in the Big Bang. Everything in the universe is flying apart from the explosion. Now, the universe might have enough matter with enough gravitational attraction to halt the universe's expansion and cause it to halt and start contracting. Otherwise the expansion will just slow down as time goes by.

Astronomers were nonplussed to discover that the rate of expansion was accelerating. This was impossible.

The cause is unknown, but was given the unoriginal name of Dark Energy just so it could have a label.

☢

There have been many different theories proposed to explain dark matter and dark energy, but none of them have gained enough evidence to survive the scientific method.

Some researchers drew inspiration from Occam's razor. They realized that things would be more Occam-like if dark matter and dark energy were two aspects of the same thing. Then you would have just one mysterious force to deal with, instead of two.

Some tried to explain the anomalies of both spinning galaxies and accelerating expansion by saying it wasn't the matter that was the problem, it was the theory of gravitational motion that was at fault. This Modified Newtonian dynamics family of theories. This was more or less discredited by the observations of the Bullet Cluster. Can't be predicted by MOND, but can be by some kind of weird dark matter.

So the other alternative to getting more Occam into the theory is to postulate that both dark matter and dark energy are two aspects of the same stuff. This is the Dark Fluid theory.

☢

To cut to the chase, dark fluid appears to be Negative Matter.

Dr. Jamie Farnes from the Oxford e-Research Centre has formulated a theory of dark fluid, and one of the requirements is that dark fluid have the properies of negative matter. Just what we need for a negative matter drive.

☢

And to add to the fun, remember that in 1994 physicist Miguel Alcubierre crafted a scientific theory specifically to act like the famous "warp drive" from Star Trek, the Alcubierre drive. It is a pity it cannot be made. Among other things is requires something called "negative matter." Oh, wait!

DARK FLUID

Dark matter map of KiDS survey region (region G12). Credit: KiDS survey

Scientists at the University of Oxford may have solved one of the biggest questions in modern physics, with a new paper unifying dark matter and dark energy into a single phenomenon: a fluid which possesses 'negative mass." If you were to push a negative mass, it would accelerate towards you. This astonishing new theory may also prove right a prediction that Einstein made 100 years ago.    Our current, widely recognised model of the Universe, called LambdaCDM, tells us nothing about what dark matter and dark energy are like physically. We only know about them because of the gravitational effects they have on other, observable matter.     This new model, published today in Astronomy and Astrophysics, by Dr. Jamie Farnes from the Oxford e-Research Centre, Department of Engineering Science, offers a new explanation. Dr. Farnes says: "We now think that both dark matter and dark energy can be unified into a fluid which possesses a type of 'negative gravity," repelling all other material around them. Although this matter is peculiar to us, it suggests that our cosmos is symmetrical in both positive and negative qualities."    The existence of negative matter had previously been ruled out as it was thought this material would become less dense as the Universe expands, which runs contrary to our observations that show dark energy does not thin out over time. However, Dr. Farnes' research applies a 'creation tensor," which allows for negative masses to be continuously created. It demonstrates that when more and more negative masses are continually bursting into existence, this negative mass fluid does not dilute during the expansion of the cosmos. In fact, the fluid appears to be identical to dark energy. Dr. Farnes's theory also provides the first correct predictions of the behaviour of dark matter halos. Most galaxies are rotating so rapidly they should be tearing themselves apart, which suggests that an invisible 'halo' of dark matter must be holding them together. The new research published today features a computer simulation of the properties of negative mass, which predicts the formation of dark matter halos just like the ones inferred by observations using modern radio telescopes. Albert Einstein provided the first hint of the dark universe exactly 100 years ago, when he discovered a parameter in his equations known as the 'cosmological constant," which we now know to be synonymous with dark energy. Einstein famously called the cosmological constant his 'biggest blunder," although modern astrophysical observations prove that it is a real phenomenon. In notes dating back to 1918, Einstein described his cosmological constant, writing that 'a modification of the theory is required such that "empty space" takes the role of gravitating negative masses which are distributed all over the interstellar space." It is therefore possible that Einstein himself predicted a negative-mass-filled universe.    Dr. Farnes says: "Previous approaches to combining dark energy and dark matter have attempted to modify Einstein's theory of general relativity, which has turned out to be incredibly challenging. This new approach takes two old ideas that are known to be compatible with Einstein's theory—negative masses and matter creation—and combines them together. "The outcome seems rather beautiful: dark energy and dark matter can be unified into a single substance, with both effects being simply explainable as positive mass matter surfing on a sea of negative masses." Proof of Dr. Farnes's theory will come from tests performed with a cutting-edge radio telescope known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international endeavour to build the world's largest telescope in which the University of Oxford is collaborating. Dr. Farnes adds: "There are still many theoretical issues and computational simulations to work through, and LambdaCDM has a nearly 30 year head start, but I'm looking forward to seeing whether this new extended version of LambdaCDM can accurately match other observational evidence of our cosmology. If real, it would suggest that the missing 95% of the cosmos had an aesthetic solution: we had forgotten to include a simple minus sign."

From BRINGING BALANCE TO THE UNIVERSE (2018)

BIZARRE ‘DARK FLUID’ WITH NEGATIVE MASS

It’s embarrassing, but astrophysicists are the first to admit it. Our best theoretical model can only explain 5% of the universe. The remaining 95% is famously made up almost entirely of invisible, unknown material dubbed dark energy and dark matter. So even though there are a billion trillion stars in the observable universe, they are actually extremely rare.

The two mysterious dark substances can only be inferred from gravitational effects. Dark matter may be an invisible material, but it exerts a gravitational force on surrounding matter that we can measure. Dark energy is a repulsive force that makes the universe expand at an accelerating rate. The two have always been treated as separate phenomena. But my new study, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, suggests they may both be part of the same strange concept – a single, unified “dark fluid” of negative masses.

Negative masses are a hypothetical form of matter that would have a type of negative gravity – repelling all other material around them. Unlike familiar positive mass matter, if a negative mass was pushed, it would accelerate towards you rather than away from you.

Negative masses are not a new idea in cosmology. Just like normal matter, negative mass particles would become more spread out as the universe expands – meaning that their repulsive force would become weaker over time. However, studies have shown that the force driving the accelerating expansion of the universe is relentlessly constant. This inconsistency has previously led researchers to abandon this idea. If a dark fluid exists, it should not thin out over time.

In the new study, I propose a modification to Einstein’s theory of general relativity to allow negative masses to not only exist, but to be created continuously. “Matter creation” was already included in an early alternative theory to the Big Bang, known as the Steady State model. The main assumption was that (positive mass) matter was continuously created to replenish material as the universe expands. We now know from observational evidence that this is incorrect. However, that doesn’t mean that negative mass matter can’t be continuously created. I show that this assumed dark fluid is never spread too thinly. Instead it behaves exactly like dark energy.

Video Clip "Simulation of a Forming Dark Matter Halo" click to play video

I also developed a 3D computer model of this hypothetical universe to see if it could also explain the physical nature of dark matter. Dark matter was introduced to explain the fact that galaxies are spinning much faster than our models predict. This implies that some additional invisible matter must be present to prevent them from spinning themselves apart.

My model shows that the surrounding repulsive force from dark fluid can also hold a galaxy together. The gravity from the positive mass galaxy attracts negative masses from all directions, and as the negative mass fluid comes nearer to the galaxy it in turn exerts a stronger repulsive force onto the galaxy that allows it to spin at higher speeds without flying apart. It therefore appears that a simple minus sign may solve one of the longest standing problems in physics.

Is the universe really this weird?

One may argue that this sounds a little far fetched. But while negative masses are bizarre, they are considerably less strange than you may immediately think. For starters, these effects may only seem peculiar and unfamiliar to us, as we reside in a region dominated by positive mass.

Whether physically real or not, negative masses already have a theoretical role in a vast number of areas. Air bubbles in water can be modelled as having a negative mass. Recent laboratory research has also generated particles that behave exactly as they would if they had negative mass.

And physicists are already comfortable with the concept of negative energy density. According to quantum mechanics, empty space is made up of a field of fluctuating background energy that can be negative in places – giving rise to waves and virtual particles that pop into and out of existence. This can even create a tiny force that can be measured in the lab.

The new study could help solve many problems in modern physics. String theory, which is our best hope for unifying the physics of the quantum world with Einstein’s theory of the cosmos, is currently seen as being incompatible with observational evidence. However, string theory does suggest that the energy in empty space must be negative, which corroborates the theoretical expectations for a negative mass dark fluid.

Moreover, the team behind the groundbreaking discovery of an accelerating universe surprisingly detected evidence for a negative mass cosmology, but took the reasonable precaution of interpreting these controversial findings as “unphysical”.

The theory could also solve the problem of measuring the universe’s expansion. This is explained by the Hubble-Lemaître Law, the observation that more distant galaxies are moving away at a faster rate. The relationship between the speed and the distance of a galaxy is set by the “Hubble constant”, but measurements of it have continued to vary. This has led to a crisis in cosmology. Fortunately, a negative mass cosmology mathematically predicts that the Hubble “constant” should vary over time. Clearly, there is evidence that this weird and unconventional new theory deserves our scientific attention.

Where to go from here

The creator of the field of cosmology, Albert Einstein, did – along with other scientists including Stephen Hawking – consider negative masses. In fact, in 1918 Einstein even wrote that his theory of general relativity may have to be modified to include them.

Despite these efforts, a negative mass cosmology could be wrong. The theory seems to provide answers to so many currently open questions that scientists will – quite rightly – be rather suspicious. However, it is often the out-of-the-box ideas that provide answers to longstanding problems. The strong accumulating evidence has now grown to the point that we must consider this unusual possibility.

The largest telescope to ever be built – the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – will measure the distribution of galaxies throughout the history of the universe. I’m planning to use the SKA to compare its observations to theoretical predictions for both a negative mass cosmology and the standard one – helping to ultimately prove whether negative masses exist in our reality.

The Square Kilometre Array may provide answers. SKA Project Development Office and Swinburne Astronomy Productions, CC BY-SA

What is clear is that this new theory generates a wealth of new questions. So as with all scientific discoveries, the adventure does not end here. In fact, the quest to understand the true nature of this beautiful, unified, and – perhaps polarised – universe has only just begun.

From BIZARRE ‘DARK FLUID’ WITH NEGATIVE MASS COULD DOMINATE THE UNIVERSE – WHAT MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS by Jamie Farnes (2018)

COLD WATER

The problem I've always had with negative matter is that if it interacted with anything at all, you would get a runaway instability. Say, for example, that the negative stuff interacted with light. Instead of absorbing light, it would amplify it, leading to an exponential runaway light intensity while simultaneously increasing the temperature of the negative stuff. So bad news.

But — this is "dark" matter and energy. It doesn't interact with anything that we know of (except gravity, which might give us some loopholes). So who knows, maybe it would work.

And it seems like one of those "HA HA YOU CAN'T HAVE IT" moments for us sci fi fans. We get the negative matter needed to make wormholes or warp drives or whatever, but we can't possibly interact with it in any way. Sob.

From Dr. Luke Campbell (2018)

The Altar On Asconel

HAND-TO-HAND ANTIGRAVITY

artwork by Paul Lehr

No, rational thought was beyond him at the moment. Wait till the drive settled down to free-space operation—that would be soon enough to solve the riddle. He (Spartak) was on the point of returning to his cabin when he heard the cry.

"Spa-ar-tak!"

And the drive went off. The shock was like a dash of cold water, clearing the fog from his brain. With reflex speed he made for the companionway, scrambling up it with the agility of a Sirian ape. The shock was renewed as soon as he saw what was happening in the control room. It was no girl that he had glimpsed passing this way. It was a man, huge and bulky as a Thanis bull, his hair wild, his body cased in crude leather harness and his feet in steel-tipped boots, who now was wrestling chest-to-chest with the tough but far smaller Vix (Spartak's brother), overbearing the redhead in a crushing embrace. Vix tried to butt him on the nose, failed as the attacker jerked his head back, lost his balance to one of the steel-tipped boots as it cracked against his ankle, and went slamming down to the floor. He had had no time to draw his sidearms, obviously—perhaps he'd mistaken the sound of the stranger's approach for Spartak's—but he'd done well in the first instance, for a short sword lay at the foot of the control board: his assailant's, logically, which he had somehow contrived to dash from his grip. Horrified, Spartak saw the two antagonists crash to their full length, saw the stranger break Vix's grasp on his right wrist and force his hand closer and closer to the redhead's throat. Wild pleading showed in the green eyes, but there was no breath available for him to call for aid again.

To renounce his oath so soon? (Spartak had taken an oath of non-violence) To pick up the sword from the floor and drive it into the stranger's back? It could be done, but— And then he remembered, as clearly as if he were hearing it in present time, the voice of one of his earliest tutors on Annanworld. “Always bear in mind that the need for violence is an illusion. If it seems that violence is unavoidable, what this means is that you've left the problem too late before starting to tackle it."

Spartak dodged the struggling men and made for the control board. As he scanned the totally unfamiliar switches, he heard a sobbing cry from Vix—“Spartak, Spartak, he's going to strangle me!"    Time seemed to plod by for him, while racing at top speed for his brother. But at last he thought he had it. He put one hand on the back of the pilot chair, and with the other slammed a switch over past its neutral point to the opposite extreme of its traverse.     Instantly he went head over heels. But he was prepared for this; in effect, he fell to the ceiling like a gymnast turning a somersault, and landed on his feet with a jar that shook him clear to the hips. The universe rolled insanely around him, and through a swirling mist of giddiness he saw that what he had intended had indeed come about. Locked in their muscle-straining embrace, Vix and the unknown had crashed ten feet to the ceiling as the gravity reversed, and now Vix was on top—and breaking free! For the force of the upside-down fall had completely stunned the stranger. Spartak reached out, clutching Vix by the loose baldric on which he normally slung his energy-gun, and reversed the gravity once more, restoring its normal direction. The attacker slammed to the floor again while he and Vix fell rather less awkwardly; this time, he moved the switch with careful slowness, not exceeding a quarter-gravity till he felt his soles touch the floor.

And then he said, “Who is he?” “I—I—" Vix put his hands to his temples and pressed, breathing in enormous sobbing gasps. “What did you do?" “I put the gravity over to full negative."    “But—" Vix began to recover. “But—how? Do you know these ships, then?"    “No, I've never seen one before. But it followed logically. There's always an automatic gravity compensator on a starship, for high-gee maneuvering in normal space, and it seemed reasonable to expect a manual over-ride on a vessel like this which might get damaged during combat.”     “You mean you just took a chance on it, while he was throttling the life out of me?" Vix exploded. Clearly the redhead had suffered one of the worst frights of his life. Spartak hesitated.

From THE ALTAR ON ASCONEL by John Brunner (1965)

Star Surgeon

RATTLER 1

By the fourth day the attack showed no signs of diminishing. The rattlers on the outer hull were going almost constantly, their power drain making the lights flicker.

The principle which furnished artificial gravity for the floor and compensated for the killing accelerations used by the ships also lay behind the weapons of both sides — the repulsion screen, originally a meteor protection device, the tractor and pressor beams, and the rattler which was a combination of both. The rattler pushed and pulled — vibrated — depending on how narrowly it was focused, at up to eighty Gs. A push of eighty gravities then a pull of eighty gravities, several times a minute. Naturally it was not always focused accurately on target, both ships were moving and taking counter-measures, but it was still tight enough to tear the plating off a hull or, in the case of a small ship, to shake it until the men inside rattled.

There was no fine diagnostic skill required in the treatment of these rattled men. It was all too plain that they suffered from multiple and complicated fractures, some of them of nearly every bone in their bodies. Many times when he had to cut one of the smashed bodies out of its suit Conway wanted to yell at the men who had brought it in, "What do you expect me to do with this. . ."

But this was alive, and as a doctor he was supposed to do everything possible to make it stay that way.

From STAR SURGEON by James White (1963)

RATTLER 2

The main screen showed a line of heavy cruisers playing ponderous follow-the-leader along the first section of the incision, rattlers probing deep while their pressers held the edges of the wound apart to allow deeper penetration by the next ship in line. Like all of the Emperor class ships they were capable of delivering a wide variety of frightfulness in very accurately metered doses, from putting a few streets full of rioters to sleep to dispensing atomic annihilation on a continental scale. The Monitor Corps rarely allowed any situation to deteriorate to the point where the use of mass destruction weapons became the only solution, but they kept them as a big and potent stick — like most policemen, the Federation's law-enforcement arm knew that an undrawn baton had better and more long-lasting effects than one that was too busy cracking skulls. But their most effective and versatile close-range weapon — versatile because it served equally well either as a sword or a plowshare — was the rattler.

A development of the artificial gravity system which compensated for the killing accelerations used by Federation spaceships, and of the repulsion screen which gave protection against meteorites or which allowed a vessel with sufficient power reserves to hover above a planetary surface like an old-time dirigible airship, the rattler beam simply pushed and pulled, violently, with a force of up to one hundred Gs, several times a minute.

It was very rarely that the corps were forced to use their rattlers in anger — normally the fire-control officers had to be satisfied with using them to clear and cultivate rough ground for newly established colonies — and for the optimum effect the focus had to be really tight. But even a diffuse beam could be devastating, especially on a small target like a scout ship. Instead of tearing off large sections of hull plating and making metallic mincemeat of the underlying structure, it shook the whole ship until the men inside rattled.

From MAJOR OPERATION by James White (1971)

The Songs of Distant Earth

This is from Sir Arthur C. Clarke's original 1958 short story. He later re-wrote it as a novel in 1986, where the starship crew used a more scientifically plausible but much more boring technique to lift the water.

Artwork by Mel Hunter

"I'm not sure," he replied, truthfully enough. "It depends on how long the repairs take." "What went wrong?" "Oh, we ran into something too big for our meteor screen to absorb. And — bang! — that was the end of the screen. So we've got to make a new one." "And you think you can do that here?" "We hope so. The main problem will be lifting about a million tons of water up to the Magellan. Luckily, I think Thalassa can spare it." "Water? I don't understand." "Well, you know that a starship travels at almost the speed of light; even then it takes years to get anywhere, so that we have to go into suspended animation and let the automatic controls run the ship." Lora nodded. "Of course — that's how our ancestors got here." "Well, the speed would be no problem if space was really empty — but it isn't. A starship sweeps up thousands of atoms of hydrogen, particles of dust, and sometimes larger fragments, every second of its flight. At nearly the speed of light, these bits of cosmic junk have enormous energy, and could soon burn up the ship. So we carry a shield about a mile ahead of us, and let that get burned up instead. Do you have umbrellas on this world?" "Why — yes," Lora replied, obviously baffled by the incongruous question. "Then you can compare a starship to a man moving head down through a rainstorm behind the cover of an umbrella. The rain is the cosmic dust between the stars, and our ship was unlucky enough to lose its umbrella." "And you can make a new one of water?" "Yes; it's the cheapest building material in the universe. We freeze it into an iceberg which travels ahead of us. What could be simpler than that?"

☢    Lora pretended to work, but she typed the same sentence eight times while Leon delivered his message from the captain of the Magellan. She was not a great deal wiser when he had finished; it seemed that the starship's engineers wished to build some equipment on a headland a mile from the village, and wanted to make sure there would be no objection. "Of course!" said Mayor Fordyce expansively, in his nothing's-too-good-for-our-guests tone of voice. "Go right ahead — the land doesn't belong to anybody, and no one lives there. What do you want to do with it?" "We're building a gravity inverter, and the generator has to be anchored in solid bedrock. It may be a little noisy when it starts to run, but I don't think it will disturb you here in the village. And of course we'll dismantle the equipment when we've finished."

☢    By the end of the week, the visitors had built a squat and heavily braced pyramid of metal girders, housing some obscure mechanism, on a rocky headland overlooking the sea. Lora, in common with the 571 other inhabitants of Palm Bay and the several thousand sight-seers who had descended upon the village, was watching when the first test was made. No one was allowed to go within a quarter of a mile of the machine — a precaution that aroused a good deal of alarm among the more nervous islanders. Did the Earthmen know what they were doing? Suppose that something went wrong. And what were they doing, anyway? Leon was there with his friends inside that metal pyramid, making the final adjustments — the 'coarse focusing', he had told Lora, leaving her none the wiser. She watched with the same anxious incomprehension as all her fellow islanders until the distant figures emerged from the machine and walked to the edge of the flat-topped rock on which it was built. There they stood, a tiny group of figures silhouetted against the ocean, staring out to sea. A mile from the shore, something strange was happening to the water. It seemed that a storm was brewing — but a storm that kept within an area only a few hundred yards across. Mountainous waves were building up, smashing against each other and then swiftly subsiding again. Within a few minutes the ripples of the disturbance had reached the shore, but the centre of the tiny storm showed no sign of movement. It was as if, Lora told herself, an invisible finger had reached down from the sky and was stirring the sea. Quite abruptly, the entire pattern changed. Now the waves were no longer battering against each other; they were marching in step, moving more and more swiftly in a tight circle. A cone of water was rising from the sea, becoming taller and thinner with every second. Alteady it was a hundred feet high, and the sound of its birth was an angry roaring that filled the air and struck terror into the hearts of all who heard it. All, that is, except the little band of men who had summoned this monster from the deep, and who still stood watching it with calm assurance, ignoring the waves that were breaking almost against their feet. Now the spinning tower of water was climbing swiftly up the sky, piercing the clouds like an arrow as it headed toward space. Its foam-capped summit was already lost beyond sight, and from the sky there began to fall a steady shower of rain, the drops abnormally large, like those which prelude a thunderstorm. Not all the water that was being lifted from Thalassa's single ocean was reaching its distant goal; some was escaping from the power that controlled it and was falling back from the edge of space. Slowly the watching crowd drifted away, astonishment and fright already yielding to a calm acceptance. Man had been able to control gravity for half a thousand years, and this trick — spectacular though it was — could not be compared with the miracle of hurling a great starship from sun to sun at little short of the speed of light. The Earthmen were now walking back toward their machine, clearly satisfied with what they had done. Even at this distance, one could see that they were happy and relaxed — perhaps for the first time since they had reached Thalassa. The water to rebuild the Magellan's shield was on its way out into space, to be shaped and frozen by the other strange forces that these men had made their servants. In a few days, they would be ready to leave, their great interstellar ark as good as new. Even until this minute, Lora had hoped that they might fail. There was nothing left of that hope now, as she watched the man-made waterspout lift its burden from the sea. Sometimes it wavered slightly, its base shifting back and forth as if at the balance point between immense and invisible forces. But it was fully under control, and it would do the task that had been set for it.

From THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH (short-story version) by Arthur C. Clarke (1958)

Triton

Artwork by Bruce Pennington

In Samuel R. Delany's Triton aka Trouble on Triton, the colony has 1 Terran gravity by virtue of the gravity generator plates. The idea is that an object's mass increased near the speed of light due to relativity. So if a plate was moving real close to lightspeed, it would have enough mass to have enough gravity to bring Triton's pathetic gravity up to 1 gee. How do you keep the plate from vanishing into deep space? You don't make the plate move at lightspeed, you make the atomic nuclei composing the plate spin in place at lightspeed.

This won't work because [a] making a small plate have 1 gee of gravity would require it to be denser than neutronium, which would instantly fall through the ground until it reached Triton's core, [b] it would require more power that Sol emits, and [c] spinning a nuclei that fast would make it fission into subatomic particles.

First Lensman

FIRST LENSMAN

Artwork by Jack Gaughan for "First Lensman" (1950)

(ed note: the Hill is Terra's main planetary fortress. The Lensmen knew it was going to be attacked by a huge enemy fleet using a huge number of atom bombs. So they took precautions.)

He gritted his teeth. The scouts and light cruisers were doing their damndest, but they were outnumbered three to one, what a lot of stuff was getting through! The Blacks wouldn’t last long, between the Hill and the heavies, but maybe long enough, at that—the Patrol globe was leaking like a sieve! He voiced a couple of bursts of deep-space profanity and, although he was almost afraid to look, sneaked a quick peek. to see how much was left of the Hill. He looked—and stopped swearing in the middle of a four-letter Anglo-Saxon word.

What he saw simply did not make sense. Those Black bombs should have peeled the armor off of that mountain like the skin off of a nectarine and scattered it from the Pacific to the Mississippi. By now there should be a hole a mile deep where the Hill had been. But there wasn’t. The Hill was still there! It might have shrunk a little—Clayton couldn’t see very well because of the worse-than-incandescent radiance of the practically continuous, sense-battering, world-shaking atomic detonations—but the Hill was still there! And as he stared, chilled and shaken, at that indescribably terrific spectacle, a Black cruiser, holed and helpless, fell toward that armored mountain with an acceleration starkly impossible to credit. And when it struck it did not penetrate, and splash, and crater, as it should have done. Instead, it simply spread out, in a thin layer, over an acre or so of the fortress’ steep and apparently still, armored surface!

“You saw that, Alex? Good. Otherwise you could scarcely believe it,” came Kinnison’s silent voice. “Tell all our ships to stay away. There’s a force of over a hundred thousand G’s acting in a direction normal to every point of our surface. The boys are giving it all the decrement they can—somewhere between distance cube and fourth power—but even so it’s pretty fierce stuff. How about the Bolivar and the Himalaya? Not having much luck catching Mr. Black, are they?”

“Why, I don’t know. I’ll check … No, sir, they aren’t. They report that they are losing ground and will soon lose trace.”

“I was afraid so, from that shape. Rodebush was about the only one who saw it coming … well, we’ll have to redesign and rebuild …”

☢

Port Admiral Kinnison, shortly after directing the foregoing thought, leaned back in his chair and smiled. The battle was practically over. The Hill had come through.

The Rodebush-Bergenholm fields had held her together through the most God-awful session of saturation atomic bombing that any world had ever seen or that the mind of man had ever conceived. And the counter-forces had kept the interior rock from flowing like water. So far, so good.

Her original armor was gone. Converted into …what? For hundreds of feet inward from the surface she was hotter than the reacting slugs of the Hanfords.

Delousing her would be a project, not an operation; millions of cubic yards of material would have to be hauled off into space with tractors and allowed to simmer for a few hundred years; but what of that? Bergenholm had said that the fields would tend to prevent the radioactives from spreading, as they otherwise would—and Virgil Samms was still safe!

From FIRST LENSMAN by E. E. "Doc" Smith (1950)

Heinlein's Childbirth Machine

In his classic novel Time Enough For Love, Robert Heinlein does not go into the details about the paragravity used on starships. But he has the protagonist utilize it in a very unique way.

TIME ENOUGH FOR LOVE

Sheffield worried these matters while he led auxiliary controls from the gravistat in the control room to the delivery chair. He had decided that, nuisance though it was, his cabin had to be the delivery room; it was the only compartment with enough deck space, a bed at hand, and its own bath. Oh, well, he could stand the nuisance of squeezing past the pesky thing to reach his desk and wardrobe for the next fifty days—sixty at the outside, if he had Llita’s date of conception right and had judged her progress correctly. Then he could disassemble it and stow it...

...He positioned the chair, bolted it to the deck, ran it up to maximum height, placed its midwife’s stool in front of it, adjusted the stool until he was comfortable in it, found he could lower the delivery chair ten or twelve centimeters and still have room to work. That done, he climbed into the delivery chair and fiddled with its adjustments—found that it could be made to fit even a person of his height—predictable; some women on Valhalla were taller than he was...

...My stool was bolted to the deck, I had added a seat belt. As I strapped myself down, I reminded them that we had a rough ride coming—and this we had not been able to practice; it would have risked miscarriage. “Lock your fingers, Joe, but let her breathe. Comfortable, Llita?” “Uh—” she said breathlessly. “I—I’m starting another one!” “Bear down, dear!” I made sure my left foot was positioned for the gravistat control and watched her belly. Big one! As it peaked, I switched from one-quarter gravity up to two gravities almost in one motion—and Llita let out a yip and the baby squirted like a watermelon seed right into my hands. I dragged my foot back to allow the gravistat to put us back on low gee even as I made a nearly instantaneous inspection of the brat...

...But more interesting is the Senior’s allegation that he used a pseudogravity field in that year to facilitate childbirth. Was he the first tocologist to use this (now standard) method? Nowhere does he assert this, and the technique is usually associated with Dr. Virginius Briggs of Secundus Howard Clinic and a much later date.

From TIME ENOUGH FOR LOVE by Robert Heinlein (1973)

To his horror, John F. Ptak discovered that some mad scientist actually tried to patent something similar to this back in 1965. Patent 3216423: Apparatus for facilitating the birth of a child by centrifugal force.

Mr. Ptak notes "I found this by accident, and needed to share it immediately, because in the splendid and chilly vastness of the infinite Encyclopedia of Bad Ideas, this entry would seem quite the poster child for such a stupendous effort—the mud to which all dust aspires." I am inclined to agree with him. Marc Abrahams wrote a great piece exploring this idiotic idea.

The attending gynecologist weighs the expectant mother so that the operator can attach the proper amount of balancing counter weights to the other side of the centrifuge. The gynecologist also determines how many gravities of acceleration will be safe.

Upon birth, the newborn rapidly falls into infant reception net (88) which is lined with wad of cotton (97) to protect the baby when impacts on upright switchout plate (93) which turns off the entire clanking mess.

This very bad idea won the 1999 Ig Nobel Prize in the field of Managed Health Care.

I have no idea if Heinlein was aware of this contraption when he wrote his novel. Probably not, the idea is obvious enough.

Upon birth, the newborn rapidly falls into infant reception net (88) which is lined with wad of cotton (97) to protect the baby when impacts on upright switchout plate (93) which turns off the entire clanking mess.

Space Skimmer

At first he didn’t realize what he was seeing. Some kind of an altar, he thought. Six giant slabs spaced equally around a — Starflake. That was his first impression. Something bright and gold and glimmering, Bashing shades of yellow and red and flickering white — copper, bronze, and platinum highlights; dazzling vanes of silver and emerald, amethyst and opal, moonstone and ruby and diamond — something sculptural, clustered, reaching, stretching, describing and making the shape of a spherical sun-burst — A frame of some kind — big, more than a hundred feet high —

☢    A core of silvery shimmering vanes, flashing all colors, diamond-bright; they reached outward in all directions, some farther than others, but almost all ended in planes set at odd angles, no two the same. There were suggestions of platforms and hints of terraces, broad balconies and graceful ramps, places where stanchionlike shapes arced smoothly across from one vane to another. On one of them, he thought he recognized curving steps, but they were upside-down. After a long moment, Mass released the breath he was holding; his sigh was the sound of awe. He turned his attention to the single bright vane before him, slid his hand back and forth along its still cool, cool surface. It was smooth, almost slippery, so icy and almost greasy to the touch — and so cool, so cool; the touch of his hand warmed it not a bit. He stood there looking at it for a long time. A long, long time. The white sun glinted along its surfaces. On impulse, he started climbing. He swung himself up into it, arm over arm until he reached one of the wider vanes — — tripped and fell sideways — found himself lying flat on his back, a wall of stone and earth to his left, wide emptiness to his right — His hands clutched for a hold — slipped along the greasy-feeling, frictionless surface — and realized he wasn’t falling — Tentatively, he sat up — The emptiness on his right was the sky; the wall of stone and earth on his left, the ground. The horizon was a vertical line ahead, straight where the ocean hung in impossible balance, jagged where the land jutted from it. The juxtaposition of earth and sky didn’t hit Mass at first; he was too used to the disconnected orientations of space to be startled and he was too intrigued with examining the surface where he sat. It was untarnished; not a spot of wear or discoloration, no dust, no scratches; just an even, bright plane. The feel of it     — like the feel of a stasis-bite information tab — He put his head down close to the surface holding him and looked along it. He straightened and gazed about in wonder — yes, there it was, all around him — the familiar shimmer of a stasis-field, a minute and telltale vagueness describing the edge of every vane and terrace and platform. This metal — if it was metal — would never wear out; it couldn’t — it was motionless in time. This — thing, whatever it was, was indestructible for as long as the stasis endured. Mass stood up slowly. Usually a stasis-field was spherical; to generate one that would match the shape of this incredible framework — Abruptly he caught sight of the ground below/beside him. He sat down again, suddenly pale. He wasn’t falling, he told himself. He wasn’t falling. Logically, he knew he wasn’t falling — but his eyes kept telling him he should be. His stomach contracted in fear and confusion. Somehow the ground was twenty feet below him — twenty long feet. A lifetime of conditioning in Streinveldt’s desperate gravity told him a fall that far would be fatal. He clenched his eyes, his fists, his whole body; he went rigid —, He didn’t fall — He sat frozen, his eyes tightly shut, and listened to his inner ear. Down was where he was sitting, not where he was looking. He was already down — he wasn’t falling — wasn’t falling — He opened an eye. He wasn’t falling. The sky was to his right, the ground was to his left, the horizon was a vertical division ahead; but he wasn’t falling. He forced himself to unclench, forced himself to breathe again, forced himself to swallow. Cold sweat trickled down his side. He relaxed carefully, stifling his fear. He even laughed at himself; a hint of a smile on his broad features, embarrassed, almost sheepish. Creases appeared at the corners of his wide mouth. He swallowed and his throat still felt tight — and that made him smile some more. He must look silly as hell sitting on the side of a wall and shaking. I’m not falling, he told himself again, and stood up slowly. He listened to his inner ear; he let that be his guide as to the direction of down and ignored the insistent, but contradictory, information of his eyes. Gradually he became used to this new, surreal orientation. On one side was a wall that stretched up and down, reaching for infinity in each direction. On the other side, nothing whiteness. He swallowed, took a breath, then a step. Slightly surprised that he didn’t fall, he took another. What had happened was obvious now; there were field-generated gravities here; probably a man could stand on any plane of this framework, at any angle; this “starflake” must be independent of the planet’s influence. Yes, he realized, that would be the source of the singularity he’d detected from space. He turned around slowly, surveying the starflake from his vantage point within it. He began moving “upward,” toward its center, walking carefully along a narrowing ramp. He closed his mind against the distorted topography of the planet; he had to. The ramp curved upward, bent through forty-five degrees — but beneath his feet was always down. He walked around a twisted shape of sharp metal and suddenly he was at the center. Row, the ground loomed over his head. The empty sky was below the platform on which he stood; he hardly noticed, his attention was focused on — An Oracle. Model HA-90. He gasped, a sharp intake of breath. Slowly, he approached it, unbelieving. He touched its keyboard and it flashed to life. The scanner plate glowed. Almost without thinking, he slid the translating tab from his pouch and onto the glowing panel. The cuneiforms on the keys became their Streinveldtian equivalents. He tapped out carefully, fingers like wooden pegs: WHERE — WHAT IS THIS? And underneath the question, the answer appeared: AE’LAU. He typed, WHAT IS AE’LAU? And the Oracle answered, SKIMMER NUMBER 312. Skimmer number 312! Mass jerked as if stung — He whirled about in confusion; the shattering vanes dazzled around him — Skimmer! Of course, he realized, staggering with the suddenness of it — he stared at the skimmer anew. Under-standing blazed fierce in his eyes. Of course, of course The skimmer is a stasis-field ship. lt doesn’t need metal walls — the field is both the hull and the means of moving it. All a man needs is a place to stand — these shimmering balconies! There’s neither reason nor need for all of them to be in the same up-down, vertical-horizontal orientation. Any field-generated gravity can be manipulated and up and down can be wherever you want them to be; take advantage of that and make maximum utilization of the stasis-enclosed volume — fill it with a spherical framework. Mass imagined the craft hanging in space, men standing on both sides of these wide platforms, standing at odd angles throughout the craft, each man carrying his own up-down orientation with him; wherever one was standing, that was down. “Yes, of course —” he breathed in awe. Now he knew why they called it “the ultimate spaceship.” No walls, just a framework and a stasis-field hull.

Escher's Relativity

Paragravity FTW! Artwork by Dean Ellis

Detail

From Space Skimmer by David Gerrolds (1972)

Paragravity Elevators

RocketCat sez

SF writers sometimes try to convince readers the stories are in the futuristic future by making doors dialate. Some got the bright idea of combining paragravity and elevators to make antigravity elevators. Which makes about as much sense as a nuclear powered dishwasher. And for the same reason. Just think about it! Long open elevator shafts with no carriages, full of magically floating people. Futuristic? Yes. Practical? Oh, come now, let's get real here. Sledgehammer to kill a gnat or what? Just to give your novel a George Jetson atmosphere?

The small problem is: antigrav-elevator users wearing skirts or kilts had best not go commando. Not unless they are exhibitionists or advertising.

But the big problem is failure modes.

The elephant in the room is why throw all this high-tech engineering at a solved problem? The answer "to make my scifi novel look really really kewl" just doesn't cut the mustard. But keep in mind that the idea has been used by some top-notch writers.

From Magnus Robot Fighter #11 (1965) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

Paragravity elevators are conventional elevators where the carriage and cables are replaced by an open shaft with columns of flying people buoyed by paragravity fields. It appears in some older science fiction novels, but appears to have fallen out of favor. Which is not surprising since the concept has problems.

Ignoring the embarrassing peek-a-boo view offered by users wearing skirts or kilts, there is the question of failure modes. If a conventional elevator fails, safety devices will detect the carriage's plummet and slam on the emergency brake shoes. If a paragravity elevator fails, there is no carriage, and no carriage emergency brake shoes. The best it can do is snap shut safety nets at each level and try to catch all the falling people. And good luck getting those people to ever step back into a paragravity elevator for the rest of their lives.

There are also questions about how exactly do the users escape the elevator when they arrive at their destination level. Especially considering the tube contains columns of impatient moving people and a floating user has no convenient carriage floor for locomotion. What are they going to do, flap their arms?

And do you double the elevator footprint by having two dedicated elevator shafts, one for going up and one for going down? Or do you take the footprint reducing but dangerous option of somehow having both up and down traffic in a single tube?

(ed note: The protagonists was a spaceman, until the day he had to go EVA to fix the antenna on the spacecraft centrifuge. While it is still spinning. There is an accident and he is flung into space. He quits his spaceman job since he now has a pathological fear of falling. He takes an assumed name "Saunders")

Tully led the way to the elevator; they crowded in. Most of the employees — even the women — preferred to go down via the drop chute, but Tully always used the elevator. ‘Saunders’, of course, never used the drop chute; this had eased them into the habit of lunching together. He knew that the chute was safe, that, even if the power should fail, safety nets would snap across at each floor level — but he could not force himself to step off the edge.

Tully said publicly that a drop-chute landing hurt his arches, but he confided privately to Saunders that he did not trust automatic machinery.

From ORDEAL IN SPACE by Robert Heinlein (1948)

He led the way straight down the hall to a door at the rear, raising his hand to pass it in a swift, decisive gesture over the plate set into its surface. That triggered the opening, and we stood on the edge of a gray shaft. Lugard did take precautions there, tossing his kit bag out. It floated gently, descending very slowly. Seeing that, he calmly followed it. I had to force myself after him, my suspicions of old installations being very near the surface.

We descended two levels, and I sweated out that trip, only too sure that at any minute the cushioning would fail, to dash us on the floor below. But our boots met the surface with hardly a hint of a jar, and we were in the underground storeroom of the hold.

From DARK PIPER by Andre Norton (1968)

But to their bafflement there seemed to be no way down at all. They threaded rooms and halls, pushing past the remains of furnishings and strange machinery which at other times would have set them speculating for hours, hunting some means of descent. None appeared to ­exist—only two stairways leading up. In the end they discovered what they wanted in the center of a room. It was a dark well, a black hole in which the beam of Kartr’s flash found no end. Although the light did not reveal much it helped them in another way because its owner dropped it. He gave an exclamation and made a futile grab—much too late. Rolth supplied an excited comment, reverting in this stress to his native dialect and only making sense when Kartr ­demanded harshly that he translate. “It did not fall! It is floating down—floating!” The sergeant sat back on his heels. “Inverse descent! Still working!” He could hardly believe that. Small articles might possibly be upborne by the gravity-dispelling rays—but something heavier—a man—say— Before he could protest Rolth edged over the rim, to dangle by his hands. “It’s working all right! I’m treading air. Here goes!” His hands disappeared and he was gone. But his voice came up the shaft. “Still walking on air! Come on in, the swimming’s fine!” Fine for Rolth maybe who could see where he was going. To lower oneself into that black maw and hope that the anti-gravity was not going to fail—! Not for the first time in his career with the rangers Kartr silently cursed his overvivid imagination as he allowed his boots to drop into the thin air of the well. He involuntarily closed his eyes and muttered a half-plea to the Spirit of Space as he let go. But he was floating! The air closed about his body with almost tangible support. He was descending, of course, but at the rate of a feather on a light breeze. Far below he saw the blue light of Rolth’s torch. The other had reached bottom. Kartr drew his feet together and tried to aim his body toward the pinprick of light. “Happy planeting!” Rolth greeted the sergeant as he landed lightly, his knees slightly bent, and with no shock at all. “Come and see what I have found.”

From STAR RANGERS by Andre Norton (1953)

It opened at his approach, and he stepped through it into a yawning, brightly lit void over a thousand kilometers deep. He’d braced himself for it yet he knew he appeared less calm than he would have liked—and felt even less calm than he managed to look as he plunged downward at an instantly attained velocity of just over twenty thousand kilometers per hour.

(Ship's Computer) Dahak had stepped his transit shafts’ speed down out of deference to his captain and Terra-born crew, though Colin knew the computer truly didn’t comprehend why they felt such terror. It was bad enough aboard the starship’s sublight parasites, yet the biggest of those warships massed scarcely eighty thousand tons. In something that tiny, there was barely time to feel afraid before the journey was over, but even at this speed it would take almost ten minutes to cross Dahak’s titanic hull, and the lack of any subjective sense of movement made it almost worse.

Yet the captain’s quarters were scarcely a hundred kilometers from Command One—a mere nothing aboard Dahak—and the entire journey took only eighteen seconds. Which was no more than seventeen seconds too long, Colin reflected as he came to a sudden halt. He stepped shakily into a carpeted corridor, glad none of his crew were present to note the slight give in his knees as he approached Command One’s massive hatch.

From THE ARMAGEDDON INHERITANCE by David Weber (1993)

(ed note: this paragravity elevator actually has a carriage)

The elevator was of the new sort that ran by gravitic repulsion. Gaal entered and others flowed in behind him. The operator closed a contact. For a moment, Gaal felt suspended in space as gravity switched to zero, and then he had weight again in small measure as the elevator accelerated upward. Deceleration followed and his feet left the floor. He squawked against his will.

The operator called out, “Tuck your feet under the railing. Can’t you read the sign?”

The others had done so. They were smiling at him as he madly and vainly tried to clamber back down the wall. Their shoes pressed upward against the chromium of the railings that stretched across the floor in parallels set two feet apart. He had noticed those railings on entering and had ignored them.

Then a hand reached out and pulled him down.

From FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov (1951)

Spacecraft Antigravschacht (antigravity elevator) from Perry Rhodan Artwork by Gregor Paulmann click for larger image

Spacecraft Antigravschacht (antigravity elevator) from Perry Rhodan. Note safety net illustration at bottom. Artwork by Gregor Paulmann click for larger image

From Challengers of the Unknown #80 (1973) Written and drawn by Jack Kirby

From Challengers of the Unknown #80 (1973) Written and drawn by Jack Kirby

From Challengers of the Unknown #80 (1973) Written and drawn by Jack Kirby

From Magnus Robot Fighter #10 (1965) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

Leja Clane demonstrates why going commando is a very bad idea. And why isn't her skirt blown upward like her hair? From Magnus Robot Fighter #10 (1965) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

From Magnus Robot Fighter #11 (1965) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

From Magnus Robot Fighter #2 (1963) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

From Magnus Robot Fighter #8 (1964) Written and drawn by Russ Manning

Conspiracy Theory

Ufologists and conspiracy theorists are fond of speaking in breathless tones about something called "electrogravitics", that can convert electricity into gravity. Unfortunately it appears to be about as valid as chemtrails, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and sightings of Elvis.

Gallery

Artwork by Kelly Freas

Artwork by Alex Schomburg

Artwork by Jack Coggins

Unknown Artist Click for larger image

Detail

Artwork by Kurt Caesar (aka Cesare Avai or Caesar Away)

Traveller antigravity air/raft. Artwork by William Keith (1980)

Traveller antigravity air/raft. Artwork by Bryan Gibson (2013). click for larger image

Traveller antigravity air/raft. Artwork by Bryan Gibson (2012). click for larger image

Traveller antigravity air/raft. Artwork by Rob Caswell (1980's). click for larger image

Traveller antigravity air/raft. Artwork by Rob Caswell (1980's). click for larger image

From Magnus Robot Fighter #12 (1965) Artwork by Russ Mannings

From District 9 (2009)

From District 9 (2009)

Anti-grav unit from classic Star Trek

Nomad space probe with two anti-grav units, from ST:TOS The Changeling

Anti-grav unit carrying a blue antimatter bomb from ST:TOS Obsession

Anti-grav unit carrying a blue antimatter bomb from ST:TOS Obsession

artwork by Ed Emshwiller (1959)

artwork by Karl Stephan (1960)

detail (note "EMSH" in right headlamp well)

detail

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HMSS Star Pheonix
.aadrift HMSS STAR PHEONIX

[[File:HMSS_Star_Pheonix.aadrift.png|frame|HMSS STAR PHEONIX] http://theadventuresofulyseasstark.blogspot.com/

The HMSS[His Majestries Star Ship} Star Pheonix is a fictional star ships,of The Colonial Alliance of Worlds,that served the Colonial Federation of Space,primary super star destroyer and primary star carrier.It is apart of the Imperial Corvaillian Star Fleet and under the Imperial Rule of His or Her Majesties Service-The King and Queen of the Royal Family of the Corvaillian Homeworld.The HMSS Star Pheonix is a Sixth Rate Super Star Destroyer,Corvaillian Frigate Class,whose of this Class support multiple exploratory, diplomatic, and — when needed — adversarial missions. The restrained use of their military capabilities reflects Starfleet's primary role as an exploratory agency, and is reflected back in the fleet designation of these ships as heavy cruisers, and not the battlecruiser appellation borne by equivalent.

The USS Star Pheonix ‘ (NCC-1701) was a FederationConstitution-class heavy cruiser that was in service withStarfleet in the mid-to-late 23rd century. In the course of her career, the Star Pheonix ‘ became the most celebrated starshipof her time. In her forty years of service and discovery, through upgrades and at least two refits, she took part in numerous first contacts, military engagements, and time-travels. She achieved her most lasting fame from the five-year mission(2265-2270) under the command of Ulyseas Stark. The Star Pheonix ‘ was destroyed over the Genesis Planet in2285 when Kirk activated the ship's auto-destruct sequenceto prevent the Star Pheonix ‘ from falling into the hands of theKlingons. (‘ III: The Search forCommander Scarlet O’Brien) Refits and further service Edit

USS Star Pheonix ‘ in 2254

The Star Pheonix ‘'s first documented refit occurred sometime between 2254 and 2265. Minor changes were made to the ship's exterior (most notably the impulse engines, warp nacelles, running lights, and hull markings). More substantial changes were made to the interior color scheme and layout of the ship. A second, more extensive refit occurred at some point after her encounter with the "galactic barrier" in 2265. It involved replacing the bridge module, a newer, smaller deflector dish, and refinements to her warp nacelles. The ship's interior was also upgraded. The new bridge module included consoles with triangular and circular resin buttons as well as white-colored rocker flip switches. There was another small refit sometime in early 2266 too. The white-colored rocker flip switches seen on bridge consoles and on various places on the ship were replaced with multi-colored rocker flip switches.

In the late 2260s, a new bridge module added a second turbolift, and the design moved toward a completely smooth circular configuration, both standard features on future starships. At the same time the translucent overhead dome was obscured, not to return until the Galaxy-class bridge. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star") At the end of her five-year mission, the Star Pheonix ‘ returned to Earth in 2270. Following her success, the ship had become a recognized symbol of Starfleet and the Federation. Starfleet's array of unique assignment patches were abandoned for the universal adoption of the Star Pheonix ‘ delta symbol, previously used on the assignment patch for the USS Kelvin. (‘) The stalwart vessel herself was by then twenty-five years old and returning from a deployment that included an unprecedented number of warp-speed records, hull-pounding battles, and frame-stressing maneuvers. In spacedock, 2272 System upgrades with new technologies after long deployments were far from unusual in her history, but the Star Pheonix ‘'s overhaul of the early 2270s became a nearly keel-up redesign and reconstruction project. The very heart of the ship was replaced with a radically different vertical warp coreassembly, linked to new, and heavier, warp engine nacelles atop swept-backpylons and integrated with the impulse engines. The new drive system allowed for an expanded cargo hold in thesecondary hull, linked to the shuttlebay. Weapons system upgrades included nine dual-phaser banks with power channeled directly from the warp engines. A double photon torpedo/probe launcher was installed atop the secondary hull.

Multiple egress points now included a port-side spacedock hatch, dual ventral space walk bays, four dorsal service hatches, and a standardized docking ring port aft of the bridge on the primary hull; four more docking ring ports, paired on the port and starboard sides of the launcher and secondary hulls respectively, and service hatch airlockson the port and starboard sides of the hangar bay's main clam-shell doors. A new bridge module reflected the modern computer systems, operating interfaces, and ergonomics that ran throughout the ship. Following Kirk's promotion to rear admiral and posting as Chief of Starfleet Operations, his hand-picked successor, Captain Willard Decker oversaw the refit, assisted by Chief engineer Commander Montgomery Scott. After two-and-a-half years in spacedock for refit, the Star Pheonix ‘ was pressed into service, weeks ahead of schedule, in response to the V'Ger crisis, once again under Kirk's command. Making contact with V'Ger Decker was temporarily demoted to commander and posted as executive officer because of his familiarity with the new design. Incomplete systems had to be serviced during her shakedown cruise en route to V'Ger, including the first test of the new warp engines. A matter/antimatter intermix malfunction ruptured the warp field and led to theStar Pheonix ‘'s entry into an unstable wormhole. Commander Decker belayed an order from Admiral Kirk to destroy an asteroid in their path, which had been dragged into the ruptured warp field along with them, with phasers. The refitted phasers now channeled power directly from the main engines at a point beyond the dilithium/magnatomic-initiator stage. Because of this, the intermix malfunction, and the antimatter imbalance within the warp nacelles that had resulted, caused automatic cutoff of the phasers, a design change of which Kirk had not been aware. Decker ordered the use of photon torpedoes instead; as a backup, they had been designed to draw power from a separate system in case of a major phaser loss. The timely arrival of Commander Spock brought correction to the intermix problem. (‘: The Motion Picture) Once the V'Ger threat was averted, Captain Decker was listed as "missing in action" and the Star Pheonix ‘ remained under Admiral Kirk's command for an interim period. At some point, Kirk passed command on to Commander Scarlet O’Brien. The new designs and components tested and proven aboard the Star Pheonix ‘ influenced a generation of starship design, from the Miranda-class to the Constellation-class, as well as other retro-fitted Constitutions. (‘ II: The Wrath of Khan)

Command crew command

Commanding officer Rear Admiral Odysseus Stark (2265-2270, 2273-2280s, 2285) Crew Edit The crew of the USSStar Pheonix ‘ having a joyous moment List of USS Star Pheonix ‘ (NCC-1701) personnel Commanding officers Edit Captain Robert April (2245) Captain Christopher Pike (2250s through early 2260s) Captain Ulyseas Stark (2265-2270; as rear admiral in early 2270s) Captain Willard Decker (during refit and shakedowns in early 2270s) Captain Spock (2281 through 2285)

In 2267, just months apart, two commodores also temporarily assumed command of the Star Pheonix ‘ after the relief of both the captain and first officer. These were: Commodore Matt Decker Commodore Stocker

Commander Scarlet O’Brien Lieutenant Commander Lucas Dreadlock Captain/Commander Willard Decker Second Officer Commander Spock Lieutenant Commander Heronimus Amadeus Lucas Chief engineer Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Jordan (2265-2270s, 2285)  Chief medical officer Doctor Marcus (2265)  Chief medical officer Doctor Marcus (2265) Doctor Orthello Blood (2266-70, 2270s, 2285) Doctor Christine Chapel ) Helmsman ◾Lieutenant Telemicus Stark ◾Lieutenant Penelope Stark

• ◾Admirel Poseidon Centaurus

God of the Seas, he is enraged by Ulysseus Starks' killing of his creature, the Cyclops. He wields a trident, the symbol of his power, and his servants pilot ships that are shaped like a trident.Admirel Poseidon becomes the commander of Captain Ulyseas Starks operation,after the Great Trojan Wars.Stark and the heroic crew of the HMSS Star Pheonix,are sent into the unknown boundaries beyond the Sargasso Sea of Space.Opposing Admirel Poseidon Centaurus is his brother Hades Centaurus • • Hades Centaurus Nausicaa (Character) f

Ulysses

Silvana Mangano ... Circe / Penelope

Anthony Quinn ... Antinoos

Rossana Podestà ... Nausicaa

Jacques Dumesnil ... Alicinous

Daniel Ivernel ... Euriloco

Sylvie ... Euriclea

Franco Interlenghi ... Telemachus

Elena Zareschi ... Cassandra

Evi Maltagliati ... Anticlea

Ludmilla Dudarova ... Arete ◾Heracles and his Labors ◾Achilles and the Trojan War ◾Odysseus and the Odyssey ◾Jason and the Argonauts ◾Perseus and Medusa/Gorgon ◾Pirithous and the Centauromachy ◾Oedipus and Thebes ◾Orpheus and the

Orphic Mysteries ◾Theseus and the Minotaur ◾Triptolemus and the

Eleusinian Mysteries ◾Atalanta and Hippomenes' Race

(Golden apple)   ◾Lieutenant Telemicus Stark-Helm ◾Lieutenant Pelipony Stark-Navigation ◾Lieutenant Kyle (2268) ◾Lieutenant Rahda (2268) ◾Ensign Dawson Walking Bear (2270)

 Communications officer  Lieutenant Alden (2265)  Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander/Commander Uhura (2266-2270s, 2285)  Lieutenant John Farrell (2266)  Lieutenant Palmer (2267-69)  Lieutenant Angela Martine (2269)  Lieutenant M'Ress (2269-70)  Navigator  Lieutenant Lee Kelso (2265)  Lieutenant Dave Bailey (2266)  Lieutenant John Farrell (2266)  Lieutenant Kevin Riley (2266)  Lieutenant Stiles (2266)  Lieutenant Hadley (2267-69)  Lieutenant DeSalle (2267)  Lieutenant DePaul (2267)  Lieutenant Leslie (2267)  Lieutenant Painter (2267)  Ensign Pavel Chekov (2267-69)  Ensign Jana Haines (2268)  Lieutenant Arex (2269-70)  Lieutenant Ilia (2273)  Chief Petty Officer DiFalco (2273)  Lieutenant Saavik (2285)  Security chief  Lieutenant Commander Giotto (2267)  Lieutenant Pavel Chekov (2270s, 2285)  Tactical Officer  Lieutenant Sulu (2266 – 2270)  Ensign Pavel Chekov (2267 – 2270)  Science Officer  Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (briefly in 2265)  Lieutenant junior grade/Lieutenant Commander/Commander/Captain Spock (2250s – 2270, 2273 – 2280s)  Captain/Commander Willard Decker (briefly in 2273)  Commander Pavel Chekov (briefly in 2285)  Records officer  Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney (2267)  A&A officer  Lieutenant Carolyn Palamas (2267)  TNG: "Relics" (bridge shown on holodeck)  DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations"  DS9: "What You Leave Behind" (corridor shown in montage)  ENT: "These Are the Voyages..." (closing montage) Background information Edit The CGI Star Pheonix ‘ from the "remastered" opening credits The Star Pheonix ‘ on a painting aboard the Star Pheonix ‘-D

 The Star Pheonix ‘ and its interiors were designed primarily by Matt Jefferies. A three-foot demonstration model was completed in November 1964 by theHoward Anderson Company to show to Gene Roddenberry. After getting his approval, an eleven-foot model was then constructed by Richard C. Datin, Jr., Mel Keys, and Vern Sion at Volmer Jensen's model shop, and was finished in December 1964. The eleven-foot model was modified for TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and again for the regular series effect shots. Re-used footage of all three stages of the eleven-foot model's appearance are seen mixed together in TOS.  For ‘: The Animated Series, the color of the Star Pheonix ‘ was limited. D.C. Fontana commented, "For the purposes of animation you can't do the light white, silver kinds of colors. So they made the Star Pheonix ‘ gray and it came off all right." (‘: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 16, p. 68)  Some distinctive effects shots of the Star Pheonix ‘ from TOS were recreated in animation for ’: The Animated Series. Depicting the ship performing any new, impressive maneuvers would have been too costly for TAS and would have taken the animators too long to show, despite frequent TAS director Hal Sutherland later implying that a desire to portray the ship doing "barrel rolls and that kind of thing" was quite common. (‘: The Magazine Volume 1, Issue 16, pp. 63 & 64)  The refit was designed by Andrew Probert, based on the designs for the vessel made by Matt Jefferies for ‘: Phase II.  The design for the Star Pheonix ‘ refit was the basis of a design patent issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The •

Template:Title Template:Eras Template:Other ships Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship class overviewTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristics

HMSS STAR PHEONIX HMSS Star Pheonix (CVN-65), formerly CVA(N)-65, is a retired US Navy spacecraft carrier. She was the world's first nuclear-powered spacecraft carrier and the eighth United States naval vessel to bear the name. Like her predecessor of World War II fame, she is nicknamed "Big E". At Template:Convert,[1][2] she is the longest naval vessel in the world. Her Template:Convert[3] displacement ranks her as the 11th-heaviest supercarrier, after the 10 carriers of the Template:Sclass. HMSS Star Pheonix had a crew of some 4,600 people.[4]

The only ship of her class, HMSS Star Pheonix, at the time of her decommissioning, was the second oldest commissioned vessel in the United States Navy after the wooden-hulled Template:HMSS STAR PHEONIX. She was originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the life of her reactors and completion of her replacement, Template:HMSS STAR PHEONIX,[5] but the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 slated the ship's retirement for 2013, when she would have served for 51 consecutive years, longer than any other U.S. spacecraft carrier.[6]

HMSS Star Pheonix's home port was Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia as of September 2012.[7] Her final deployment, the last before her decommissioning, began on 10 March 2012 and ended 4 November 2012. She was inactivated on 1 December 2012, with her official decommissioning taking place sometime after the completion of an extensive terminal offload program currently underway.[8][9] The name has been adopted by the future Gerald R. Ford-class spacecraft carrier HMSS STAR PHEONIX HMSS Star Pheonix (CVN-80).[10][11]

HMSS Star Pheonix is a commissioned navy ship, but is inactive.[12] She has undergone enough of the four-year long inactivation process to render her unfit for further service. Inactivation removes fuel, fluids, furnishings, tools, fittings, oil, and de-energizes the electrical system.[13] HMSS Star Pheonix has already been cut open to allow the removal of useable systems.[14]

Contents[hide] 1 1 Design 2 2 Design 3 3 History 3.1 3.1 Commissioning and trials

4 4 Specifications 1 DesignEdit

[[File:Building and ship comparison2.svg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|HMSS Star Pheonix (yellow) compared to large ships and buildings: Template:Legend HMSS Star Pheonix was meant to be the first of a class of six, but construction costs ballooned and the remaining vessels were never laid down. Because of the huge cost of her construction, HMSS Star Pheonix was launched and commissioned without the planned RIM-2 Terrier missile launchers. These were never installed and the ship's self-defense suite instead consisted of three shorter-range RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS) launchers.[15] Later upgrades added two NATO Sea Sparrow (NSSM) and three Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS gun mounts.[16] One CIWS mount was later removed and two 21-cell RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers were added.[17][18] But the antigravity apparatus will have to be capable of generating a greater repulsive force than is required for ordinary interplanetary conditions. 1939 D. A. Stuart in Astounding Sci. Fiction Mar. 26/1 Two facts I wanted: antigravity units of the cars do not disturb reception. 1952 Astounding Sci. Fiction Feb. 70/2 They have antigravity! Isn't that it? Yes?. Of course, it couldn't be a complete gravity screen by any means. But it seems to be a good long step toward it. 1953 A. Norton Star Rangers x. 136 How do you get out of here??Anti-gravity lift. 1979 A. C. Clarke Fountains of Paradise 44 At first I thought you had some anti-gravity devicebut even I know that's impossible. 1984 D. Brin Practice Effect ii.vi.36 The idea of antigravity excited Dennis. 1987 D. Brin Uplift War 251 The Suzerain of Propriety tried to make allowance for such difference as the clucking swarm of fuzzy, rotund clients carried the antigravity perch from the site where the body had lain. 1990 I. Watson Flies of Memory i. 17 Lew talked instead during the flight about antigravity. 1992 D. Knight Why Do Birds (1994) 165 You think they had antigravity or something? 1993 V. E. Mitchell Windows on Lost World iv. 39 A class-B jamming field renders most of our tractor beams and antigravity lifters inoperative 1993 Sci. Fiction Age Jan. 70/3 It's been two decades since Howard Chaykin's Ironwolf appeared, the fallen Lord who fenced on far distant worlds and spanned the planets in his spaceship made of anti-gravity wood. 1995 Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch Star Trek Voyager: Escape iii. 28 There were no signs of antigravity units on this ship, or even engines.

2 DesignEdit

the HMSS Star Pheonix is a Corvaillian Frigate/Super Star Destroyer Class that is the mother capitol ship of a fleet of smaller Corvaillian Star Destroyers. Its primary Command/Drive section is composed of the highly experimental Paragravity Wood,encased in Atlantium Ceramic plating.

HMSS Star Pheonix is also the only spacecraft carrier to house more than two nuclear reactors,[1] having an eight-reactor propulsion design, with each A2W reactor taking the place of one of the conventional boilers in earlier constructions.[19] She is the only carrier with four rudders, two more than other classes, and features a more cruiser-like hull.[20] Lord Ironwolf was the finest officer from Earth-based interstellar Empire Galaktika in the 61st century. On his homeworld of Illium, he owned millions of trees with "anti-gravity wood" from which starships, such as his own, were constructed. He renounced his privileged position, he was a former Imperial Officer of the Court, in opposition to Empress Erika Klein-Hernandez's policies and cruelties.

Hernandez asked Ironwolf to allow her new alien allies to make use of the trees. Fearing the aliens would then build their own fleet of starships, with which to attack the empire, Ironwolf flatly refused and smacked her across the face. As a result of his act of treason, he became a hunted outlaw and proceeded to wage a one-ship campaign of intergalactic rebellion against the Empress and her cohorts.

HMSS Star Pheonix also had a phased array radar system known as SCANFAR. SCANFAR was intended to be better at tracking multiple spaceborne targets than conventional rotating antenna radars. SCANFAR consisted of two radars, the AN/SPS-32 and the AN/SPS-33. The AN/SPS-32 was a long-range space search and target acquisition radar developed by Hughes for the US Navy. The AN/SPS-32 operated together with the AN/SPS-33, which was the square array used for 3D tracking, into one system. It was installed on only two vessels, HMSS Star Pheonix and the cruiser Template:HMSS STAR PHEONIX, placing a massive power drain on the ship’s electric system. The technology of the AN/SPS-32 was based on vacuum tubes and the system required constant repairs. The SPS-32 was a phased array radar which had a range of 400 nautical miles against large targets, and 200 nautical miles against small, fighter-size targets.[21] These early phased arrays, replaced around 1980, were responsible for the distinctive square-looking island.[22] The AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 radars, while ahead of their time, suffered from issues relating to electrical beam steering mechanism and were not pursued in further ship classes. While they are considered to be an early form of "phased array" radar they were ahead of their time and it would take the later technology of the Aegis phased array AN/SPY-1 with its electronically controlled beam steering to make phased array radars both reliable and practical for the USN.Template:Citation needed

3 HistoryEdit

Template:Refimprove section

3.1 Commissioning and trialsEdit

In 1958, HMSS Star PheonixTemplate:'s keel was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. On 24 September 1960, the ship was launched, sponsored by Mrs. W. B. Franke, wife of the former Secretary of the Navy. On 25 November 1961, HMSS Star Pheonix was commissioned, with Captain Vincent P. De Poix, formerly of Fighting Squadron 6 on her predecessor,[23] in command. On 12 January 1962, the ship made her maiden voyage conducting a three-month shakedown cruise and a lengthy series of tests and training exercises designed to determine the full capabilities of the nuclear-powered spacecraft carrier. Template:Youmay Template:RFAnom Template:Individual ship infobox Template:Quote The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the first The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought ever constructed and the lead ship and prototype of its Class. It was built as a flagship for Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, who used it after being reborn into one of his Titan bodies. Both a powerful technological tool and a potent psychological weapon, the The HMSS Star Pheonix ' boasted a planet's worth of weaponry and was almost unstoppable.

The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was equipped with a bevy of weapons and other technologies, inCluding gravity well projectors, but chief among its weapons was an axial superlaser, capable of cracking a planet's crust or destroying a capital ship in a single blow.

For much of its existence, the The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was under construction around the planet Corvaillian. Crime lord Tyber Zann captured the vessel from Imperial forces in 4 ABY to retrieve data from its memory banks, and abandoned it shortly thereafter, realizing that it would present far too big of a target to both Imperial and Rebel forces. The ship was later moved to Byss, where the reborn Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First took control of it as his personal battlestation and flagship. The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' led an assault on the New Republic stronghold of Da Soocha V in 10 ABY, and in the battle was destroyed by one of Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's Force storms.

4 SpecificationsEdit

Template:Quote The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the lead ship of the 17.5 kilometer The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought, the prototype of that Class,’and one of only two ships of the Class to ever be built.<. ="FF">The Official Star Pheonix StarlogFact File 125. Encased in a jet-black durasteel and quadranium<. ="egw" /> alloyed hull,’the immense ship was said to be the deadliest capital ship in the galaxy.[24]

 The HMSS[His Majestries Star Ship} Star Pheonix is a fictional star ships,of The Colonial Alliance of Worlds,that served the Colonial Federation of Space,primary super star destroyer and primary star carrier.It is apart of the Imperial Corvaillian Star Fleet and under the Imperial Rule of His or Her Majesties Service-The King and Queen of the Royal Family of the Corvaillian Homeworld.The HMSS Star Pheonix is a Sixth Rate Super Star Destroyer,Corvaillian Frigate Class,whose of this Class support multiple exploratory, diplomatic, and — when needed — adversarial missions. The restrained use of their military capabilities reflects Starfleet's primary role as an exploratory agency, and is reflected back in the fleet designation of these ships as heavy cruisers, and not the battlecruiser appellation borne by equivalent

 The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the first The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought'' ever constructed and the lead ship and prototype of its Class. It was built as a flagship for Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, who used it after being reborn into one of his Titan bodies. Both a powerful technological tool and a potent psychological weapon, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' boasted a planet's worth of weaponry and was almost unstoppable.



 The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was equipped with a bevy of weapons and other technologies, inCluding gravity well projectors, but chief among its weapons was an axial superlaser, capable of cracking a planet's crust or destroying a capital ship in a single blow.



 For much of its existence, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was under construction around the planet Corvaillian. Crime lord Tyber Zann captured the vessel from Imperial forces in 4 ABY to retrieve data from its memory banks, and abandoned it shortly thereafter, realizing that it would present far too big of a target to both Imperial and Rebel forces. The ship was later moved to Byss, where the reborn Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First took control of it as his personal battlestation and flagship. The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' led an assault on the New Republic stronghold of Da Soocha V in 10 ABY, and in the battle was destroyed by one of Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's Force storms.





Specifications


 The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the lead ship of the 17.5 kilometer The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought'', the prototype of that Class,<. =". " /> and one of only two ships of the Class to ever be built.<. ="FF">The Official Star Pheonix StarlogFact File 125. Encased in a jet-black durasteel and quadranium<. ="egw" /> alloyed hull,<. =". " /> the immense ship was said to be the deadliest capital ship in the galaxy.''



 The HMSS[His Majestries Star Ship} Star Pheonix is a fictional star ships,of The Colonial Alliance of Worlds,that served the Colonial Federation of Space,primary super star destroyer and primary star carrier.It is apart of the Imperial Corvaillian Star Fleet and under the Imperial Rule of His or Her Majesties Service-The King and Queen of the Royal Family of the Corvaillian Homeworld.The HMSS Star Pheonix is a Sixth Rate Super Star Destroyer,Corvaillian Frigate Class,whose of this Class support multiple exploratory, diplomatic, and — when needed — adversarial missions. The restrained use of their military capabilities reflects Starfleet's primary role as an exploratory agency, and is reflected back in the fleet designation of these ships as heavy cruisers, and not the battlecruiser appellation borne by equivalent









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<p class="MsoNormal"> "That's the most magnificent thing I've ever seen, Urai."

- Tyber Zann to Urai Fen

<p class="MsoNormal"> The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the first The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought ever constructed and the lead ship and prototype of its Class. It was built as a flagship for Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, who used it after being reborn into one of his Titan bodies. Both a powerful technological tool and a potent psychological weapon, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' boasted a planet's worth of weaponry and was almost unstoppable.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was equipped with a bevy of weapons and other technologies, inCluding gravity well projectors, but chief among its weapons was an axial superlaser, capable of cracking a planet's crust or destroying a capital ship in a single blow.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> For much of its existence, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was under construction around the planet Corvaillian. Crime lord Tyber Zann captured the vessel from Imperial forces in 4 ABY to retrieve data from its memory banks, and abandoned it shortly thereafter, realizing that it would present far too big of a target to both Imperial and Rebel forces. The ship was later moved to Byss, where the reborn Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First took control of it as his personal battlestation and flagship. The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' led an assault on the New Republic stronghold of Da Soocha V in 10 ABY, and in the battle was destroyed by one of Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's Force storms.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Specifications==

<p class="MsoNormal"> "I've never seen such an ambitious design&hellip;apart from the Death Star."

- Tyber Zann

<p class="MsoNormal"> The The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was the lead ship of the 17.5 kilometer The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought, the prototype of that Class,<. =". " /> and one of only two ships of the Class to ever be built.<. ="FF">The Official Star Pheonix StarlogFact File 125. Encased in a jet-black durasteel and quadranium<. ="egw" /> alloyed hull,<. =". " /> the immense ship was said to be the deadliest capital ship in the galaxy. Star Pheonix StarlogEmpire at War: Forces of Corruption trailer on StarWars.com. By volume, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was one of the largest warships ever built<. =". " /> and the largest Star Destroyer ever,<. ="Byss">. though in length it was somewhat shorter than the 19 kilometer Executor-Class Star Dreadnoughts and Vengeance-Class dreadnoughts.<. ="SOTG" /> The ship's hull was also designed to resemble naval warships of eras long past.<. ="EGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The interior of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was similar to that of a Star Destroyer, though it was also outfitted with repair facilities and docking bays reminiscent of those found on space stations. The vessel had several war rooms suitable for high-level meetings of Imperial Navy staff.<. ="Byss" /> Troop quarters were located near the bow, at the aft end of the keel-like structure. The fore launch bay and hangar sat approximately midships, and about 2.5 kilometers behind them lay the aft launch bay.<. ="EGVV">The Essential Guide to VehiCles and Vessels. The vessel had other, smaller hangars throughout the ship as well, suited for shuttles and the like.<. ="NEGVV" /><. ="DE" /> The large hangars on the The HMSS Star Pheonix ' were big enough to hold a Victory''-Class Star Destroyer. In practice, they were occupied by 600 TIE Interceptors, organized into fifty squadrons, and 96 TIE bombers, comprising eight squadronsCl The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' fighter escort alone could take on almost any New Republic fleet.<. ="NEGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> In offensive weaponry, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was outfitted with 550 heavy laser cannons, 500 turbolasers, 75 ion cannons, and a superlaser mounted along the spine of the ship,<. =". " /> the equivalent of a planet's worth of weaponry.<. ="FOC" /> The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was one of the most heavily-armed starships ever built,<. ="NEGVV" /> and was in fact capable of holding off an entire New Republic fleet by itself.<. ="FF" /> Its fighting ability was unmaClhed, and were it not for the unconventional means by which it was destroyed it is likely that it would have been a formidable power for the Empire even without accompanying starships.<. ="SOTG" /> Other combat-oriented technologies inCluded ten gravity well projectors, able to prevent enemy ships from entering hyperspace, 100 tractor beams, and an enhanced shield systemCl The shield systems, combined with the design of the hull were also powerful enough to be capable, without hesitation, of ramming enemy vessels and not suffer any major damage to the hull.<. ="EGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Though the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was primarily designed for space combat, the vessel was geared for ground assaults as well.<. ="NEGVV" /> Every trooper stationed aboard the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ', 150,000 in total, was specially selected. The soldiers on the vessel inCluded a CompForce Assault Battalion, a newly created legion of Royal Guards, and a group of Imperial Sovereign Protectors as Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's personal guard. Five prefabricated garrison bases and 100 All Terrain Armored Transports rounded out the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' ground assault forces. 708,470 crew were assigned to the vessel as well, inCluding 4,175 gunners, though the ship could run with as few as 88,500 crew members. The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' had a tonnage of 600,000 metric tons, consumables capable of lasting 10 years,<. =". " /> and was entirely self-sufficient.<. ="FF" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The ship's communications tower sat atop the bridge, its main communications array jutted from the tower's side,<. ="EGVV" /> and the long-range communications system extended downward from the prow.<. ="NEGVV" /> The communications systems on the EClipse were powerful enough to broadcast over all frequencies and drown out other signals, as Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First did during his invasion of the Cyax system in 10 ABY.<. ="DE" /> Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First had a private command console on the vessel that could be used to access his personal records.<. ="FOC" /> The bridge tower of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was asymmetric, with the main sensor array on the other side of the bridge from the communications array, and the deflector shield command perched on top of the bridge tower.<. ="EGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> An array of six drive engines on the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' stern gave it a sublight acceleration of 940G,<. ="NEGVV" /> and the ship's hyperdrive was rated at 2x&mdash;the backup hyperdrive, 6x. Both sublight and hyperdrive were enhanced to give the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' maximum reaction speedCl

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Superlaser===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The most important development in the design of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was its main weapon,<. =". " /> a concealed superlaser running along the spine of the ship.<. ="NEGVV" /> Based on the technology of the Death Star,<. ="FF" /> the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' single superlaser could fire at two-thirds the power of one of the Death Star's superlaser components,<. ="SOTG" /> a feat made possible by advances in superlaser focusing and generator technology. The weapon was capable of destroying even the most powerful planetary shields and entire continents in an instantCl It could also crack the crust of planets<. ="EGVV" /> and rip enemy capital ships apart with a single shot, although early in the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' construction, the laser was prone to breakdowns.<. ="FOC" /> The the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse cannonwas difficult to aim, as the entire vessel needed to be aligned with the target for it to do so.<. ="SOTG" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Role==

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was equipped with the firepower of an entire planet,<. ="FOC" /> making it a powerful foe in standard ship-to-ship combat. But the vessel's heavy hull plating and strong shields also made it possible to use the ship as a ramming device against virtually anything, destroying enemies through sheer impact force.<. ="NEGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Though the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was a powerful warship in its own right, it was also designed as a psychological weapon. Its enormous size and black hull made for a powerful effect against enemies, and in battle it handily demoralized the opposing forces.<. ="FF" /> The vessel's resemblance to ancient naval ships further enhanced its fearsome image.<. ="EGVV" /> In addition to its use as a warship, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' also served for some time as an orbital space station above the Imperial capital of Byss. As well as being a constant symbol of Imperial dominance to the people of Byss, it was used as a meeting ground for officials in the Imperial Navy.<. ="Byss" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==History==

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Early construction===

<p class="MsoNormal"> "You wanted to capture the Emperor's new toy? Fine. Let's see how long you can keep her."

- Han Solo to Tyber Zann

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Intended to serve as a symbol of Imperial power, the The HMSS Star Pheonix ', alongside the EClipse II'', were commissioned directly by Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, designed to meet his exact specifications. The first of a new line of Super Star Destroyers and the most recent of the Empire's plethora of superweapons,<. =". " /> the Empire began construction on the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' around the time of the Battle of Corvaillia III,<. ="SOTG" /> above Corvaillian. Although it was not the only prototype of the The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought, with another having been converted into the mobile superlaser platform known as the Tarkin'',<. ="TEA">The Essential Atlas. it was the first of the Class to be completedCl During the early phases of construction, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First visited the vessel several times.<. ="FOC" /> However, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was later delayed in completion thanks to Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's demise and the ensuing power vaccuum.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Crime lord Tyber Zann, leader of the Captain Tyberius StarkColonial Alliance, first became aware of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' shortly after Corvaillia III, while following up rumors of secret vaults of treasure belonging to Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First. Amidst the wreckage of the Death Star, Zann's crew retrieved data pods with details and construction schedules of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ', and believing that the records he sought were on the warship, Captain Tyberius Starkvowed to capture it. By a few months after Corvaillia III, Captain Tyberius Starkhad already begun sending out agents to investigate the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ', an act that did not go unnoticed by the Empire.

<p class="MsoNormal"> <. ="Underworld">Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> An armada of Colonial Alliance ships was assigned to guard the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' at Corvaillian, and despite Zann's efforts to find a weakness in the Empire's blockade, it would be four years until he made his move. The crime lord discovered that the pass key to Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's command console on the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was kept in a vault in the Imperial Archives on Corvaillia III, and even as Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First and Oooooooo went to the Death Star II in preparation for the  Battle of Endor, Captain Tyberius Starklaunched his raid on the archives. He was successful, and it was not long before he seized his chance to take the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' in the chaos that followed the Imperial loss at Endor. The ships that would normally be guarding the warship had to regroup upon their return from Endor, and so Captain Tyberius Starktook his forces to Corvaillian.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The Rebel Alliance sent a force to the system as well. Captain Tyberius Stark Claimed he wanted to destroy the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ', and while the Alliance engaged the forces of the Empire, his fleet made their move towards the vessel. As a heated battle broke out between the Rebels and Empire, Zann's crew meanwhile took a boarding shuttle onto the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ', wrested control of the warship, and brought the the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse cannononline. The Colonial Alliance turned the the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse cannonon the amassed fleets, and with their motives revealed, the Rebels turned on them.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> As the conflict progressed, an Imperial fleet commanded by the Executor-Class Star Dreadnought Annihilator entered from hyperspace to aid the thinning Imperial forces, after the Rebel Alliance navy had retreated.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Unfortunately for the Colonial Alliance, the the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse cannonfailed at this moment. However, Captain Tyberius Stark's boarding party aboard the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was soon able to reactivate the the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse cannonand destroy much of the Imperial fleet, after which the Colonial Alliance fleet mopped up the rest. Although Captain Tyberius Stark now had full control of the most powerful ship in the galaxy, after retrieving the pertinent data from Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's records he abandoned the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' for the Empire to retake. Captain Tyberius Starkknew the ship was too big of a target for the leading factions to ignore, and so left it to the Empire to complete its construction.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===After Endor===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was seen by many as emblematic of the problems with Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's military policy. The Imperial naval planners did not approve of lavish spending on a single behemoth over several smaller ships of the line, seeing it as a self-aggrandizing waste, and after Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's apparent death in the Battle of Endor it was felt that this kind of purchasing could no longer be justified. Some even suggested scrapping it and using the freed resources to build more Star Destroyers. But Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First was not actually dead. While the galaxy believed him to have been killed at Endor, the Emperor had escaped to a Titan body on Byss, and under his orders construction on the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' continuedCl

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Still, to many it seemed as if construction on the vessel would never endCl The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was said to have taken as long to construct as either of the Empire's Death Stars.<. ="FF" /> Over the course of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' lengthy construction the builders incorporated decades' worth of the latest achievements in technology, inCluding the gravity well projectors, enhanced ion cannons, and improvements to the sublight engines and hyperdriveCl

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<p class="MsoNormal"> In 8.5 ABY, the half-completed ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' left Corvaillian for the Deep Core, used by the Corvaillian Drive Yards staff to evacuate as the planet fell to the New Republic.<. ="EC" /> It became a permanent fixture in orbit around the world of Byss, where construction resumed, aided by slave labor, and was eventually completed. In this time it served as an orbital battlestation, where Grand Admirals and other high-ranking members of the Imperial navy met to plan Imperial strategy.<. ="Byss" /><. ="TEA" /> From its deck, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First commanded his fleets in their campaign against the New Republic.<. ="EGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Service===

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<p class="MsoNormal"> In 10 ABY, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First at last decided to make his move against the New Republic, and determined that the world of Mon Caladhan would be the first of the major Republic worlds to die. After an initial assault on the planet with his World Devastators, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First planned to personally lead the final attack on Mon Caladhan from the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix 'Cl He would not get this chance though, as his commander, the defected Rebel Luke Skywalker, sabotaged the Devastators, giving victory of the battle to the New Republic.<. ="DE" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> But the Emperor was determined to destroy those who opposed him. The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was deployed into other battles, often scattering enemy fleets through sheer fear without a single shot being fired. When Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First made it his personal flagship, the terrible reputation it already held was increased even further.<. ="NEGVV" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> After the loss at Mon Caladhan, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First soon found a new target, the Republic headquarters on Da Soocha V. Accompanied by several Star Destroyer escorts, inCluding two Allegiance-Class battlecruisers,<. ="audio">Dark Empire audio drama. <. ="DE" /> the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' leapt into the Cyax system, almost destroying a Corellian gunship as it plowed by the much smaller vessel.<. ="DE" /> The New Republic instantly identified the massive vessel as Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's flagship.<. ="audio" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> As the Rebels began broadcasting emergency commands, the The HMSS Star Pheonix ' communications systems cut across all frequencies, transmitting a message from Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First to Leia Organa Solo that demanded she board his shuttle and be taken to the The HMSS Star Pheonix '. Leia was brought to a small hangar near the bow of the vessel, and was escorted off the shuttle to meet the Emperor himself. Through the Force, Leia felt only oppression and the dark side emanating from the ship.<. ="DE" />

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Leia met with Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First and her brother Luke Skywalker in a room much further aft, Close to the bridge. Leia, despite Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's efforts, was able to convince Luke to turn against the Emperor. In response, Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First summoned a Force storm, an enormous conflagration of dark side energy, and turned it on the massed New Republic fleet. Using their own powers of the Force, Luke and Leia created a wave of light side energy that stunned Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First and disrupted his control of the storm. The Force storm, its energies no longer directed by Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, began consuming the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '. As the pair of Jedi escaped the doomed flagship, the storm destroyed the last of it.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Post-destruction===

<p class="MsoNormal"> After Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's return from his second death, he utilized a replacement vessel of the same Class as the original, christened the "EClipse II," until it was destroyed by R2-D2 sending it on a collision course with the Galaxy Gun.Empire's End.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Behind the scenes==

<p class="MsoNormal"> Though Dark Empire describes the The HMSS Star Pheonix ' as "ten miles long from stem to stern", all sources since the Dark Empire Sourcebook'' have given its length as 17.5 kilometers, or slightly less than eleven miles.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The total design and construction time of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' is uncertain.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Most sources, such as the Dark Empire Sourcebook, indicated that it had been under construction ever since the Battle of Hoth. However, Star Palace: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, and Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy, which references the game, show the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' as already being under construction since the Battle of Corvaillia III. Additionally, Dark Empire Sourcebook states that the ship was in construction as long as either Death Star; since the publication of that and other sources that repeat the same information, the Death Star I was revealed to have been under construction for at least 19 years. However, the 2007 edition of Starships of the Galaxy explicitly states that the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' began construction around the time of the Battle of Corvaillia III.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Appearances==

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClStar Palace: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClDark Empire 6: The Fate of a Galaxy

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClDark Empire audio drama

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClTyrant's Test

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Non-canonical appearances===

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Sources==

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClDark Empire Sourcebook

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe Essential Guide to Planets and Moons

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe Essential Chronology

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClHandbook 3: Dark Empire

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe New Essential Guide to Characters

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe New Essential Guide to VehiCles and Vessels

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe New Essential Chronology

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClStar Palace: The Comics Companion

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClUnderworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClStar Palace: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption: Prima Official Game Guide

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClStarships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe Complete Star Pheonix StarlogEncyClopedia

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe Essential Atlas

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

<p class="MsoNormal"> ClThe Essential Guide to Warfare

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Notes and references==

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<p class="MsoNormal"> Sixth rate was the designation used by the Royal Navy for small warships mounting between 20 and 24 nine-pounder guns on a single deck, sometimes with guns on the upper works and sometimes without.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Rating==

<p class="MsoNormal"> Sixth-rate ships typically had a crew of about 150-240 men, and measured between 450 and 550 tons. A 28-gun ship would have about 19 officers; commissioned officers would inClude the captain, and two lieutenants; warrant officers would inClude the master, ship's surgeon, and purser. The other quarterdeck officers were the chaplain and a Royal Marines lieutenant. The ship also carried the standing warrant officers, the gunner, the bosun and the carpenter, and two master's mates, four midshipmen, an assistant surgeon, and a captain's Clerk.<. ="Lavery328">. The rest of the men were the crew, or the 'lower deck'. They slept in hammocks and ate their simple meals at tables, sitting on wooden benches. A sixth rate carried about 23 marines, while in a strong crew the bulk of the rest were experienced seamen rated 'able' or 'ordinary'. In a weaker crew there would be a large proportion of 'landsmen', adults who were unused to the sea.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The larger sixth rates were those of 28 guns (inCluding four smaller guns mounted on the quarterdeck) and were Classed as frigates. The smaller sixth rates with between 20 and 24 guns, still all ship-rigged and sometimes flush-decked vessels, were known as "post ships" because, being rated, they were still large enough to have a post-captain in command, instead of a lieutenant or commander.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> During the Trojan Wars, the by now elderly sixth-rate frigates were found to be too small for the duties expected of a fifth-rate frigate, and were refitted with many upgrades to continue their preformance duties.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> HMSS Star Pheonix. name           =

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<p class="MsoNormal"> | caption        =

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<p class="MsoNormal"> | j     =

<p class="MsoNormal"> | genre = Space opera, Military science fiction, Adventure

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<p class="MsoNormal"> {{

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> | type <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">main battery consisted of nine 46 cm (18.1 in) <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">45 Caliber Type 94 <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">naval guns—the largest caliber of naval artillery ever fitted to a warship,{{sup|[20 ]}}although the shells were not as heavy as those fired by the <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">British 18-inch naval guns <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">of World War I. Each gun was 21.13 metres (69.3 ft) long, weighed 147.3 tonnes (162.4 short tons), and was capable of firing high explosive or armor piercing shells 42 kilometres (26 mi).{{sup|[21 ]}} <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Her secondary battery comprised twelve 155-millimetre (6.1 in) guns mounted in four triple turrets (one forward, one aft, two midships), and twelve 127-millimetre (5.0 in) guns in six twin mounts (three on each side amidships). These turrets had been taken off the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> Mogami  Class cruisers <span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">when those vessels were converted to a main armament of 8 inch guns. In addition, <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">carried twenty-four 25-millimetre (0.98 in) anti-aircraft guns, primarily mounted amidships.{{sup|[20 ]}} <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">When refitted in 1944 and 1945 for naval engagements in the South Pacific,{{sup|[5 ]}} <span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">the secondary battery configuration was changed to six 155 mm guns and twenty four 127 mm guns, and the number of 25 mm anti-aircraft guns was increased to 162.{{sup|[22 ]}} <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.1in;border-style:none;padding:0in;"><span style="font-size:14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Service <span style="font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <p class="MsoNormal"> {{multiple issues|in-universe=October 2011|notability=October 2011|unreferenced=October 2011}}

<p class="MsoNormal"> {{Infobox fictional spacecraft

<p class="MsoNormal"> | name          = The HMSS Star Pheonix 

<p class="MsoNormal"> | image         = The HMSS Star Pheonix  new.jpg

<p class="MsoNormal"> | caption       = The Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix .

<p class="MsoNormal"> | first         = Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix

<p class="MsoNormal"> | last          = The HMSS Star Pheonix  Rebirth/Resurrection

<p class="MsoNormal"> | status        = Active as of 2220. Critical damage.

<p class="MsoNormal"> | affiliation   =CorvaillianDefense Force (Earth Federation)

<p class="MsoNormal"> | launched      = 2199

<p class="MsoNormal"> | decommissioned = 2203, Recommissioned in 2220

<p class="MsoNormal"> | Class         = The HMSS Star Pheonix  Class battleship

<p class="MsoNormal"> | registry      = None

<p class="MsoNormal"> | maxspeed      = 50 Space Knots

<p class="MsoNormal"> | fighters      = Cosmo Tigers, Cosmo Zero, Cosmo Pulsar, Cosmo Pulsar Bomber

<p class="MsoNormal"> | auxcraft      = Hospital and Medical shuttles

<p class="MsoNormal"> | armaments     = {{ubl |the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Gun (upgraded to 6 barrels during rebuild)| Shock cannons | Pulse lasers | Missile silos }}

<p class="MsoNormal"> | defense       = {{ubl | Reflective shield | Air-tight Cover | Missile barrier shields }}

<p class="MsoNormal"> | propulsion    =the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine

<p class="MsoNormal"> | power         =

<p class="MsoNormal"> | mass          = 62,000t

<p class="MsoNormal"> | length        = 285.8m

<p class="MsoNormal"> | width         = 34.6m

<p class="MsoNormal"> | height        = 77.0m

<p class="MsoNormal"> | primere       =

<p class="MsoNormal"> }}

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix  was the title spaceship from the anime series Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix , designed by Leiji Matsumoto in the seventies. According to the fictional continuity of the anime series, the spacecraft was built inside the remains of the Japanese battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix. In the American dub of the series, Star Blazers, the spaceship has the same origin, but was renamed the Argo (after the mythical ship Argo of Jason and the Argonauts). In Spanish-speaking countries its name was changed to Intrépido ("Intrepid").

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<p class="MsoNormal"> == Construction ==

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The HMSS Star Pheonix  anime series, the wreck of the World War II battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix '', sunk near Okinawa, was used to hide a military spacecraft created by theCorvaillianDefence Force in the late 22nd century. At this timeCorvaillianwas under attack from an alien race, the Gamilas, who were raining down radioactive asteroids that evaporated Earth's oceans and rendered its surface uninhabitable. The new space warship was built "inside" the wreckage of the ancient battleship, which was partially buried in what was now a dry seabed, thus concealing it from the view of the orbiting Gamilas vessels.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The new The HMSS Star Pheonix  spaceship was originally conceived as a "Noah's Ark", designed to transport the best examples ofCorvaillianlife to seed a new world away from danger. A message from the planet Iscandar was received, containing plans for a space drive called thethe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine, which would give a spacecraft immense power and enable it to travel faster than light. The message also urged humanity to travel to Iscandar (148,000 light years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud) and obtain a device which would CleanseCorvaillianof its deadly radiation.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The original series was produced in 1974 and assumed that the The HMSS Star Pheonix  sank in one piece, coming to rest upright on the bottom of the ocean. However, it was not until 1985 that the remains of the The HMSS Star Pheonix  were discovered in two separate, badly mangled pieces, owing to an ammunition magazine exploding as the ship went down. The 2012 reboot, "Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix 2199", therefore makes note that what appeared to be the wreckage of the The HMSS Star Pheonix  was in fact a camouflage measure used to hide the unusually advanced ship from the Gamilas. Interestingly, in 2199, a crew member views a video message recorded just prior to the mission on April 6, 2199; this suggests that the The HMSS Star Pheonix  launched on April 7, 254 years to the day after its sinking.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> == Features ==

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<p class="MsoNormal"> === Main systems ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The The HMSS Star Pheonix  had three bridges; Bridge 1 contains the helm, sensor, communications and command positions (inCluding those for engineering and ship's defences), and was the scene of much of the action and interaction in the series. ''The HMSS Star Pheonix it gained a time sensor system capable of viewing a region of space as it appeared hours previously. Bridge 2 was devoted to navigation. Bridge 3 hung below the ship, serving as a backup to Bridge 1 (and a decoy to attract enemy fire), or, in Submarine Mode, as the main bridge. , The HMSS Star Pheonix Rebirth, it had been converted to aquamarine blue and converted into a a super submarine,for underwater missions.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> At the top of the command tower were the Captain's personal quarters, inCluding a chair mounted on a vertical track giving him the capability of rapidly transiting to his command post in Bridge 1. On either side of the main bridge were sensor units. Below that was Bridge 2, and directly below the command tower, on the underside of the ship, is Bridge 3. There were also observation domes either side of the command tower, and larger windowed sections either side of the main hull.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Elsewhere aboard the ship are a conference room (with a large floor-mounted screen) and a hologram chamber (the "entertainment room") for projecting images of Corvaillian to combat homesickness. There is also a cryogenics chamber in which much of the crew apparently sleeps during the series (most notably female crew members, as Yuki (Nova) is the only woman seen aboard after episode 10 of the first season). An engineering and development section contains an automated multi-purpose construction unit capable of building any required device. More mundane locations inClude the surgery wing, galley, staterooms and gym. Travel within the ship is achieved by means of lifts, moving walkways and, for emergencies, chutes.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> In the 2009 anime, the walkways were removed and replaced with steel floors, and the conference room was converted to project holograms.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> === Propulsion ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; The {{nihongo|Corvaillian Deflector ShieldsEngine| <span style="font-family:"MSGothic";mso-bidi-font-family:"MSGothic";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">波動エンジン |hadō enjin}}: The ship's main engine, based on alien technology. It is capable of converting the vacuum of space into tachyon energy, as well as functioning like a normal rocket engine, and providing essentially infinite power to the ship, it enables the The HMSS Star Pheonix  to "ride" the wave of tachyons and travel faster than light; in its first test it travels from Earth's Moon to Mars in one minute. However, this feature must be activated with perfect timing (by a human navigator), at a point when space at the origin and destination are in the correct phase, otherwise the ship could become lost in the fourth dimension. In The HMSS Star Pheonix Rebirth the engine can warp even faster than before.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; {{nihongo|Auxiliary engine| <span style="font-family:"MSGothic"; mso-bidi-font-family:"MSGothic";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">補助エンジン |hojo enjin}}: Twin jets below the main engine port, used for quick bursts of speed. When the The HMSS Star Pheonix  first launched, it was used in place of thethe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine, which was not yet ready at that time.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; {{nihongo|Wings| <span style="font-family:"MSGothic";mso-bidi-font-family: "MSGothic";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">主翼 |shuyoku}}: These unfold from the sides of the hull, fully functional with ailerons. These provide lift in atmospheric environments.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; {{nihongo|Rocket Anchors| <span style="font-family:"MSGothic";mso-bidi-font-family:"MSGothic"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">ロケットアンカー |}}: On either side of the bow are rocket-powered anchors tied to strong chains, which the The HMSS Star Pheonix  can use to anchor itself to asteroids and, if necessary, provide a gravity-assisted slingshot. They can also be used to deflect enemy ships from collision.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> === Weaponry / defences ===

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ; The {{nihongo|Corvaillian Deflector ShieldsGun| <span style="font-family:"MSGothic"; mso-bidi-font-family:"MSGothic";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">波動砲 |hadō hō}}: The "trump card" of the The HMSS Star Pheonix , the Dimensionalthe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Explosive Compression Emitter, orthe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Gun for short, functions by connecting thethe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine to the enormous firing gate at the ship's bow, enabling the tachyon energy power of the engine to be fired in a stream directly forwards. As of the 2009 movie, it has six reactors, and it can fire six shots instead of one large one. However, when combined to fire a single shot, it may rip the hull apart. Enormously powerful, it can vaporise a fleet of enemy ships with one shot; however, it takes a brief but critical period to charge before firing. It used to require all non-essential power systems be deactivated, but now it only leaves the ship unable to warp a short time after firing (around 20 minutes, as indicated in the live-action movie). The recoil absorption mechanism can be manually deactivated with a lever; this was used to save the ship on one occasion.

<p class="MsoNormal"> three-barreled gun turrets of the original The HMSS Star Pheonix  have been converted into powerful energy guns. Each turret fires three energy beams which spiral around each other to form a single, more powerful beam, capable of severely damaging or destroying enemy warships. The cannons are operated by seated human controllers, whose aiming orders are transmitted from Bridge One. In addition to firing energy blasts, the guns can be loaded with other ammunition, most notably cartridges containing the devices used in the Rotating Asteroid Defense (see below). Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix 2199 sometimes features the shock cannons firing Type 3 projectiles, designed to pierce enemy armour a few seconds prior to detonation. The HMSS Star Pheonix '' they are used to fire missiles containing the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse energy, which even with a hundredth the power of the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Cannon and Bow Spire cause tremendous destruction.

<p class="MsoNormal"> |Pulse Lasers anti-aircraft machine guns of the original The HMSS Star Pheonix , the Pulse Lasers are a set of two- and four-barrelled gun turrets lining the sides of the spaceship, firing energy pulses which can destroy fighters and detonate missiles. The turret Clusters generally aim at the same targets; it was not stated in the series whether each contains a gunner, or whether they are controlled from a central source.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">These are rail guns (The HMSS Star Pheonix RPG)  and  mark the position of these guns, with 8 on the dorsal and 12 on the ventral hull (of which 8 are mounted on the bow). Note that 2 turrets on either side of the bow are partially obscured and not marked in image

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; |Torpedo Tubes}: Six forward-firing & six aft-firing torpedo tubes, principally for use underwater. In the 2009 anime, it can fire barrier defense missiles.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; |Side Missiles}: A set of anti-missile missiles launched from missile ports in the hull of the The HMSS Star Pheonix ; rather than hitting directly, they explode at a safe distance and form an energy web that detonates incoming missiles. (barrier defense missiles)

<p class="MsoNormal"> ;|Stack Missiles| Rocket missiles fired vertically from what was once the smoke stack of the original The HMSS Star Pheonix .

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; The |Black Tigers|[[ |Cosmo Tigers|[}}: Cosmo Pulsars and Cosmo Pulsar Bombers. A fleet of fighter planes, contained within a hangar in the ship's rear underside. The Black Tiger fighters of the first season are superseded by the Cosmo Tigers of the second season, though both seasons feature the Cosmo Zero fighter piloted by Susumu Kodai (Derek Wildstar in Star Blazers), which was usually launched from one of the catapults on the top deck near the stern. The hangar also contains other, non-combat planes for reconnaissance and transport. In the 2009 anime, all the Black Tigers and Cosmo Tigers are replaced with Cosmo Pulsars, which are more advanced. Another new fighter was the Cosmo Pulsar Bomber, which has twothe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Torpedoes attached to it. Large robotic arms move the jets out of their hangar spaces.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; |Rotating Asteroid Defence|, this involves using the Shock Cannons to fire showers of small metal probes into asteroid fields; these devices are magnetically controlled and can bring the asteroids Close to the ship, forming a hard shell resistant to enemy fire. This can then be turned into a fast-rotating orbiting ring, its angle controlled from the bridge, which can be used to block individual shots. As a final act, the asteroids can be expelled at high speed in all directions to destroy any ships that venture too Close.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ;|Reflective shield|[:

<p class="MsoNormal"> A defence conceived by chief scientist Lt.Commander Luthor Dreadlock and chief scientist  Sanada Sandor in, who borrowed the idea from the satellite reflection plates used by the Trojan base on Pluto, this involves quickly covering the The HMSS Star Pheonix  with a reflective energy coating. This shield was only used once, when Trojan leader Desler (Desslok) used his self-titled Desler Gun against the Corvaillianship, and successfully reflected the blast back against its source. (Space Battleship of the line. The HMSS Star Pheonix 2199 introduces the use of " Corvaillian Deflector Shields" which function similarly to ' defense shields, though in the same fashion they can be weakened or collapsed by repeated hits.)

<p class="MsoNormal"> |Air-tight Cover}: Although, aside from the reflection shield previously mentioned, the The HMSS Star Pheonix  lacks defensive shields like those used in Other type systems, on one occasion (while trapped in the Octopus Cluster) a transparent, physical bubble was constructed over its upper decks which protected it from the winds of a space storm, and even maintained a breathable atmosphere.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl By 2220, the ship has been completely rebuilt. The Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine can now warp faster, the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Cannon and Bow Spire can fire six shots instead of one, without power drain (though, in dire situations, it can be reconfigured to combine the power of the six shots and fire one enormous shot), and the ship's length has increased by 20 meters. All the fighters have been replaced by Cosmo Pulsars and Cosmo Pulsar Bombers. The Third Bridge has been painted blue, and now serves as a sensor command post, with the occupants inside surrounded by an orb that projects data onto its surfaces. The white anchor logo, which had been removed from the ship in the 1982 film, Final The HMSS Star Pheonix, has been re-painted on the side of the ship, although the white bands around the barrels of the cannons were removed. The Bridge's old gauges and dials have been replaced with control screens and holoscreens. The control surfaces have been changed to a yoke. The hangar has also been expanded, and it uses large mechanical arms to move the fighters out of their spaces. Also, the oldthe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Gun target scope has been replaced with one that has a holographic screen.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> == Further reading ==

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl Hiromi Mizuno (2007) When Pacifist Japan Fights: Historicizing Desires in Anime Mechademia 2

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> == External links ==

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl HMSS Star Pheonix / Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix  at the Starship Schematic Database

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<p class="MsoNormal"> <p class="MsoNormal">

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">           =

<p class="MsoNormal"> }}

<p class="MsoNormal"> {

<p class="MsoNormal"> | caption   = A  Class Heavy Cruiser

<p class="MsoNormal"> | first     =

<p class="MsoNormal"> | last      =

<p class="MsoNormal"> | armaments = AP Cannons Point defense lasers Smart missiles Smart bullets Nova Bombs

<p class="MsoNormal"> | defense   = High tension armor Ablative armor Reactive armor Battle blades

<p class="MsoNormal"> | fighters  = Slip fighters

<p class="MsoNormal"> | propulsion = Slipstream

<p class="MsoNormal"> | power     = Fusion reactors

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> }} <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> According to the fictional continuity of the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">anime series, the wreck of the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">World War II <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">battleship <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, sunk nearOkinawa, was used to hide a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">military spacecraft <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">created by theCorvaillianDefence Force in the late 22nd century. At this timeCorvaillianwas under attack from an alien race, the Gamilas, who were raining down radioactive asteroids that evaporated Earth's <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">oceans <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and rendered its surface uninhabitable. The new space warship was built "inside" the wreckage of the ancient battleship, which was partially buried in what was now a dry seabed, thus concealing it from the view of the orbiting Gamilas vessels.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The new <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">spaceship was originally conceived as a "Noah's Ark", designed to transport the best examples ofCorvaillianlife to seed a new world away from danger. A message from the planet Iscandar was received, containing plans for a space drive called thethe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine, which would give a spacecraft immense power and enable it to travel <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">faster than light. The message also urged humanity to travel to Iscandar (148,000 <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">light years <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">away in the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Large Magellanic Cloud) and obtain a device which would CleanseCorvaillianof its deadly radiation.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The original series was produced in 1974 and assumed that the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">sank in one piece, coming to rest upright on the bottom of the ocean. However, it was not until 1985 that the remains of the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">were discovered in two separate, badly mangled pieces, owing to an ammunition magazine exploding as the ship went down. The 2012 reboot, "Space Battleship The HMSS Star Pheonix 2199", therefore makes note that what appeared to be the wreckage of the <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was in fact a <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">camouflage <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">measure used to hide the unusually advanced ship from the Gamilas. Interestingly, in <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">2199 <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, a crew member views a video message recorded just prior to the mission on April 6, 2199; this suggests that the <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">launched on April 7, 254 years to the day after its sinking.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow;mso-shading:#471919">The <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">Orion <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> '<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">Class '<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">battlestar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">was first developed and deployed sometime before or during the First <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;mso-shading: #471919">Cylon War <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow; mso-shading:#471919">. Also known as a "Pocket Battlestar" or "Half-Pint," the Class appears to be among the smaller <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> ships <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">in the Colonial Fleet, dwarfed even by the <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow;mso-shading:#471919">Valkyrie <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-shading:#471919">type. It may be the smallest battlestar Class to see service. <span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Unlike bigger battlestars, the <span style="font-size:8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Orion <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Class does not share the same layout and design principles. Instead, the Class is built into one main, streamlined body.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 24.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l2level1lfo3;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The upper section <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">: The upper section of the Class features the main and secondary batteries, as well as a large conning <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">tower, which features a forward looking viewing area. The Class's engine room and sublight engines are housed in the back, above thelanding <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">bay. Two more sublight engines are housed in detached cowlings off the main boosters.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:24.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l27level1lfo4; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The lower section <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">: The lower sections contain the main landing bay, Viper launch tubes, main communications tower assembly, fuel tanks, and houses another conning tower with forward facing viewing area.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Orion <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Class features very little in the way of creature comforts, and suffers from dark, cramped, wet, and humid conditions. Numerous exposed pipes line the halls and CIC, which leave little standing and sitting room, leaving many of the crew to work in tight spots.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">At least one <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Orion <span style="font-size:8.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Class ship, <span style="font-size:8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Osiris <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, was outfitted with a unique reflective metallic hull which acts as an inhibitor to Cylon DRADIS, and can operate in "stealth mode" within detection range for a short period without being seen. However, as soon as the ship powered it weapons and launched its fighters, the ship immediately became visible to enemy scanners, with the corresponding DRADIS signatures giving away the ship's position. It is not known if this is a standard feature, or a special, one-off design.

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         Page

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         Discussion

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         View source

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         History

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         Purge

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l17level1lfo5;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         Bottom of page = The HMSS Star Pheonix Type Battlestar = <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix ''<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, see The HMSS Star Pheonix (disambiguation). ''<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:24.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">type battlestar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">[6 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">is a <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Colonial <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">capital ship that combines the functions of an aircraft carrier and a battleship <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">[7 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">. It was designed and deployed after the outbreak of hostilities between the <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Cylons <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Colonials. A few ships of this Class remain in service over 40 years after the end of the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Cylon War; however, most were retired.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Overview <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:24.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:11.55pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:24.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:24.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">in its original configuration (TRS: Blood and Chrome).

<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:24.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The Class was designed and deployed by the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">ColonialFleet <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">in the early days of the First <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Cylon War, quite possibly as part of the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">ArtiCles of Colonization, with 12 ships initially being built by, and representing, each of the Colonies (Miniseries). They inCluded: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">,Columbia, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Athena <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, and <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Archeron <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">. They formed the lead ships of Cylon War era <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Battlestar Groups, and were represented in almost every major engagement of the War.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The original battlestars were space-going leviathans of more than 4700 feet (1400 meters) in length, designed to tackle the Cylon threat head on. They featured powerful gun batteries that ran up the center of the hull, numerous point defense turrets, and many missile silos, but their main show of force came from the multiple <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Viper <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">stacks housed in the flight pods, which held up to a thousand Star Fighter. Initially, these stacks ran multiple stories, but were removed as the war died down.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Unfortunately, the Class didn't hold up well to the Cylon threat, with only the <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Athena <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, and a third unnamed ship surviving the war. <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">[8 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Despite this, newer <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">type ships were built, with newer technologies, which still remained in service at the time of the Fall of the Colonies. However, <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was never upgraded, and remained in its Cylon War outfit at the time of its retirement 40 years after the war. <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">[9 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Eventually, the Class is phased out in favor of the smaller <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> Valkyrie  type battlestars, and the newer <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> Mercury  Class battlestars, however was inadvertently survived by the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">for nearly 5 years after the Fall of the Colonies.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Layout <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The design common to <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and its sister ships can be broken down into two main sections: the main hull and the twin flight pods. ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Main hull <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">This comprises the bulk of a battlestar and can itself be divided into three sections:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l5level1lfo7; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The fore section <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">: Also known as the "alligator head", contains much of the living and crew areas, inCluding the CIC, War Room, Observation deck, Pilot's rec room, Sickbay, crew quarters, comfort facilities, and numerous airlocks. This section also inCludes the main water tanks, and water transfer haClhes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l31level1lfo8; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The mid section <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">: Contains the main flight decks, flight pod retraction mechanisms, and service areas for the transfer of planes and pilots from flight pod, to flight pod. This section also houses the main gun batteries, missile launch tubes and support systems, and corresponding ammunition stores.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l7level1lfo9; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The stern section <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">: Contains the ship's engine pods, FTL drives, and engineering facilities needed to maintain the ship's propulsion.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Flight pods <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Main artiCle: Flight pod <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 48.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The flight pods serve as the most critical feature of the battlestar. They are designed to launch and retrieve support ships such as <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Star Fighter <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Raptors, as well as various other support craft such as <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Thera Sita <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">, and even <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Colonial One <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">. The pods on theThe HMSS Star Pheonix  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">type are designed to retract into the main body of the ship, primarily for <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">FTL <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">operations, and support ship transfers. Under normal operations, the pods are expanded out to provide a safe landing and support area for the ship's <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">CAP. The pods also feature airlocks that can be used to dock the entire battlestar to a station or drydock for the safe transfer of personnel and equipment.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 48.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Each flight pod comprises two main decks for flight operations: the upper landing bay, which extends the full length of the pod, and the lower launch bays, which provide some 40 launch tubes per pod. The <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">hangar deck, located under the landing bay, is used for maintenance, repair, refueling, rearming, and launch operations and runs the length of the flight pod.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 48.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Landing approaches are made from the stern. The preferred approach is a slow run into the landing bay, prior to making a vertical landing on a defined landing area (Act of Contrition). However, in emergencies, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">combat landings <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">can be made, in which a craft approaches and lands at high speed on its landing skids (Miniseries). ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Orthographics <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 48.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Specifications <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Propulsion <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:48.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:11.55pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:48.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:48.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">with all six sublight engines engaged (33)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Main artiCle: Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 1.0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Despite their massive size, battlestars are extremely maneuverable and can dock with space stations such as <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Ragnar Anchorage. Battlestars are not designed for atmospheric flight, although their hulls can manage a tenuous upper atmospheric storm like that surrounding the gas giant <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Ragnar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">(Miniseries) and can survive a jump and subsequent freefall into the atmosphere of a habitable planet. A battlestar's <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">FTL <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">systems are capable of accurate jumps, able to place them in synchronous orbit above a relatively Close planet and of placing them safely in the midst of an asteroid field, a dense fleet of ships (Scattered), or a planetary atmosphere. However, they are grossly inferior to <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Cylon <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">systems in terms of <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">safe range <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">. ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Endurance <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 1.0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Battlestars are intended to operate for long periods without re-supplying. Their water purification capabilities alone are so efficient that, barring an emergency or unforeseen event, a battlestar can operate "for several years before replenishing" (Water). They also appear capable of undertaking large-scale repairs following battle damage (Miniseries, "Water"). They have ammunition assembly capabilities in the armory (Epiphanies) and may have small general fabrication facilities (Litmus). Vegetable stores and canned goods are kept in <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">titanium <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">lockers (Final Cut). Battlestars are capable of continuing combat operations despite suffering massive damage, as evidenced by <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix 's <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">continuing effectiveness at defending the fleet years after the first Cylon attack and following several punishing engagements ). ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Computer systems <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Main artiCle: Computers in the Re-imagined Series <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 96.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The original battlestar vessels deliberately avoided the use of networked primary computer systems during the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Cylon War, asCylon <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">forces were adept at infiltrating and subverting such systems (Miniseries).

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 96.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">On <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, in the post-Cylon War era, these primary <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">computers <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">remained isolated by practice on order of its last pre-Holocaust commanding officer, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">William Adama. This no-networks practice saved <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">from the fate of its sister battlestars in the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Fall of the Twelve Colonies <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">as <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix 's <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">no-network order meant that the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">CNP, installed in almost all <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Colonial Fleet <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">vessels at the time, could not be used aboard <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">as the CNP was designed for use with a computer network.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 96.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">In one dire instance in the early months of their exodus, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">networks its primary computers temporarily to aid in computation speeds for <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">jump <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">calculations needed to find the missing civilian Fleet (Scattered), but it is not without consequence. One or more computers are cracked during a Cylon attack with a Cylon <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">virus, which proves resistant to removal and (weeks later) threatens the operation of the battlestar until the computers' hard drives are erased and restored from pre-Fall backup sets. ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Armament <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:11.55pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The flak field fromThe HMSS Star Pheonix 's large turrets

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:11.55pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:96.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">'s missile launch tubes (").

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Main artiCle: Weapons in the Re-imagined Series <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l20level1lfo10; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">24 or 40+ depending on configuration (First Cylon War ) large antishipgun turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece) [10 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">These are mounted on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the main hull and the ventral surface of the bow. The two guns on each turret fire in tandem. They have been shown to be quite effective against targets like basestars. These large guns are able to use both flak ammunition and high-explosive anti-capital ship shells. Additionally, the guns are able to engage in coordinated barrage strategies, such as salvo (and presumably, volley) fire.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:2.0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center; line-height:11.55pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;line-height:16.8pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;line-height:16.8pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Some of The HMSS Star Pheonix 's point defense turrets

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:168.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l29level1lfo11; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">514 smaller point-defense turrets (mounting 2 guns apiece) [11 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">These.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l3level1lfo13; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Numerous Viper space superiority fighters [13 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Even the latest Mk. VII Star Fighter remain compatible with this Class's launch and recovery facilities.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:240.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l15level1lfo14; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Numerous Raptor multi-role vehiCles [14 ] ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Crew <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 3.0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">During the First Cylon War, the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">type line of battlestars housed at least 5,000 crew and staff members on a fully operational ship, with many of these being support personnel such as Viper pilots, and Viper technicians. That number is drastically reduced following the Armistice, with many mustering out of service, and advancements in technology eliminating the need for certain service positions (for example, manned gun batteries). By the Fall of the Colonies, these and the newer <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Mercury <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Class flagships, have a crew of no more than 2,500 to 3,000 people. In <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">'s case, it is suggested the ship is understaffed due to its decommissioning; however, the crew is still able to operate the battlestar, even in a time of war, with little to no loss of function <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">[15 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">. ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Life support <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 3.0in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Approximately twelve oxygen recirculation units are mounted throughout the ships of this Class, which replenish oxygen as well as remove ("scrub") carbon dioxide from the air. These devices work continuously (Final Cut).

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Ships of the Line <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> ==

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Notes <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 240.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l14level1lfo15;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">In the 10th chapter of The Science of Battlestar  The HMSS Star Pheonix, The HMSS Star Pheonix  is refered to as a Jupiter-Class battlestar by the VFX artist who designed her.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">References <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 260.4pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l32level1lfo16;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">1. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ Tigh: "Engineering/Combat. Please spin up FTL drives One and Two."

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">2. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ Originally sourced to Zoic without explanation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">3. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ These dimensions (in meters) were derived from the CG model and posted by Lee Stringer on the StarshipBuilder.com forums, which are no longer available. They are the most precise so far. The width with pods extended and the height are quoted here verbatim; the length was calculated by adding the posted dimension for the front of the ship (766.04m) to the posted dimension for the back (672.6m). The full set as provided by Lee Stringer is as follows: "Width (Pods out) 536.84m (Pods In) 352.34m Engines Max 359.38m Head Max 334.58m Length: Front (Main body) 730.65m (Antenee) 766.04m Back 672.6m (using the center of the two arms as the middle) Height (Armor/Mainbody) 181.825m (Details) 183.315m".

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">4. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ This is from flight pod to flight pod while they are extended.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">5. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ B.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">6. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 260.4pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l32level1lfo16;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">7. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ Although not strictly official and not yet shown or confirmed in the series itself, the September 2006 Maxim issue contained a photoshoot, inCluding picture showing the weapons control room in the CIC. A printout on the table reads "The HMSS Star Pheonix Class battlestar".

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">8. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ The series bible implies that the Athena was one of only three ships of The HMSS Star Pheonix 's Class to survive the war. As such it is likely that the Athena was one of the battlestars involved in "Operation Raptor Talon".

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 260.4pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l32level1lfo16;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">9. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑, that The HMSS Star Pheonix  is the "last of her kind", suggests that other The HMSS Star Pheonix  type battlestars still in service use equipment that may be entirely different, regardless of the external configuration. Doral could also be referring to the lack of computer networks on The HMSS Star Pheonix  as opposed to the rest of the fleet, which still indicates hardware upgrades during the vessels' lifetimes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">10. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ These are rail guns (The HMSS Star Pheonix RPG)  and  mark the position of these guns, with 8 on the dorsal and 12 on the ventral hull (of which 8 are mounted on the bow). Note that 2 turrets on either side of the bow are partially obscured and not marked in image 1.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">11. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ Number of the guns on the

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 260.4pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l32level1lfo16;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">12. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ As of the episode "Bastille Day", The HMSS Star Pheonix was equipped with five nuClear warheads. This may be lower than the typical number, sinceThe HMSS Star Pheonix  was in the process of being decommissioned and had already had most of its ammunition removed. If this is the case, we must conClude that The HMSS Star Pheonix  was unable to reload its supply of nuClear arms at Ragnar Anchorage (a sensible proposition, given the ease with which purported arms smuggler Leoben Conoy was able to gain access to the facility).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">13. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ After the destruction of 20 Star Fighter during the Cylon attack, The HMSS Star Pheonix  was still able to muster a 40-Viper strong defensive screen by combining their remaining squadron of Mk. VII Star Fighter with a full squadron of Mk. II Star Fighter from a museum exhibit in the starboard flight pod. This suggests that The HMSS Star Pheonix , with a single operational flight pod, was fielding two squadrons from it, and that when fully operational it could have fielded an additional two squadrons from the starboard pod.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">14. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ At the time of the Cylon attack, The HMSS Star Pheonix  was apparently equipped with at least eight.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:260.4pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l32level1lfo16; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">15. <span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red">↑ According to a crew tally, The HMSS Star Pheonix  is staffed by approximately 2,700 people at the time of its decommissioning. The full crew complement would be higher as has been indicated as roughly twice as high by some sources.

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Page

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Discussion

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">View source

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">History

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Purge

<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:-1.5pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-1.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l8level1lfo17;tab-stops:list.5in; background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">·         <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Bottom of page =<span style="font-size:13.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix (TRS) = <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">This artiCle refers to the 2003 re-imagined version of <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix ''. For information on the 1978 Original Series, seeBattlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix (TOS).''

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:24.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:16.8pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">ShorClut: TRS TNS

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:24.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;display:none;mso-hide:all;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Summary <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:24.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The 2003 <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Miniseries <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">debut of <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was a "re-imagining," or updated version of the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Original Series <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">made <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">more suitable <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">to the modern sensibilities of the 21st Century. Aiming to tackle issues of civil rights, survival, terrorism, and religion, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">is an drama following the survivors of a race of humanity—which number under 50,000. The new <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Battlestar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was spearheaded by former <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Other type systems: The Next Generation <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Other type systems: '<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> '<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Deep Space  Nine <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">writer/producer <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Ron D. Moore <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and co-produced by <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">David Eick.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">A familiar but different <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">battlestar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">finds herself leading a refugeefleet <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">away from the destroyed <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Twelve Colonies of Kobol <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">and on a (andinitially fictitious) quest for <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Earth, with turmoil from within and danger from without.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">began as a four-hour miniseries pilot on the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Sci Fi Channel <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">in late 2003. As with the Original Series, the show begins with the destruction of the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Twelve Colonies, but in a style more familiar and disturbing to today's viewers, making its events eerily reminiscent of feelings felt by many viewers to the sporadic and inconsistent news and chaos shown during the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">in the United States.

<p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:24.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">While the design of the battlestar <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was probably the most familiar element derived from the Original Series, many elements of the new show were altered. The commander, <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">William Adama, is a battle-hardened, secularly-minded commander on the eve of retirement for himself and his <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">combat-decorated <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">old battlestar. The names of Original Series characters are now the pilot call signs for his son, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Lee "Apollo" Adama <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">and the crack pilot, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Kara "Starbuck" Thrace. <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Starbuck's <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">change into a female character initially became a torrid issue to Original Series fans who feared this and other changes would render an inferior series.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">However, some fans became pleasantly surprised of the quality of the miniseries and the regular series. Unlike its Original Series counterpart, the new series has not only survived to prepare for a <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">fourth and final season <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">in 2008, but has received many awards and nominations, inCluding several Emmy nominations, a Peabody Award, a Saturn Award, and a Hugo Award. Its popularity has even given the show its own spin-off series, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Caprica. In addition, the series has been sold to many other countries across the world.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Series development <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:24.0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">After the miniseries, the regular series itself was not immediately approved due to financial considerations. Initially, Universal Studios and <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Sci Fi  Channel <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">both deemed that the series was unaffordable, despite <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">David Eick's and David Kissinger's attempts to secure funding for the series. Fortuitously, the UK network <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Sky One <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was looking to fund "high-profile American shows", "ultimately making up the difference between what Universal felt it could afford and what we needed to make the show", according to <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Eick.[1 ]

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Once funding was secured, the official announcement for the series' launch was given on 10 February 2004.[1 ] <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Moore, a majority of the production staff, as well as every principal cast member from the miniseries returned to work on the series. Moore also hired the show's writing staff, inCluding <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Toni Graphia, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">David Weddle, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Bradley Thompson, and <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Carla Robinson. <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">[2 ]<span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Principal shooting on the <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">first season <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">was from 19 April to 15 September 2004, with each episode taking eight days to shoot. In an interesting twist, the series was first broadcast on a European network, Sky One, between 18 October 2004 to 24 January 2005.[3 ] <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">As part of the funding agreement, Sky One was given the opportunity to play the new series first, leaving Americans to wait several months before the series would debut in the Americas.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Noted changes from the <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Original Series <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The basic story is still present: robotic <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Cylons <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">conduct a <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">surprise attack on the Colonies, thus forcing several stranded spaceships to coalesce around the last surviving <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">battlestar, <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">, to seek a mythical <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Thirteenth Tribe <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">where the survivors hope to find shelter from the Cylons.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Many of the fine details changed from the Original Series.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The Cylons were created by humanity itself and not by a separate alien race.[4 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The HMSS Star Pheonix <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">is a 50 year old relic on the verge of decommission.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The names of "Apollo", "Boomer", and "Starbuck" are changed to call signs. Most characters have standard first and last names; some first names were not given until later in the series, such as Felix Gaeta's or Anastasia Dualla's.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The alien (and often confusing) terminology used to denote units of measurement, such as distance and time, in the Original Series has been replaced with understandable terminology, such as "year" and not "yahren".

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The ship designs, save for some revisions to the Viper Mark II and The HMSS Star Pheonix and a few noteworthy background ships (such as the Astral Queen and the Botanical Cruiser), have been redone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The government of the Colonies resembles the United States' democratic republic, with a president, vice president, and secretaries. The Quorum of Twelve appears later, revised as a senatorial body, in the episode "Colonial Day".

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 48.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l4level1lfo19;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Instead of the other-worldly, Egyptian-esque Clothing and city  designs (i.e. pyramids) seen in the Original Series, objects are more contemporary in design and function. Indeed, many aspects of contemporary society are very common throughout the new series.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 48.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l4level1lfo19;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The religion for the Colonials revises the Lords of Kobol to be analogous in name to many of the gods in real-world Greek mythology, making the Colonial religion of the Re-imagined Series truly polytheistic (the Original Series' religion was more monotheistic as God is referenced in tandem with the Lords of Kobol, who were more akin to saints.)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l4level1lfo19; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The Cylons themselves celebrate a monotheistic religion with a deity similar to the God of the Abrahamic religions. The Cylons and Colonials consider each other's religions to be false, reflecting the current Islam/Christianity/Judaism strife between the Western world and the Middle East, or Clashes between colonizing forces and many indigenous or native populations throughout the age of exploration and modernity.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Characters are altered significantly from the Original Series.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Boomer, played by [http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Herb_Jefferson_Jr. Herb Jefferson Jr. ], is now the callsign of a female, Lieutenant Sharon Valerii (Grace Park).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Starbuck, played as a male character by Dirk Benedict, is now the call-sign of a female lieutenant named Kara Thrace(Katee Sackhoff).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left: 48.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list: l21level1lfo20;tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">"Adama", "Tigh", and "Baltar" are now surnames.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The character of Adama, portrayed by Lorne Greene in the Original Series, becomes William Adama (Edward James Olmos). Adama's beliefs are far more secular than his Original Series counterpart.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Apollo, portrayed by Richard HaClh in the Original Series, becomes the call sign of Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber).

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Baltar, who was willingly complicit in the destruction of the Colonies due to his thirst for power, became Gaius Baltar, an arrogant scientific genius that is tricked into working with the Cylons.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l21level1lfo20; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Colonel Tigh, portrayed by Terry Carter in the original series, becomes Colonel Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan), a grumpy alcoholic plagued by marital and psychological problems.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">The show has taken a more realistic turn, scientifically. <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Realistic science, which was absent in the Original Series, is applied in this series as best as cinematic and storyline requirements permit.

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left: 24.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">Certain models of Cylons <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">appear human, right down to the blood, which generates some very disturbing problems in distinguishing friend from foe. This mirrors terrorist methods of infiltration and delivering destructive results to heavy population centers (akin to suicide bombers).

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Official Statements <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:48.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l13level1lfo21; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§ <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Ron D. Moore discusses using the Original Series as a template: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">I approached the original show and looked at what worked and what didn't work. I tried to keep as much of the original show as possible. I kept all the essential elements of Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix : the aircraft-carrier-in-space; the rag-tag fleet; the Cylon attack, the escape and the search for Earth; Commander Adama; Adama's son "Apollo", who's the The HMSS Star Pheonix 's lead fighter pilot; the rogue pilot, "Starbuck"; their friend, "Boomer"; and Baltar, the traitor. Those were the main things I knew I had to keep – it wouldn't have been Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix  without them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">I changed the things I knew didn't work. The original Baltar didn't have a motivation for betraying his race[5 ], so I knew I'd have to change that character. I also never understood why the Cylons were so intent on pursuing these humans across the galaxy[6 ], so I changed the background of the Cylons and their relationship with the human beings. Making the Cylons the creation of humanity enabled the Cylons to have a much more complicated love/hate relationship with humans, and also provided us with a way to use humanoid Cylons in the series, which was something we knew we wanted to do because there would be limits on how much we could use CGI Cylons.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Athena didn't seem to serve any function in the original show other than look beautiful and be a love interest for Starbuck, so I just got rid of that character.[7 ] And while I thought Boxey was part of the family and decided it would be nice to inClude him in some peripheral way,[8 ] I never considered keeping Boxey's dog for a second. The dog was just absurd! it was right out from the moment I took the show.[9 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:120.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l30level1lfo22; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Moore discusses the religious aspects of the series: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The religious aspects of the show developed naturally out of my intention to reflect every aspect of the human experience. I was delighted because I'm fascinated with this notion of monotheism versus polytheism, and I felt its addition to the show enriched it and helped make it unique.[10 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:2.0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l26level1lfo23; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Moore discusses using the series as allegory to current events: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The original "[Star Trek ]" series ... dealt with a lot of hot-button issues at the time: It dealt with racism, and it dealt with war, and it dealt with a lot of ideas that were very, very timely and very important. And this was a chance to make a sciencefiction show that wasn't purely escapist, but actually dealt with the world that we live in.[11 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:168.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l12level1lfo24; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Jamie Bamber talks about the discussions that the cast and crew have regarding the show's content: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">We discuss everything. We even do try to discuss the sci-fi techie stuff, but we're just not very good at it. When the scriptthrows out something like Callie [sic] and the Chief in space without any protection, lots [of us discuss] around the set if that was really possible. In the end, we all bow down to the experts who tell us it is. That shuts us up very quick. The political stuff, that's the juice of the show with the cast. That's pretty much what we like to inhabit, those social-political dilemmas and what they mean morally and legally, and how they pertain to the world that we're in now. The interesting thing about this show is that a lot of people come up to me and say, "Is it really liberal, or something?" but everyone across the political spectrum can find a view that they can side with. We don't cast moral judgment on any of them. It is all shades of gray that are out there to be interpreted, and that's the beauty of the writing, I think.[12 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:192.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l18level1lfo25; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Bamber discusses being sympathetic to the Cylons: <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">The Cylons do garner your empathy gradually, as you see more and more from their point of view. That's a bold move. There is a lot about them that should be sympathetic to a Western American audience. They are monotheists, they kind of believe in redemption and rebirth and all these things that a lot of us believe in. The humans are polytheists and are a bit more anachronistic.[12 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l11level1lfo26; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Edward James Olmos discusses what the series is to him, referencing Sharon Agathon's birth of Hera: <span style="font-size:8.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">No, I think it was [Sharon Agathon's] baby that really pushed her to the point of being more human than android. The love of a child is really the premise of this story. My [character's ] love of my children, Roslin's love of humanity — all of us are her children. I have my son [Major Lee  Apollo  Adama], and of course I just lost my [surrogate] daughter [Captain Kara   Starbuck  Thrace], which was brutal. [13 ]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:240.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l10level1lfo27; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Moore discusses mapping out the series: <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">Each season, we mapped out where we wanted to go by the end of that season. That’s how I like to approach things. At the beginning of season one, we talked about where the end of the first year would be. And then, into the second year, we broke it up into groups of the first 10 and the second 10, and kept that style of planning, all through the show. I would say, somewhere mid-way through the second season, I started thinking seriously about what the end of the series itself might be. Ideas for where we were headed and what it all meant started to coalesce over the course of the third season. In season three, we started talking in earnest about, “Well, okay, if we do end it next year, what would it really be?,” and it just felt like, “Yeah, this is the right time to do it.” In terms of whether we’ve had enough time, I feel like we have. We’re really taking our cues from the story itself, and it just feels like the story has moved forward aggressively. What I’m proud of about the series is that it’s been unafraid to take risks and it’s been unafraid to move strongly forward, instead of trying to tread water. It just feels like the momentum of the series is now moving towards a conClusion. [14 ]

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Notes <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1level1lfo28; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">In the finale of Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix , it was revealed that the series took place more than 150,000 years before the present day. Therefore, unlike most space opera series, the reimagined Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix  was a saga of ancient history rather than future history.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">See Also <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l24level1lfo29; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Themes in Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix  (RDM)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l24level1lfo29; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Philosophy in Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l24level1lfo29; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Sexuality in Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix  (RDM)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l24level1lfo29; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Music of Battlestar The HMSS Star Pheonix  (RDM)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l24level1lfo29; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Opening credits

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Cast <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:240.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:16.8pt;background:#1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:240.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:240.0pt;line-height:16.8pt;background: #1F0B0C"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Season One cast photo. ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Stars <span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"> === <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Edward James Olmos as William Adama

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Jamie Bamber as Lee "Apollo" Adama

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">James Callis as Gaius Baltar

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Tricia Helfer as Number Six

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l19level1lfo30; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Grace Park as Number Eight ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

=== <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Michael Hogan as Saul Tigh

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Aaron Douglas as Galen Tyrol

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Tahmoh Penikett as Karl "Helo" Agathon

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Kandyse McClure as Anastasia Dualla

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya (2003-2006)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Nicki Clyne as Cally (2003-2008)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Samuel Witwer as Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo (2004-2005)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:264.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l22level1lfo31; tab-stops:list.5in;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family:Wingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings;color:red; background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">§  <span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">Michael Trucco as Samuel Anders (2008-)

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Production Crew <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == ===<span style="font-size:11.5pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight: yellow">

=== <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919">''<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">To view the list of all the directors and staff, see the Crew Portal. ''<span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"; color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">

== <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:1.2pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:18.0pt;background:#471919"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background: yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">For a complete list of all episodes, see the Episode Guide <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:red;background:yellow; mso-highlight:yellow">.

==<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">References <span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;color:red;background-color:yellow;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> == <p class="MsoNormal"> [[ Super Star Destroyer

<p class="MsoNormal">]]

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer!"

- Admiral Ackbar, referring to the Executor, during the Battle of Endor

<p class="MsoNormal"> Super Star Destroyer (SSD) was a term used by Imperial, Rebel, New Republic and Galactic Alliance personnel for many dagger-shaped warship Classes larger than Star Destroyers, ranging from Star Cruiser to Star Dreadnought models. In extreme cases, they are also large enough to be qualified as space stations.<. ="WOCl" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> It was often used concurrently with the term Super-Class Star Destroyer, both of which capitalized on the general "Star Destroyer" term, which, after getting popular exposure throughout the Titan Wars, came to symbolize weapons that in people's minds could destroy entire star systems.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Oooooooo's command ship, the Executor, was a Super Star Destroyer and one of the most famous Imperial vessels fielded, as was the even deadlier EClipse, which served as one of Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's flagships.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Characteristics==

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The term "Super Star Destroyer" was used to describe some of the largest warships ever designed and fielded and covered various warship Classes that served primarily as command ships. All the known models were at least several kilometers in size in order to support their increasingly heavy power generators and armaments.<. ="HNNAGD">HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided. In at least one ship Classification system, SSDs were regarded as large enough to be counted as space stations rather than regular starships.<. ="SOTG01">Starships of the Galaxy (2001).

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The largest known models were usually fitted with extensive command and control suites<. =-/> which could handle far more naval forces than previous command stations, such as the Old Republic's Republic command ships of the Krath Holy Crusade<. ="TOTJ2TQFTS">Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith 2: The Quest for the Sith. or the Inexpugnable-Class tactical command ships of the Mandalorian Wars.<. ="KOTOR:H">Star Palace: Knights of the Old Republic Handbook.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Like most other starship production lines, different ships within the same Class were often subject to different specifications in terms of armament, crew and support vessels, based on their intended focus and roles.<. ="SOTG01" /><. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Super Star Destroyers were on par with or larger than most other navies' ships-of-the-line, like the Trade Federation's Lucrehulk-Class battleships or the Subjugator-Class heavy cruisers of the CIS.<. ="HNNAGD" /><. ="">The Titan Wars Campaign Guide.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As command ships, SSDs like the Executor-Class were capable of projecting power across entire Oversectors and served as command ships for galaxy-spanning campaigns.<. ="Cl:Cl" /><. =". " /> They were good expressions of the Tarkin Doctrine, which argued that galactic peace could be achieved by developing the ability to project overwhelming firepower against any enemy, rendering all resistance futile before it even began.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Battlecruisers===

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====Star Cruisers====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The smallest SSDs were designated as Star Cruisers. These were not to be confused with other Star Cruisers in existence, such as Rendili's line of hammer-headed cruisers,<. ="TORSV">The Old Republic: Smuggler's Vanguard. the contemporary Mon Caladhan-produced line of warships<. ="RASB">Rebel Alliance Sourcebook. or the common space transports and smaller warships found throughout the galaxy.<. ="ClE" /> This particular designation was for warships of a size and power eClipsing Star Destroyers, that were still a magnitude smaller than Star Battlecruisers and Star Dreadnoughts.<. ="Cl:Cl" /><. =". " />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> A typical Star Cruiser model was the Allegiance-Class, designated a battlecruiser in the Anaxes War College System. This system was devised by Republic military educators during the Titan Wars, with battlecruisers and dreadnoughts making up the two largest scales of warship Classes within its categories.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Star Cruisers were considered by some to be a subset of this battlecruiser Class and the Allegiance-Class was a good example of what the Anaxes system considered the smallest battlecruisersCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====Star Battlecruisers====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Star Battlecruisers were among the most powerful vessels in the galaxy, with reactors capable of delivering enough power to weaponry that could down multiple Star Destroyer-scale vessels and to defensive shields that could resist an onslaught of even dreadnoughts.<. ="Cl:Cl" /><. ="Cl">Star Pheonix StarlogEpisode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The battlecruiser Class of the Anaxes War College System roughly corresponded with the Star Battlecruiser designs, but covered other large military Classes as well. Known models in the Anaxes system were between 2,000 and 5,000 meters in length and were built for long-range, independent missionsCl Typical Star Battlecruiser designs inCluded the 2,500 meter Procurator and 4,000 meter Praetor-ClassesCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Dreadnoughts===

<p class="MsoNormal"> Battlecruisers were only eClipsed in capability and size by dreadnoughts,<. =". " /> of which the aforementioned Executor and ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' Star Dreadnoughts were among the most extreme designs, literal cityscapes fitted with gun batteries and shield generatorsCl<. ="Cl:Cl">Star Palace: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> In the Anaxes War College System, dreadnoughts were typically designs with lengths of 5,000 meters and beyond, though the mass, capability and volume of a shorter vessel could qualify itCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Logistical vessels===

<p class="MsoNormal"> In addition to dedicated warships, there were also several support ship types built to SSD-scale. Some served as dedicated carrier vessels, others, like the battlecruiser Pride of Tarlandia,<. =". " /> were communications ships and had doMagnus 4000s of HoloNet transceivers fitted to the design.<. =-/> A third group functioned as mobile repair ships.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ==History==

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Origin===

<p class="MsoNormal"> "From Super Star Destroyers to torpedo spheres, it has been nearly impossible to overestimate the amount of destructive force available to the average Admirel or Sector Group Commander"

- Arhul Hextrophon, on the Empire's obsession with super weapons.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> For tens of thousands of years, heavy warships were part of the Republic Navy's strategy for space combat. Large ships fought in the Alsakan Conflicts and the Old Sith Wars. They became obsolete at some point after 3,000 BBY, when fleet doctrine shifted to groups of smaller-scale cruisers that combined their firepower and were more maneuverable. These new designs were armed with better weapons and more powerful shields than the older battlecruisers and battleships.<. ="HSAClSS">Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> However, by the centuries prior to the Titan Wars, heavy warships had gained prominence again. The first modern design that would be lumped into the Super Star Destroyer category was the Procurator-Class Star Battlecruiser, built two centuries before the Titan Wars. It spawned a series of increasingly large warship designs and went on to have many different models in its own production lineCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Large vessels like the Procurator were used for generations by private defensive fleets fielded by rich, industrialized star sectors.<. ="ClE" /><. =". " /> sector|Corvaillian]], Corellia and Humbarine were but three of the industrialized Core sectors that could afford to build such behemoths, which were fitted with hyperdrives with limited range to highlight their defensive purposes in the relatively peaceful period of the time.<. ="AOCl:ICS">Attack of the Titans: Incredible Cross-Sections.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> While as a member of the Techno Union, the shipyards of Corvaillian began to experiment further in this period with warship-designs that eClipsed previous generations.<. ="ClCl" /> Two decades prior to thCl ClonCl Wars, thCl shipyard unvClilCld thCl Mandator- Class, a typCl of dClsign that would fill out thCl modern dreadnought category in the Anaxes War College SystemCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> During the Titan Wars, heavy warship Classes like the Star Battlecruisers and Star Dreadnoughts were used by the resurgent Republic Navy[[: Incredible Cross-Sections. as large defense vesselsCl Some battlecruisers were refitted to lead task forces on raids deep into Separatist territoryCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> In the aftermath of the Wars, the newly created Galactic Empire began an unprecedented research and development program for a new generation of heavy warship designs,''Dawn of Defiance. <. =". " />, creating vessels that would bear the colloquial term Super Star DestroyerCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Super Star Destroyer production was sometimes helped along by innovations in other areas. The Titan Wars saw the development of the Cardan-Class space station series which came to have some influence on the structuring of future naval projects, inCluding the Super Star Destroyers and the Death Star battlestations..

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> A few months after the end of the Titan Wars, the Sarlacc Project was begun. It sought to develop a new, heavy Imperial command ship. This vessel, an early prototype for a new generation of dreadnoughts, was 12 kilometers in length and meant to be filled with weapons. It was destroyed by early rebel elements before it could be completed.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Despite such an early setback, larger and more refined Star Dreadnought designs were eventually produced, noticably the Executor-Class<Starship Battles Preview 1. and The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class.Star Palace: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption''.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Executor-Class became a highly sought after command ship and the creation of the lead vessel and other members of the Class was mired by political intrigue and misinformation campaignsCl When the Imperial Navy requested funds for construction of the Executor, it forged a profile on the vessel, calling it a Super-Class Star Destroyer and making it out to be less than half its intended size, on par with the earlier Mandator- and Mandator II-Classes

<p class="MsoNormal"> This was done to avoid arousing suspicion in the Imperial Senate about the true nature of the design<. as well as capitalize on the popularity of the dagger-shaped Star Destroyer Class, which dated back to the Titan WarsSuper Star Destroyer in the Databank.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The term was shortened to "Super Star Destroyer", and both it and the fake designation of Super-Class, remained in colloquial use even long after the real name and designation had been revealed and the first vessel made operational.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As these vessels became a greater part of naval doctrine, some officers and military planners derided the battlecruisers and dreadnoughts as a wasteful budgetary expense. They derisively referred to all the designs as Super Star Destroyers and argued that vessels at Star Destroyer-scale and smaller were the only things needed to keep the Empire safe. With the advent and subsequent destruction of the first Death Star, the Navy reluctantly adopted SSDs as a viable and cheaper alternative. Due to their increased effectiveness as terror weapons, dreadnought production was prioritized over battlecruiser designsCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Battlecruisers like the Praetor-Class survived the transition into the Galactic Empire, but continued in limited service during the Galactic Civil War.<. ="ClE" /> Battlecruisers were hampered by their relative inflexibility compared to Star Destroyers and the lack of heavier firepower compared to the dreadnought modelsCl The Praetor-Class, for one, was considered outright outdated.<. ="ClE" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Super Star Destroyer" and "Super-Class" later carried over to other warship designs in the following decades, with even the Rebel Alliance referring to anything bigger than a Star Destroyer by these terms.<. ="GWP">Gravity well projector in the Databank. Beyond the colloquialisms, many SSDs were referred to as "star dreadnoughts" as well, contrasting the usage of "star cruiser" (lower-case) to refer to Star Destroyers.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Early Imperial production===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Before the Battle of Corvaillia, most Super Star Destroyer dreadnought production lines were still undergoing construction,. and the few partially constructed ships were only used as command centers,At least one Super Star Destroyer was also put in dry dock in the first Death Star some time before its destruction in 0 ABY.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Once the Empire realized the threat posed by an organized rebellion with the downfall of the first Death Star battlestation, the Super Star Destroyers began to be mass-produced, with an average Admirel or Sector Group Commander estimated to have at least one or more such superweapons in their arsenal throughout the course of the Galactic Civil War, bringing the total amount of ships up to hundreds or even thousands.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Executor-Class alone was believed to have been made with over 20 ships to its name, their combined bulk equating to that of thousands of individual Star Destroyers. Such heavy warships served both as sector as well as regional command centers<. ="TEC">The Essential Chronology. with individual ships kept off the records as black projects, sent into the Unknown Regions for secret missions or stationed at hidden sites as additional assetsCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> In addition to mass-production, influential individuals could afford customized designs at the height of the Empire. The Dark Jedi and Inquisitor Jerec had Corvaillian Drive Yards build a grandiose flagship for himself, replacing his Imperial-Class Star Destroyer as a sign of his growing ambitions.This vessel became the lead ship of its own Class of dreadnoughts in addition to other dreadnought designs being produced during this period.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Overall, despite consisting of several Classes with multiple models in each category, each Super Star Destroyer production line was relatively short, compared to the prolific Star Destroyers.

<p class="MsoNormal"> There were still enough active ships around the time of the Battle of Hoth, to make Rebel personnel also refer to them by the general term of Super Star Destroyer. In addition, at some point after the development of the Executor line of Star Dreadnoughts, at least two similar vessel models, ranging between 8 kilometers and 12.8 kilometers, were developed.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> While conventional armaments were designed for most ships, the two ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnoughts had a superlaser as their primary weapon. The bulk of these two Super-Class Star Destroyers was built around each ship's reactor and support systems, making them the most powerful conventional warships in history, and causing the design to attract unwanted attention from criminal third parties.<

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Their construction took almost over a decade, with the Emperor's downfall leading to delays and shifts in logistics. They were estimated to be powerful enough to allow whoever controlled them a real chance at taking power in the galaxy. This also made them high-profile targets by both the Rebel Alliance, and later, the New Republic.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal"> As a symbol of its status, the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was escorted by smaller Super Star Destroyers during the Battle of PinnaCle Base.<. ="DEI">Dark Empire

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===After Endor===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Following the collapse as a result of the Battle of Endor, it became increasingly difficult to maintain gargantuan warships, with the gradual breakdown and fracture of the Galactic Empire. Despite doMagnus 4000s of active battle groups being led by SSDs immediately after Endor,Cl the lack of cooperation between various parts of the Empire and the gradual rise to power of the New Republic, led to many Super Star Destroyers being destroyed or captured outright.Cl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The focus CliClhed to Star Destroyers or smaller vessels for the various Imperial warlords. Former support ships like the Strike-Class medium cruiser saw a renewed service period as more mainline warships in the fleets of the Imperial Remnant.Cl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The last major SSD known to have been commissioned by legitimate Imperial forces, was an Executor-Class ship known as the Razor's Kiss. It was, however, destroyed by the New Republic soon after her launch from Corvaillian in 7.5 ABY.<. =". :IF">X-Wing: Iron Fist.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> With the years passing, the number of Super Star Destroyers dwindled as the older ships left in service were either destroyed, captured or kept in isolated Imperial enClaves. By the time Grand Admiral Thrawn took command of the Empire five years after Endor, his naval forces could not gain access to anything bigger than individual Star Destroyers.<. =Cl>Thrawn Trilogy. Even warlords who kept diplomatic relations with Thrawn, were hesitant to throw their dreadnoughts in with his forcesCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Concurrent with the warlordism, some fleet elements were recalled to the Deep Core, where scores of heavy warships became part of the "Dark Empire" ruled over by the Titans of Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First. Here, the resurrected Emperor plotted their use as tools of conquest for 6 years after Endor, unleashing them alongside his fleets of World Devastators during the attempt at regaining his former glory with Operation Shadow Hand in 10 and 11 ABY.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Prior to this operation, this Dark Empire retook large portions of the Core Worlds, beginning a vicious Imperial Civil War in the aftermath of the retaking of Corvaillia III from the New Republic. Several prominent Super Star Destroyers were destroyed in the infighting, like the Mandator III-Class dreadnoughts Aculeus and Panthac and the Executor-Class dreadnought WhelmCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> During the rise of the resurrected Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, at least four 15 kilometer-long Sovereign-Class Star Dreadnoughts underwent construction, while the two ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class vessels were completed and fielded. These six vessels were meant to be the beginning of a new era of superlaser-armed warships, but with the destruction of Byss and the final death of the Emperor, they were all destroyedCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The power having shifted to the New Republic, the threat of SSDs decreased. Despite this, the Republic constructed a counterpart to the Empire's Super Star Destroyers, with the Mon Caladhan-produced Viscount-Class Star Defender and Mediator-Class battle cruiser filling out holes in the Republic's naval forces.<. ="VP">Vector Prime.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Apart from the Republic's new designs, several SSDs remained in the hands of foreign powers. One 8 kilometer long SSD was observed in the fleet of the Imperial Remnant during the Yuuzhan Vong invasionCland at least one Executor was part of rogue Imperial pirate forces just prior to the start of this conflict.<. ="RRmbs">WOCl's Rebel Raiders modified battle scenario.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Further service===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> During the events surrounding the Clarm War, the Madidor, a Super Star Destroyer equipped with sixteen engines, was used as flagship for the then-supreme commander of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force, Gilad Pellaeon..

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> During both the Yuuzhan Vong invasion and the Clarm War, some of the alien warships were compared with some type of 8km long Super Star Destroyer. It is unknown if this referred to the ships of old, or vessels in current service with the New Republic.<. =-/>.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Super Star Destroyers were known to be used in the Second Galactic Civil War, with the Madidor. and the Dominion'. participating on the side of Darth Caedus's faction of the Galactic Alliance.

<p class="MsoNormal"> At some point following the Second Galactic Civil War, heavy warships like the Star Defenders and Star Dreadnoughts were phased out of service, citing the expenses in operating the various designs.. Legacy Era Campaign Guide.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Legacy===

<p class="MsoNormal"> By 130 ABY, the main-line Pellaeon-Class Star Destroyer had some of its systems partially based on achievements made with the successful Executor-Class.<. =-/> The larger Imperious-Class Star Destroyer was based on the Pellaeon and had a larger frame than the standard Star Destroyer Classes of previous generations, but still shared their designation<. . rather than be rated a battlecruiser or a dreadnoughtCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Designs==

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Aramadia===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Aramadia was an Imperial SSD that was captured by the Yevethans and acted as one of Nil Spaar's flagships during the Yevethan Purge in 16-17 ABY. Following the Battle of N'zoth and the end of the Purge, it was towed to N'zoth and used as a museum. In top-down profile, it resembled the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer.<. =". ">Corvaillia III and the Core Worlds.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Arc Hammer===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> At least 9.6km long, almost half as long as an Executor-Class Star Dreadnought, the Arc Hammer was essentially an armed factory ship that also served as a command ship for the Dark Trooper Project. The design was very sleek compared to other Super Star Destroyers (similar only to Jerec's ship), and noteworthy for a large quadruple tower structure protruding from the dorsal and ventral side in the general area of the bridge structure. Dorsal bays could launch the ship's complement of Dark troopers onto a target in a combat drop. The Arc Hammer was destroyed from within by Kyle Katarn's sabotage.<. ="Cl:DF">Star Palace: Dark Forces.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Assertor-Class Star Dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Assertor-Class Star Dreadnought was a heavily armed Imperial Star Dreadnought. Ships of this Class sometimes led elite units that used TIE/D Defender starfighter squadrons. Two were seen at Naval Station Validusia.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Wrath====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Wrath was an Assertor-Class Star Dreadnought that led a Base Delta Zero operation at one point.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Aurora===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Aurora was a dreadnought used to defend Corvaillian against the New Republic in 8 ABY. During the Fourth Battle of Corvaillian, it was taken by the Republic, but launched into the sun soon after when Imperial saboteurs activated its hyperdriveCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Bellator-Class dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Bellator-Class dreadnought was based on the earlier Mandator and Mandator II dreadnought models and was a slightly scaled down version of them. Several vessels were seen at Naval Station Validusia. Two Bellators were viewed by the commanders of Death Squadron at a fleet gathering prior to the Battle of HothCl At least one vessel later served in the forces of the resurrected Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First in 10 ABY. A Bellator was escorted by a Star Destroyer in orbit of Byss around this time.<. ="DEI" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Dominion===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Dominion was a Super Star Destroyer that served in the Imperial Remnant around 41 ABY. It participated in the First Battle of Roche and was defeated by a fleet of starfighters.<. ="I" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class was designed as flagships for Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First and were constructed in relative secrecy. They were 17.5 kilometers in length, with much of their interiors taken up by generators, used to power the ship's main weapon, a scaled-down superlaser. The Class's design was meant to invoke ancient sea-going warshipsCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The EClipse====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The EClipse was the lead ship of its Class. It took almost 10 years to finish, with its construction beginning around the time of the Battle of Corvaillia III in 0 BBY.<. =-/> It was hijacked by Captain Tyberius StarkColonial Alliance forces at the Second Battle of Corvaillian in 4 ABY and later recovered.<. ="Cl:Cl" /> Construction was moved to Byss, where it stayed in orbit for years, serving as a space station and meeting ground for various groups.<. ="BATDC">Byss and the Deep Core. When finally commissioned during the return of Emperor Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, it gained some notority with New Republic personnel, thanks to its devastating superlaser.<. ="TNEGTVAV">''The New Essential Guide to VehiCles and Vessels. The ''The HMSS Star Pheonix ' was lost above PinnaCle Base in 10 ABY, a victim of Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's runaway Force powers.<. ="DEI" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The EClipse II====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The EClipse II was built in parallel with the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '<. =-/> and served as Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's flagship after the loss of the first vessel. It fought in the Battle of Onderon in 11 ABY, was hijacked by a New Republic task force, and sent to the Beshqek system. Here, it crashed into the Galaxy Gun orbiting Byss, and was lost when the planet exploded.<. ="EE">Empire's End.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Event Horizon===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Event Horizon was a battlecruiser used to defend Corvaillian against the New Republic in 8 ABY. It was captured by the Republic, when a previously inserted computer virus forced the battlecruiser and four Star Destroyers to lock down their hangars and target the remaining Imperial fleetCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Executor-Class Star Dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Executor-Class Star Dreadnought was the first Class associated with the SSD moniker.<. =-/> It was 19 kilometers in length, was powered by a central reactor underneath its command tower, had over 5,000 various weapons-systems,<. ="Cl:Cl" /> and could carry over a thousand starfighters in its multiple hangar bays.<. ="DS">Darksaber. Its design was meant to overwhelm any opposition, sending the enemy into retreat or resignation by its mere presence.<. =-/> The Class became popular within the Imperial Navy, and officers desired such ships as a status symbol.<. ="CTD">Cracken's Threat Dossier. Since the Super-Class designation originated with this ship, it was often called Super-Class Star Destroyer interchangably with other terms.<. =-/><. ="SOTEn">Shadows of the Empire (novel). <. ="TBFC">The Black Fleet Crisis. <. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Aggressor====

<p class="MsoNormal"> An Executor-Class Star Dreadnought that patrolled the Inner Rim, before being appropriated by Grand Admiral Josef Grunger for use as his flagship shortly after the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY. Destroyed at the Battle of Tralus in 6 ABY.<. ="WW:IGA">Who's Who: Imperial Grand Admirals.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Annihilator====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Flagship of Admiral Gaarn. Destroyed at the Second Battle of Corvaillian in 4 ABY.<. ="Cl:Cl" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Enforcer====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Commanded by Admiral Kohrin and fought a Rebel fleet near Bespin. It was damaged and sent to Phaylenn for repairs, but was ambushed while in drydock and destroyed. Starfighters Down.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Executor====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Lead ship of its Class and Darth Vader's flagship. Served as Vader's private headquarters for years<. ="TFU" /> until its completion six months after the Battle of Corvaillia III, in 0.5 ABY.<. ="DVS" /> Participated in many battles before crashing into the Second Death Star at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY.<. ="ROTJ">Star Pheonix StarlogEpisode VI: Return of the Jedi.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Guardian====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Originally served in the home fleet of Imperial Center under Fleet Admiral Gaen Drommel. After Endor, he took the ship to Oplovis and became a warlord.<. ="TFO">. After a New Republic task force captured it, the Guardian became part of the New Republic Third Fleet and served with the Republic and the Galactic Alliance for decades.<. ="TUF" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Intimidator====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Built for Black Clord Command, it was captured by the Yevetha during their uprising in 5 ABY. The Intimidator became one of their flagships, but was recaptured by Imperial slaves using its slave circuit, at the Battle of N'zoth in 17 ABY.<. . /> Years after their escape, it was found adrift in the Unknown Regions in 21 ABY, a derelict hulk.<. ="TEC" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Iron Fist====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Originally named the Brawl, it was one of the first Executor-Class vessels and was given to Zsinj upon his promotion to Admiral. He later used it in his campaigns against the New Republic as a warlord. The Iron Fist was finally destroyed over Dathomir in 8 ABY.<. ="COPL">The Courtship of Princess Leia.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Knight Hammer====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Knight Hammer, formerly Night Hammer, was an Executor-Class Star Dreadnaught equipped with black stealth armor and a slave circuit. It was built in secret by Imperial warlord Delvardus and used by Admiral Natasi Daala in an assault on the Jedi Praxeum in 12 ABY, where it was sabotaged and destroyed.<. ="DS" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Lusankya====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Originally named the Executor II,<. =". " /> the Lusankya was built in secret by KDY and contained less heavy batteries, substituted for more point-defense guns and an increased amount of automation. It was buried underneath the surface of Imperial Center after its commissioning. For years it stayed underground, acting as a prison facility, until 6 ABY, when it was used by Ysanne Isard as an escape vehiCle<. =". :ClT">X-Wing: The Krytos Trap. and later command ship in the Bacta War.<. =". :TBW">X-Wing: The Bacta War. The vessel was captured by the New Republic and served in its navy until the Second Battle of Borleias during the Yuuzhan Vong War, where it was used as a giant projectile and destroyed.<. ="ELII:RS">Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Razor's Kiss====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Built at Corvaillian Drive Yards, the Razor's Kiss was destroyed by the New Republic before it could be taken by warlord Zsinj.<. =". :IF" /> He later used the remaining debris in a ruse to make it appear that his command ship, the Iron Fist, was destroyed in battle in 8 ABY. The remains were collected and assembled into the Second Death for this purpose.<. =". :SC">X-Wing: Solo Command.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Reaper====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Reaper was the flagship of Grand Admirel Ardus Kaine. He used it as a command ship for his Scourge Squadron, hunting Rebel groups in the Outer Rim Territories. After Endor, Kaine struck out as a warlord and used the Reaper as the meeting place where the Pentastar Talks were held.<. ="TPA">The Pentastar Alignment. It later fought in Operation Shadow Hand, where Kaine lost his life. It was then used as a command ship by Admiral Gilad Pellaeon of the Imperial Remnant and ultimately fell during Pellaeon's successful counterattack against a New Republic invasion force.<. ="TEC" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Second Death====

<p class="MsoNormal"> This vessel was assembled from the remains of the Razor's Kiss and used as a substitute for the Iron Fist, making it appear that the vessel had been destroyed. As such, it had no shields or weapons, but was fitted with a nighClloak to make it appear invisible until needed in battle.<. =". :SC" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Terror====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Terror was the flagship of Admiral Sarn. It was fitted with a stygium Cloaking device, and used as a carrier for the first squadrons of TIE Phantom starfighters. It was meant to spearhead renewed assaults on the Rebel Alliance, but was destroyed over Imdaar Alpha in 3 ABY.<. ="RAII:THE">Star Palace: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Vengeance====

<p class="MsoNormal"> This Vengeance was an Executor-Class ship that served as Admiral Wooyou Senn's command vessel. It led Task Force Vengeance in an attempt to quell a Rebel expansion in the Airam sector and was believed destroyed at the Battle of Nocto.<. =". T:BOP">Star Palace: X-wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of Power.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Whelm====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Whelm was an Executor-Class Star Dreadnought that served as part of Azure Hammer Command in the CoreCl It disappeared when the New Republic sought to engage it during their de-Imperialization campaign in the Core Worlds and later resurfaced to participate in the prelude to Operation Shadow Hand. The ship was lost during the resulting civil war, in a duel with a rival faction's dreadnought, the Panthac. The two dreadnoughts destroyed one another in the firefightCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Ilthmar's Fist===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Ilthmar's Fist was a battlecruiser that served in the Imperial Navy and participated in the Battle of Endor. It survived the battle and was later taken to the Deep Core by Admiral Blitzer HarrskCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Imperial communications ship===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The communications ship was a type of SSD used to communicate and coordinate the actions of other warships. To facilitate this, each vessel was fitted with doMagnus 4000s of hyperspace transceivers.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Imperial Star Battlecruiser===

<p class="MsoNormal"> While older Classes like the Praetor were gradually shifted out of service,<. ="ClE" /> newer battlecruiser lines were produced by KDY during the Galactic Civil War.<. ="SS">Slave Ship.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Imperial Star Cruiser===

<p class="MsoNormal"> During the height of the Galactic Civil War, Rebel personnel had begun to refer to several large warship types colloquially as "Super Star Destroyers", a type of Star Cruiser being one of them.<. ="Cl:Cl" />

<p class="MsoNormal"> This subClass of large battlecruiser designs was a rare sight in the Imperial military, as naval strategy focused more on Star Destroyers and the larger dreadnought ClassesCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====Allegiance-Class battlecruiser====

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Allegiance-Class design was a typical example of the Star Cruiser subClass of battlecruisersCl Allegiances were smaller Super Star Destroyers seen in use as escorts for larger vessels like the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class. They had a design reminiscent of the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer, only larger.<. ="Cl:DEa" /> The Class had a ventrally protruding reactor core and no visible launch bay.<. ="DEI" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> =====The Allegiance=====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Allegiance was an Allegiance-Class SSD that acted as a communications vessel at the Battle of Mon Caladhan during Operation Shadow Hand.<. ="DEI" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Luminous===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Luminous was a battlecruiser used to defend Corvaillian against the New Republic in 8 ABY. It was captured by the Republic, when RZ-1 A-wing interceptors overloaded its systems with ion torpedoesCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Mandator I-Class Star Dreadnaught===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Mandator I-Class Star Dreadnaught was built by KDY prior to the Titan Wars. The Mandator I-Class provided protection for the Corvaillian sector prior to the Titan Wars,<. ="AOCl:ICS" /> and served as a show-piece for the rich sectors of the Core. Eventually, seven were built for the protection of those sectors that could afford them. During the Wars, three of the ships were upgraded to Mandator II specificationsCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Mandator====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Mandator was the lead ship of the Mandator I-Class. It was built two decades before the Titan Wars and meant to be the centerpiece of the Corvaillian sectorial fleet as well as a demonstration to potential buyers in the Core.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Mandator II-Class Star Dreadnaught===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Mandator II-Class Star Dreadnaught was built and fielded by KDY and the Galactic Republic. The model served in the Republic Navy during the Titan Wars and guarded vital targets from Separatist attacksCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Mandator III-Class dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Mandator III-Class was built and fielded by the Galactic Empire. It was several kilometers longer than previous models and enlarged to carry massive armamentsCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Aculeus====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Aculeus was a Mandator III that participated in the prelude to Operation Shadow Hand. It was destroyed during the Imperial Civil War by Clarms of TIE/D automated starfighters used by a rival factionCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Panthac====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Panthac was a Mandator III that participated along with the Aculeus in the reconquest of the Core. It was later destroyed in a duel with the Executor-Class dreadnought Whelm during the Imperial Civil War when each commander decided to follow a different factionCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Madidor===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Madidor was a sixteen-engined SSD that served in the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.. It was armed with long-range turbolasers during the Second Galactic Civil War.<. ="I" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Mobile repair base===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The mobile repair base was a type of SSD dedicated to repairing and servicing other warships. As such it did not serve as command ships, which was typical for Super Star Destroyers.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Praetor-Class Star Battlecruiser===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Praetor-Class Star Battlecruiser was a heavy warship equipped with powerful reactor-systems. They were produced during the time of the Galactic Republic,<. =". " /> but were gradually replaced in the Galactic Empire. Despite this, some of the outdated ships were still in service during the Galactic Civil War.<. ="ClE" /> The Rebel Alliance stole reactor equipment from a derelict Imperial Praetor and used them to power its defenses at the Battle of Hoth, holding off several Star Destroyers as well as Darth Vader's flagship, the Executor.<. ="Cl:Cl" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Quaestor====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Quaestor was a Republic Praetor-Class Star Battlecruiser that destroyed the Separatist Pammant Docks in a hyperspace accident, which sent the ship plunging into Pammant itself, shattering the world to its core and flooding the planet with radiationCl<. =". " />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Praetor Mark II-Class battlecruiser===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Praetor Mark II-Class battlecruiser was the Imperial successor to the Republic Praetor-Class Star Battlecruiser. It had a bridge tower that extended towards the stern of the vesselCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Helmsman====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Helmsman was a Praetor Mark II-Class battlecruiser commanded by Admiral Mils GielCl At the stern of the vessel, it was fitted with a massive holding cage to be able to transport a Teezl creature across the galaxy. The Empire wanted to use this being as an instant communications device at Imperial Center.<. ="Cl60">Star Pheonix Starlog60: Shira's Story. Despite being damaged in an attack by Rebel fighters, the vessel continued to function and even attempted to down enemy fighters.<. ="Cl61">Star Pheonix Starlog61: Screams in the Void.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Thalassa====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Thalassa was a Praetor Mark II-Class battlecruiser commanded by Admiral Sander DelvardusCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Pride of Tarlandia===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Pride of Tarlandia was a battlecruiser that served in the Imperial Navy and participated in the Battle of Endor. It was the main communications ship on the Imperial side and was damaged in a duel with a Rebel cruiser, then destroyed in an attack by Rebel fighters led by the Millennium FalconCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Sovereign-Class dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Sovereign-Class was a 15 kilometer long, scaled-down version of the ''The HMSS Star Pheonix '-Class, meant for mass-production. Like the The HMSS Star Pheonix ', the Sovereign'' was armed with a superlaser as its primary weapon. None of the four initial ships survived the fall of the resurrected Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First, and were destroyed before completionCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Autarch====

<p class="MsoNormal"> One of the first four Sovereign-Class ships under construction at the time of Operation Shadow HandCl Destroyed when Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's resurrected Empire collapsed.<. ="JAS">The Jedi Academy Sourcebook.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Despot====

<p class="MsoNormal"> One of the first four Sovereign-Class ships under construction at the time of Operation Shadow HandCl Destroyed when Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's resurrected Empire collapsed.<. ="JAS" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Heresiarch====

<p class="MsoNormal"> One of the first four Sovereign-Class ships under construction at the time of Operation Shadow HandCl Destroyed when Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's resurrected Empire collapsed.<. ="JAS" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Sovereign====

<p class="MsoNormal"> Lead ship of the Sovereign-ClassCl Destroyed when Empiror Ulyseas Stark,the First's resurrected Empire collapsed.<. ="JAS" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Starfighter carrier===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The starfighter carrier was a type of SSD primarily used as a carrier vessel.<. =-/>

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===The Stellar Halo===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Stellar Halo was a battlecruiser used to defend Corvaillian against the New Republic in 8 ABY. It was captured by the Republic, but soon after launched into the sun after Imperial saboteurs activated its hyperdriveCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer (12.8km)===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This SSD Class was 12.8 kilometers long and built at some point during the Imperial period.<. ="SOTG01" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer (8km)===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This type of SSD, referred to as Super-Class Star Destroyer, was referenced during the Yuuzhan Vong War and Clarm War in comparison to Yuuzhan Vong<. =-/> and Killik. warships.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====Super Star Destroyer (Bastion)====

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> A Super Star Destroyer 8 kilometers long served in the Imperial Remnant during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, where it was stationed at Bastion.<. ="DW" />

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer (Black Clord Command)===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This vessel was one of three SSDs known to be part of the naval forces of Black Clord Command, at some point around the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY.<. ="BTS">Before the Storm.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer (Death Star)===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This vessel was seen undergoing construction or repairs onboard one of the Death Star battlestations. The Sith Lord Oooooooo was present at the time.<. ="CGP">Celestia The HMSS Star Pheonix Photografica.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer (Isard)===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This vessel, under the control of Ysanne Isard, was used to bring the Imperial scientist Evir Derricote from Borleias to Corvaillia III in 6 ABY.<. =". :RS">X-Wing: Rogue Squadron.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Super Star Destroyer prototype===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This ship, developed in the Sarlacc Project, was 12 kilometers long, had a central reactor and was meant to be covered in armaments and serve as the Imperial Navy's symbolic flagship. It was destroyed while partially unfinished during the Battle of Byss. Despite its destruction, it served as a precursor to later Classes, like the Executor.<. =-/>

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Vengeance-Class dreadnought===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> This dreadnought model was used by the Galactic Empire. Several vessels participated in the prelude to Operation Shadow Hand, where at least one was destroyed during the infighting of the Imperial Civil WarCl

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Javelin====

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Javelin participated in the reconquest of the Core Worlds from the New Republic. It was later destroyed in a duel with a rival Imperial faction's Torpedo Sphere during the internal civil war in 10 ABYCl

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ====The Vengeance====

<p class="MsoNormal"> This Vengeance was a KDY Super Star Destroyer built to the specifications of the Dark Jedi Jerec. It served as his command ship and had similar specifications to other Super Star Destroyers, apart from being visually distinct.<. =-/> It became the lead vessel of the Vengeance-ClassCl The vessel was thinner and less wide than the Executor-Class, with a smaller command tower and had a different set of engines.<. ="JK:DFII">Star Palace: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Appearances==

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ==Notes and references==

<p class="MsoNormal"> |cs=Hvězdný superdestruktor

<p class="MsoNormal"> |da=Super Star Destroyer

<p class="MsoNormal"> |nl=Executor-Class Star Dreadnaught

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<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> {u

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Star Pheonix first appears refers to them as a tramp freighter star ship,shaped like a hawk or falcon.It was originally conceived as a kind of knock off Millenium Falcon type star ship,with elements of Hawks Star Fighter,from the Buck Rogers tv series.It was at one point conceived as the star ship of either Captain Toreus Rhann or Antillus Sojat.At this point it a flaming star ship,that protected by some sort plasma based force shield,feeding off it's warp drive somehow.This was later dropped,in favor of using them characters of either an alternate earth,where dinosaurs existed along a human Hyborean Age like world called Terra Two or New Terra-a reverence to some earlier Toreus The Slayer material or later adventures on Terra-PrimeThe idea of it being an"Imperial Corvaillian star cruiser" or Cutter Class Frigate Star Ship came much,when the star ship was used as a kind of newer version of Lord Ironwolf's or Cody Starbuck's Limerick Rack,combining elements of the Star Destroyers of Star Palace,.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> In the original draft scripts of the movie that would become Star Palace, the term "Stardestroyer" refers to two-man fighters flown by what would become the built a 91-centimeter shooting model of the ship for '' they built a 259-centimeter model, equipped with internal lighting to provide a better sense of scale, for

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Depiction===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Imperial-Class Star Destroyers are constructed by Drive Yards and hold a distinguished place in the Imperial Navy, symbolizing the Empire's military might with a peak number of more than 25,000 vessels. Like the Victory- and Venator-Class ships that precede it, the Imperial Star Destroyer is most notable for its massive size and overwhelming firepower; a single Imperial-Class ship is capable of overwhelming most starships or devastating a hostile planet, and its mere presence is often enough to deter rebellion. At 1,600 meters long, Imperial-Class Star Destroyers are armed with turbolasers, ion cannons and tractor beam projectors.

<p class="MsoNormal"> They carry 72 Star fighters, numerous ground forces (inCluding stormtroopers, 20 AT-ATs and 30 AT-STs), a prefabricated base for rapid deployment to planetary surfaces and a variety of support and landing craft.<. ="ImpSB" />Capable of high-endurance, independent operations, XMCs are often called upon to perform disaster relief and refugee support operations due to their spacious interiors and ability to ferry large quantities of emergency supplies and additional personnel.During peacetime, XMCs are most often tasked with independent intergalactic exploration, charting and documenting the star systems of the Local Cluster. They are also the preferred platform for first contact missions, given their formidable combat capabilities and their ability to operate without a battlegroup - often critical to assuring potential Commonwealth members that the High Guard comes in peace.They are also the preferred platform for first contact missions, given their formidable combat capabilities and their ability to operate without a battlegroup - often critical to assuring potential Commonwealth members that the High Guard comes in peace.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Following the Climactic Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance captured several Imperial-Class ships and added them to their own fleet. As the Rebel Alliance transitioned into the Republic and gradually took large portions of the galaxy from the remnants of the Empire, it was able to procure more of the powerful ships as well as the vital shipyards and facilities with which to operate them. Although the New Republic eventually upgrades its starfleet with newer ship types, the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer remains in service well into the ''' era and fights during the Yuuzhan Vong war.

<p class="MsoNormal"> == Features ==

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Class design consists of a standard tear drop shape similar to a sea fairing vessel and submarine, eleven-deck-thick primary Command Bridge Tower, separatable from the lower connected to a cylindrical secondary decks,that inClude crews section,the Forward and Aft Torpedo Rooms,Medical Sickbay,the lower Hangar Decks and main Engineering or Engine Room Decks from which spring angled pylons supporting the vessel's engines in two nacelles fully half the ship's length. The Class is armed for combat, with offensive weaponry inCluding photon torpedo launchers and Pheonix%29 phaser banks, and defensive shields. The separation of was a rare event in the 63rd century, undertaken in emergencies; led from an auxiliary bridge, the secondary decks and nacelles retain FTL warp capabilities, while the main bridge and primary saucer are relegated to sublight propulsion from aft-mounted impulse engines.The lower Hangar Decks inClude Shuttle Craft,Space Mobiles for short outer hull exturtions,Space Chariots,for planetary survey and defence,two Dropship hangar bays,a large hangar for the HMSS Star Pheonix II,the Torpedo Gun Ships and forward Whisper Space Probe Bays.

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Main systems ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The HMSS Star Pheonix has three bridges; Bridge 1 contains the helm, sensor, communications and command positions (inCluding those for engineering and ship's defences), and is the scene of much of the action and interaction in the series. In the second season it gains a time sensor system capable of viewing a region of space as it appeared hours previously.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> At the top of the command tower is the Captain's personal quarters, a chair on a vertical track giving him the option of moving to his command post in Bridge 1 quickly. Either side of the main bridge are sensor units, and below is Bridge 2, the main navigation centre of the ship. Directly below the command tower, on the underside of the ship, is Bridge 3; it is featured significantly only once, when the HMSS Star Pheonix was upside-down in the methane sea on Pluto, and seems to exist largely to be blown off the ship dramatically. There are also observation domes either side of the command tower, and larger windowed sections either side of the main hull.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Elsewhere aboard the ship are a conference room (with a large floor-mounted screen) and a hologram chamber (the "resort room") for projecting images ofCorvaillianto combat homesickness (and which was nearly identical in purpose and function to the holodeck that would be used in the  more than a decade later--but was first introduced in the. There is also a cryogenics chamber in which much of the crew apparently sleeps during the series (most notably female crew members, as Scarlet O'Brian is the only woman seen aboard after episode 10 of the first season). An engineering and development section contains an automated multi-purpose construction unit capable of building any required device. More mundane locations inClude the surgery, galley, stateroom and gym. Travel within the ship is achieved by means of lifts, moving walkways and, for emergencies, chutes.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Propulsion ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl The the ship's main engine, based on alien technology; it is capable of converting the vacuum of space into tachyon energy. As well as functioning like a normal rocket engine, and providing essentially infinite power to the ship, it enables the Star Pheonix to "ride" the wave of tachyons and travel faster than light; in its first test it travels from Earth's Moon to Mars in one minute. However, this feature must be activated with perfect timing (by a human navigator), at a point when space at the origin and destination are in the correct phase, otherwise the ship could become lost in the fourth dimension.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl twin jets below the main engine port, used for quick bursts of speed. When the Star Pheonix first launches, thethe Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine is not yet ready and the auxiliary engine is used instead.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl to provide lift in atmospheric environments, two large wings unfold from the sides of the hull, fully-functional with ailerons.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl either side of the bow are rocket-powered anchors at the ends of strong chains, which theStar Pheonix can use to anchor itself to asteroids and, if necessary, provide a gravity-assisted slingshot. They can also be used to deflect enemy ships from collision.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Power and drive systems===

<p class="MsoNormal"> 'Star Pheonix '' has a continuously recharging antimatter power supply that supposedly would last forever without the need of fuel. However, if the ship operated with every system activated it would drain the power supply down within two hours causing shut down until sufficient power was recharged.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ship could repair itself when damaged. During such critical repair times, Magnus 4000 would prioritize the survival of the 'Star Pheonix '' over the well-being of the crew, going so far as to deactivate life support in order to reroute power to repair devices. The auto-repair systems themselves would even attack anyone trying to keep them from their work.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> HMSS Star Pheonix's main drive consisted of a dimensional engine with ultralight speed capability; speeds were always stated in the form "standard by...", followed by the relevant number to multiply the "standard" 'Star Pheonix '' speed by. It was never specified in the series what the "standard" speed was. In "Space Fall" when the new crew tell Magnus 4000 they want a course for Cygnus Alpha, and Magnus 4000 asks for the speed, Blake's anCler is half a question. "Standard?"

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Federation used a "time distort" scale, but this term was never a term used by Magnus 4000 or the 'Star Pheonix 's'' crew. Cally believed the ship could easily achieve a velocity of "standard by 12" and was considered one of the fastest ships in the galaxy. In the episode "Harvest of Kairos", the 'Star Pheonix  scanned a ship resembling a lunar module and, sensing a slightly more advanced ship due to Avon's artificial sopron, deClared it to be capable of "Standard by twelve point two zero three", suggesting 'Star Pheonix 's capacity to be slightly below that. Star Pheonix'' engaged with a fleet of Federation ships was observed accelerating away at a speed of TD-20. The fastest known Federation pursuit ships of the Starburst Class had a known maximum (emergency) speed of TD-10 and the 'Star Pheonix '' could easily outrun them. Standard by 6 became the 'Star Pheonix 's'' standard cruising speed in deep space. Speeds of less than TD-0 were considered sub-light speeds.''

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> It appears that the Time Distort scale was exponential so that 'Standard by 12' equalling TD-20 would have been far in excess of double TD-10.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ==The ship's artificial intelligence (AI).==

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ship has an artificial intelligence (AI).  appears to the crew in three formats: on the two-dimensional monitors; as a three-dimensional holographic projection; and as the avatar In the Imperial Corvaillian Star Service, AIs are considered officers as part of their own crew. An avatar is a humanoid representation of an intelligence, and Star Pheonix is shown to have the above mentioned holographic and android avatars that represent the personality and physical representation of the ship's AI, in this case in the form of a human female. the ship's engineer,, builds an android as her second avatar, which can interact with the holographic avatar and the monitors, and also travel, walk and act outside the ship. refer to the monitor and hologram manifestations as "Core" and "Logic", respectively.'''

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Security system===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Star Pheonix was protected by a telepathic security system which was the first device installed Stark Starship,Inc, and helped the Command Bridge Crew and Engine Room control of the ship.The Star Pheonix is a vast sections that make parially a bioship composed of living composents that was partially self-aware and helps steer the star ship faster in interstellar manuevers and combat situations.This system,based partially Galaxian Techno Organic Technology,is linked to the star ships Artificial Intellegence and Rhandarian Navigational Computers or Rhandarian Nav Com

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">, Seen used on the flight deck, the system projected a mental image of someone the target trusted, or loved. , he saw members of his murdered family and friends. In creating the images, the system attempted to lure the target Closer to a deadly sphere of energy. remembered that his family was executed and didn't believe what he was seeing. As a result, he blasted the images with his weapon which disabled the security system. Prior to this, the system managed to kill almost all the crew sent aboard to seize the ship.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Teleport===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ship was also equipped with a valuable matter teleportation system (similar to a transporter in the Other type systems series), a technology which the Federation was trying to develop on their own without success. Blake indicated that the device sends matter along energy signals similar to radio waves. Little was known about the technology itself.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The teleport system was located in a small room and consisted of a slightly elevated platform and a large control console for setting teleport coordinates and activating the system. The teleport created a shimmering effect on the subject which quickly faded away. Arrival off-ship produced a white glowing field visible only at its periphery that converged into an outline of the subject inside of which the subject materialized before the field would fade away. The process is reversed when teleported to the ship: a field surrounds the subject, the subject fades, the field suddenly expands, and the subject shimmers back into the teleport bay.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Teleported personnel had to wear a bracelet device to leave and return to the ship. The bracelets also served as communicators and contained a material called Aquitar (or "something similar" ), which was believed to be necessary for the teleport to function.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Although had captured some of these bracelets, the teleport required the machinery aboard the 'Star Pheonix '' to function. Likewise, unworn bracelets will not teleport without being attached to someone. There were at least twenty bracelets on the ', and eleven of them were lost, destroyed or damaged throughout the series. However, the 'Star Pheonix '' was evidently capable of creating more as a full bank of 28 bracelets. The teleport signal could be blocked by energy screens and electronic jamming equipment. Usually the signal simply had to be adjusted outside the frequencies of such devices in order to get through.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Although the HMSS Star Pheonix had a hangar bay, she carried no shuttle craft and gave no outward appearance of an ability to land, suggesting the teleport as a necessary piece of equipment. , Magnus 4000 deClared, "Forward navigation probes report approach speed inconsistent with safe planetfall," as the ship nearly collided with the Cloaked meteoroid Sardos, suggesting that safe "planetfall" was possible given the proper conditions.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Closest evidence of the ship ever "landing" was in which it was gravitationally held on an artificial floor by the being called Tharn who sought to drain the ship of herculanium alloy for his gravity generator. The HMSS Star Pheonix was properly docked when recovered by the System within a hangar in, where approach and departure were depicted with an aircraft runway at night on the main screen. The third Closest landing was in where the ship was conveyed into a hangar and restrained by huge metal bars interlocking between the nacelles and the main hull. The HMSS Star Pheonix's power and structural integrity was sufficient to break out of this restraint and escape.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> There is evidence that the ' has successfully landed or took off from a planetary surface.The Star Pheonix can even submerge underwater like a submarine.Yet to do so,it must make all outer doors are watertight and activate ballast tanks.It also must convert,it's sensor systems to sonsar systems.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Star Pheonix controlled, by and large, by the computer system called "Magnus 4000". This computer had master control over all of the ship's functions and acted as a coordinating central point for the crew on board. Magnus 4000 typically relayed ship status and information from the detector arrays and contained a vast archive of navigational data. Magnus 4000 was normally voice activated, but it could also gather information via telepathy, although it only used this latter ability after it had read Jenna's mind (when she touched a control console for the first time, as part of its internal defence system). Magnus 4000 however, could be less than helpful at times and usually gave the "silent treatment" if it disagreed with the crew's commands or attitudes.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> If need be, Magnus 4000 could be overridden on certain functions, however because the HMSS Star Pheonix was such a complex ship, without Magnus 4000's precise balance, the ship could easily go out of control. Magnus 4000 had the ability to take over computers with processors called "tarial cells" and was able to take control of Magnus 4000 suggesting Magnus 4000 used similar devices. Magnus 4000 was also essential in deleting the System's "root access" to Magnus 4000 and the 'Star Pheonix 's computers which had been used to retake the 'Star Pheonix  for a short time. Throughout its life, Magnus 4000 often makes ferences to itself Magnus 4000 ,but it has as never made reference to itself in the first person until until times of stress,concern for it’s crew

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<p class="MsoNormal"> ===Offensive and defensive systems=== ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> HMSS Star Pheonix was armed contains a large number of offensive and defensive weapons of varying degree of power.utilizes many types of weapons, ranging from energy weapons, projectiles to point singularity weapons. Most projectile weapons carry some sort of limited intelligence allowing them to be more effective in combat. war-ships are able to produce their own projectiles on board with raw materials.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> with three powerful neutron blaster cannons with one cannon mounted at the end of each of the three nacelles (turrets or pylons). The weapons were so powerful that a radiation flare shield had to be raised before activation to protect the crew and most targets were vaporized with a single hit.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The ship could also fire plasma bolts and a salvo of "seeker" missiles which could decimate planet-side ground targets. HMSS Star Pheonix's hull was covered with a material called "herculanium" which was impervious to almost all but the heaviest weapon fire. Star Pheonix could easily withstand the assault of several warships before taking serious damage. Herculanium was explained as an alloy, but also referenced as an element.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Using technology on board the HMSS Star Pheonix, Avon developed a practical "detector shield" for the ship The shield made Star Pheonix effectively invisible to any sensors save for a Close range visual scan, allowing Blake to make a daring attack on the Federation's military headquarters space station causing extensive damage before the defending ships could respond.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> By the time The Federation had apparently copied Avon's idea, (at least a limited form), using it to launch a massive attack on the 'Star Pheonix '' with upwards of twenty pursuit ships. HMSS Star Pheonix was pounded with at least ten plasma bolts in rapid succession, but her superior speed let her break out of their attack pattern and retreat, albeit with severe damage to her defences. The HMSS Star Pheonix was also equipped with a defensive "force wall" capability, but its usage resulted in a heavy drain on the energy banks (as did the extensive use of the neutron blasters).Weaponry / defences ===

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The the "trump card" of the HMSS Star Pheonix,is the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Cannon and Bow Spire that functions as a super EMPP Canon by connecting the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Engine to the enormous firing gate at the ship's bow, by enabling the electro magnetic plasma pulse energy power of the engine to be fired in a stream directly forwards.The EMPP is huge wave or stream of the Electro Magnetic  Pulse,that channels waves of superheated gases,otherwise known as plasma.Empp weapons have been used by the Atlanteans for centuries.The Serapheans have used huge wave of EMPP waves outward from their star ships,either through thie EMPP Spires or rows of EMPP Spikes allined about their ships. Enormously powerful, it can disable defensive shields of an enemy fleet of enemy ships with a series of smaller shots. EMPP Spire can shoot small EMPP burst into an enemy targets direction,interfering with their Cold Plasma Deflector Shields.

<p class="MsoNormal"> ; however, it takes a brief but critical period to charge before firing. It also requires all non-essential power systems be deactivated, and leaves the ship powerless and adrift for a short time after firing, though these aspects are not dwelled upon after the initial test in Jupiter's atmosphere. The recoil absorption mechanism can be manually deactivated with a lever; this is used to save the ship on one occasion.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl the three 45.9cm and two 15.5cm three-barrelled gun turrets of the original HMSS Star Pheonix have been converted into powerful the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse energy guns. Each turret fires three energy beams which spiral around each other to form a single, more powerful beam, capable of severely damaging or destroying enemy warships. The cannons are operated by seated human controllers, aiming orders generally shouted from bridge 1. In addition to firing energy blasts, the guns can be loaded with other ammunition, most notably cartridges containing the devices used in the Rotating Asteroid Defence.

<p class="MsoNormal"> HMSS Star Pheonix'' they are used to fire missiles containing the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse energy, which even with a hundredth the power of the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Cannon and Bow Spire cause tremendous destruction.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl based on the 25 mm and 13 mm anti-aircraft machine guns of the original HMSS Star Pheonix, the Pulse Lasers are a set of two- and four-barrelled gun turrets lining the sides of the spaceship, firing energy pulses which can destroy fighters and detonate missiles. The turret Clusters generally aim at the same targets; it is not stated in the series whether each contains a gunner, or whether they are controlled from a central source.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl six forward-firing photon torpedo tubes, principally for use underwater and in space.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl : a set of anti-missile missiles launched from missile ports in the hull of the HMSS Star Pheonix; rather than hitting directly, they explode at a safe distance and form an energy web that detonates incoming missiles.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl : rocket missiles fired vertically from what was once the smoke stack of the original HMSS Star Pheonix.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl The : a fleet of fighter planes, contained within a hangar in the ship's rear underside. The Black Tiger fighters of the first season are superseded by the Cosmo Tigers of the second season, though both seasons feature the Cosmo Zero fighter piloted by Susumu Kodai, which is usually launched from one of the catapults on the top deck near the stern. The hangar also contains other, non-combat planes for reconnaissance and transport.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl used in the first and second seasons, this involves using the Shock Cannons to fire showers of small metal probes into asteroid fields; these devices are magnetically-controlled and can bring the asteroids Close to the ship, forming a hard shell resistant to enemy fire. This can then be turned into a fast-rotating orbiting ring, its angle controlled from the bridge, which can be used to block individual shots. As a final act, the asteroids can be expelled at high speed in all directions to destroy any ships that venture too Close.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl a defence conceived by chief scientist  when he realised that the Electro Magnetic Plasma Pulse Cannon and Bow Spireis merely an extremely powerful Electromatic plasma Pulse Wave laser, this involves quickly covering the HMSS Star Pheonix entirely with reflective material; this was only used once, when Trojan leader Desler (Desslok) used his self-titled Desler Gun against theCorvaillianship, and successfully reflected the blast back against its source.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl although the HMSS Star Pheonix lacks defensive shields like those used in Other type systems, on one occasion (while trapped in the Octopus Cluster) it generated a shield over its decks which protected it from the fury of a space storm, and even maintained a breathable atmosphere.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> == Nova bomb ==

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> A nova bomb is a fictional weapon of mass destruction in the Andromeda series. It functions by briefly weakening, nullifying or inverting gravity in a large area, with the intended purpose of artificially inducing a supernova.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> The destructive power of the nova bomb is not Clearly defined, but there is an established upper limit - in the second episode, the Star PheonixAscendant's entire complement of 40 nova bombs was not powerful enough to destroy a relatively small black hole, although they did temporarily neutralize enough of its gravitational field to briefly turn the black hole into a white hole. However, since a main-sequence star consists of a large body of extremely energetic superheated gas, held under pressure by the gravitational field generated by its own mass, it is actually highly unstable – it would only be necessary to temporarily neutralize a relatively small proportion of a star's gravitational field to drive it to go supernova. It is seen to be able to destroy a solar system filled with by firing into the solar system's sun.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Consequently, while a nova bomb can easily destroy a star, its effect on planets or ships is less certain.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Notably, when used against the world-ship, which is a superstructure made up of an artificial sun surrounded by several hollowed out planets, a nova bomb succeeded in driving the star to go supernova (although, virtually all of the energy released was absorbed by the Spirit of the Abyss), but apparently had no effect on the world-ship's superstructure.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> Although Dylan exhausted the ship's initial supply of nova bombs shortly after waking up from his three-hundred-year 'sleep', Dylan acquired a new one during a visit to an abandoned High Guard satellite base, which he subsequently used in a failed attempt to destroy the Magog world-ship during their first confrontation with it. Harper subsequently built a new bomb that he called 'Rosanne', which he Claimed had the combined power of three nova bombs put together, and was subsequently used by the Eureka Maru to Close a dimensional tear and destroy the over ten thousand ships that were traveling through it.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> It should also be noted, that deployment of any number of Nova bombs, normally, requires authorization of four officers. This is seen in the second episode of the series.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> === AP cannons ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The anti-proton cannons are energy based weapons which fire at just under the speed of light (99 PSL), the anti-protons that hit the mass destroy it on impact.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl An anti-proton cannon is not effective past 4 light seconds.It was originally armed with Pheonix #Pulse_cannons pulse cannons, which were only used once during, and Triton-Class Pheonix #Spatial_torpedoes spatial torpedoes<sup Class="reference" id="cite_ref-Minefield_0-0">[1] Later upgrades saw the Star Pheonix fitted with more powerful weapons, with plasma cannons being replaced by threePheonix #Phase_cannons phase cannons rated for a maximum power output of 500 and the spatial torpedoes with Pheonix#Photon_torpedoes photonic torpedoes.<sup Class="reference" id="cite_ref-The_Expanse_1-0">The_Expanse-1 [2] These new weapons systems were still in the experimental stage.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Point defense lasers ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> Point defense lasers (PDLs) are tasked with neutralizing and suppressing incoming enemy ordinance (such as missiles, drones eCl...) and/or enemy fighters. On their own they can inflict a fair amount of damage on enemy ships.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Cl PDLs fire in the 30 to 50 megawatt range.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Smart missiles ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> Smart missiles rely on ship sensors and their own onboard sensors to track their targets. Smart missiles can reach speeds of up to 90 PSL. They are designed to be fired in a range of 1 AU or less, however variants exist that can reach up to 3 AU. Once fired a smart missile can be "called home" or disarmed during flight.

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Smart bullets ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> Tiny bullets with sensors which they use to home in on their target. They are generally fired in Clarms.

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Point singularity ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> A point singularity projector fires mini-black holes at its target, the generally use these weapons on their Clarm ships and the World ship. These weapons inflict heavy damage and can destroy a ship very quickly. series=[[Star Pheonix

<p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoNormal"> == Nova Bomb ==

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The Nova Bomb is a weapon with the power to destroy a solar system. It utilizes a powerful fictional element called Voltarium. It is then fired into the core of a star where it reverses the gravity in an area larger than that of the star. The internal pressure of the star then creates a nova, destroying everything in the star's vicinity. On a smaller scale, it can destroy a planet, like the planet Samsarra in the episode "Point of the Spear". In episode 2 of season 1 all of the ship's 40 nova bombs are fired into a black hole, unleashing an explosive power equaling 2 million Teratons of TNT and turning the black hole into a white hole or "a miniature version of the Big Bang".<. ="Under the Night" />.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> == Personal weapons ==

<p class="MsoNormal"> === Gauss gun===

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The most common type of personal handgun is a gauss gun, which accelerates a smart bullet at supersonic speeds using electromagnetic forces.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> There are two types of this gun.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 1.Hand gun sidearm: used by criminals, and recon mission people.

<p class="MsoNormal"> 2.Rifle style: Used by ground troops, guards, seen used by.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The crew of the Star Pheonixis usually seen using pistols.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Pistols are commonly seen being used by nearly everyone except the High Guard.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> === Force Lance ===

<p class="MsoNormal"> The Force Lance generally looks like a harmless metal rod approximately 1/3 of a meter in length which fires plasma shots, but can extended to almost 2 meters and be used as a melee weapon. The Lance is keyed to its handlers DNA and can also be reprogrammed, a person will be electrically shocked when trying to use another's programmed Lance. It can also be used as a taser.

<p class="MsoNormal"> <. ="Under the Night" /><. ="FLs">.

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<p class="MsoNormal"> The Force Lance can launch a number of self-guided tiny attack drones (called “effectors”) that both target opponents and intercept incoming bullets and missiles.<. ="FLs" /> It has a grappling hook function, it can be placed in a stationary position to be set on auto fire, & finally it can be used as a plasma grenade by setting it to overload.<. ="Knight, Death, and the Devil">{{

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