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Slipstream space: Difference between revisions
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The [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] allowed human ships to tunnel into Slipstream space, called by technical humans "Shaw-Fujikawa Space,"<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 141''</ref> after the scientists who proved its existence. Slipspace is a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects i.e., the occupants do not "warp" time, despite their super-luminal speed. But however fast it may appear, faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. The time it takes to normal-space observers, however, varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in Slipstream space and normal space. These variations are typically measured in weeks or months, and are unpredictable. A fleet that transitions to Slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship A and ship B both enter Slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship A could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship A could, in fact, be a week older than that of ship B despite appearances in normal space. | The [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]] allowed human ships to tunnel into Slipstream space, called by technical humans "Shaw-Fujikawa Space,"<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 141''</ref> after the scientists who proved its existence. Slipspace is a domain with alternate physical laws, allowing faster-than-light travel without relativistic side-effects i.e., the occupants do not "warp" time, despite their super-luminal speed. But however fast it may appear, faster-than-light travel is by no means instantaneous; "short" jumps routinely take up to two months, and "long" jumps can last six months or more for the crew. The time it takes to normal-space observers, however, varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in Slipstream space and normal space. These variations are typically measured in weeks or months, and are unpredictable. A fleet that transitions to Slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship A and ship B both enter Slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship A could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship A could, in fact, be a week older than that of ship B despite appearances in normal space. | ||
In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships | In addition to temporal anomalies, UNSC ships are not able to jump with exact precision. A ship may transition back to normal space millions of kilometers from its intended destination.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 136''</ref> As a result, UNSC ships often transition in and out of slipspace outside star systems, far from any gravity wells of celestial bodies. In-system jumps are also not generally attempted by the UNSC due to the dangers present.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 104''</ref> A notable exception of this is during the [[Battle of Psi Serpentis]], when the [[UNSC Battle Group India|Battle Group India]], under command of [[Admiral]] [[Preston Cole]], performed an in-system jump. Even though the Cole had made thorough calculations for the jump a week in advance and [[Slipspace guidance beacon|guidance beacons]] were used as navigational assists, a part of the battle group scattered, reappearing outside the main group.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'', page 477</ref> Another example is the {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}}, that was able to make a successful precision jump into [[High Charity]]. This may be due to an improvement on the ship due to the recent capture of Covenant Slipspace technology, the [[Gravemind]] adjusting it or simply luck.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]''' level ''[[Gravemind (level)|Gravemind]]''</ref> | ||
Slipspace can be thought of as our detectable universe (which, technically, it is) but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side and time), but Slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime.<ref name="eleven"/> Slipspace is currently theorized (in [[2552]]) as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, thereby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. The slipstream also possesses different laws of physics than our "normal" universe, although some basic ones, such as energy transfer and momentum, remain the same.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 55''</ref> | Slipspace can be thought of as our detectable universe (which, technically, it is) but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side and time), but Slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime.<ref name="eleven"/> Slipspace is currently theorized (in [[2552]]) as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, thereby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. The slipstream also possesses different laws of physics than our "normal" universe, although some basic ones, such as energy transfer and momentum, remain the same.<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 55''</ref> | ||
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Slipspace velocities are generally dependent on the ship's momentum on transition, as the Slipspace drive itself does not generate thrust.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''Chapter 1'', Page 23''</ref> As a result, ships that are faster in normal space, such as [[corvette]]s, usually travel faster in the Slipstream as well. | Slipspace velocities are generally dependent on the ship's momentum on transition, as the Slipspace drive itself does not generate thrust.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''Chapter 1'', Page 23''</ref> As a result, ships that are faster in normal space, such as [[corvette]]s, usually travel faster in the Slipstream as well. | ||
Human Slipspace velocities are far slower than those of the Covenant. | Human Slipspace velocities are far slower than those of the Covenant. UNSC ships are known to be able to travel at a speed of 2.625 light years per day,<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Reach|10.5 light years]]/4 days=2.625 l/d)</ref> while Covenant ships can reach 912 light years per day.<ref group="note">Velocity=Distance/time (V=[[Zeta Doradus|38 light years]]/1 hour=38 l/h or 912 l/d)</ref> The capture of a Covenant Slipspace drive by [[John-117]] and survivors of the [[Fall of Reach]] and survivors of the events at [[Installation 04|Halo]] may have increased the capabilities of these Human Slipspace technologies. | ||
One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''"[[Ascendant Justice]]"'' with the | One example of the differences between speeds is comparing the Covenant cruiser ''"[[Ascendant Justice]]"'' with the UNSC [[Halcyon-class]] cruiser {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}. It took several weeks for the ''Pillar of Autumn'' to get from [[Reach]] to [[Installation 04]], yet the ''Ascendant Justice'' could get from Installation 04 to Reach within thirteen hours. | ||
Though the Covenant use a modified version of Forerunner systems, true unaltered [[Forerunner]] slipspace technology has only been observed in the form of [[the Artifact|the portal]] transporting UNSC and Covenant vessels from [[Earth]] to [[The Ark]]. Additionally, while a Covenant Assault Carrier could reach Delta Halo from Earth in thirteen days, a distance of approximately 11,856 lightyears,<ref group="note">Distance=VelocityxTime (312 hours x 38 lightyears per hour=11856 lightyears)</ref> the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] took only five days to travel the same distance, giving a speed of approximately 98.8 lightyears per hour.<ref group="note">V=D/T (11,856 lightyears / 120 hours = 98.8)</ref> Given the fact that Covenant understanding of Forerunner technology is comparatively primitive, the ship may have been capable of much higher velocities. | Though the Covenant use a modified version of Forerunner systems, true unaltered [[Forerunner]] slipspace technology has only been observed in the form of [[the Artifact|the portal]] transporting UNSC and Covenant vessels from [[Earth]] to [[The Ark]]. Additionally, while a Covenant Assault Carrier could reach Delta Halo from Earth in thirteen days, a distance of approximately 11,856 lightyears,<ref group="note">Distance=VelocityxTime (312 hours x 38 lightyears per hour=11856 lightyears)</ref> the [[Forerunner Dreadnought]] took only five days to travel the same distance, giving a speed of approximately 98.8 lightyears per hour.<ref group="note">V=D/T (11,856 lightyears / 120 hours = 98.8)</ref> Given the fact that Covenant understanding of Forerunner technology is comparatively primitive, the ship may have been capable of much higher velocities. | ||