Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine became a reality in April 2291 due entirely to the vision, persistence and dedication of these two pioneers in quantum engineering and applied hypothetical physics. They have opened a path to the stars for all of us.|[[Tobias Fleming Shaw]], ScD, QeD, FRS January 30, 2220 - November 10, 2317, [[Wallace Fujikawa]] ScD, QEnD April 20, 2215 - February 18, 2318<ref>Halo 3 Multiplayer Map, [[Orbital (Level)|Orbital]]</ref>}} | {{Quote|The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine became a reality in April 2291 due entirely to the vision, persistence and dedication of these two pioneers in quantum engineering and applied hypothetical physics. They have opened a path to the stars for all of us.|[[Tobias Fleming Shaw]], ScD, QeD, FRS January 30, 2220 - November 10, 2317, [[Wallace Fujikawa]] ScD, QEnD April 20, 2215 - February 18, 2318<ref>Halo 3 Multiplayer Map, [[Orbital (Level)|Orbital]]</ref>}} | ||
The '''Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine''' (sometimes abbreviated to SFTE, usually known merely as a " | [[Image:FTLDrive.png|200px|right|thumb|The FTL drive from the ''[[Spirit of Fire]]'' loaded aboard a transporter.]] | ||
The '''Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine''' (sometimes abbreviated to SFTE, usually known merely as a "slipspace drive") is a [[human]] spacecraft propulsion system which allows transitions to and from [[slipspace]], in turn allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel. The Covenant analogue functions on similar principles, but is exclusively referred to as a "slipspace drive". | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The engine was developed in secret by a group of military researchers, led by [[Tobias Fleming Shaw]] and [[Wallace Fujikawa]] around [[2291]]. From that point onward, it quickly became one of the most important technological innovations of humanity, on account of allowing interstellar travel to occur in reasonable time. That said, the drive is far from perfect with short jumps taking several months and long jumps taking over half a year (although this may be partially because of slipspace physics, rather than an engineering limitation). | |||
By [[2552]], slipspace engines were ubiquitous throughout the [[UNSC]], and most spacecraft were equipped with one. | |||
==Functionality== | |||
Shaw-Fujikawa engines work by making ruptures between normal space and the alternate dimensional plane known as Slipspace, and then forcing the mass of a spacecraft through. They do this by creating micro black holes with particle accelerators. Because of their low mass, [[Hawking radiation]] prevents these microscopic black holes from existing for more than a nanosecond, but in that time the drive is able to manipulate them into forming a coherent rupture between normal space and the slipstream<ref>Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, pg 53</ref>. | |||
It is unclear whether Shaw-Fujikawa engines have any role in actually propelling spacecraft through the slipstream, or whether a ship's conventional thrusters are used. It's known that the drives do remain active for the duration that a spacecraft is in slipspace, but their precise functionality during that period is unknown. | |||
== | ===Other Uses=== | ||
There have been several occasions where a slipspace engine has been used for purposes other than those intended. | |||
* In [[2531]], the ''[[Spirit of Fire]]'' cannibalised its slipspace engine for use as an improvised explosive. It was used to induce supernova in the miniature star at the core of a [[Forerunner]] [[Shield World (Halo Wars)|shield world]], with the intent of destroying a dormant fleet of Forerunner warships. | |||
* In the same year, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] used the radiation emitted by a malfunctioning and decommisioned slipspace drive to cause [[Spartan-051]]'s armor to malfunction, allowing him to be secretly recruited by them. | |||
Covenant Advantages | |||
The Shaw-Fujikawa drive of the [[Humans]] "punches" its way into Slipspace by using brute force. The [[Covenant]], on the other hand, create small, precise ruptures and then delicately enlarge them. This is the reason that Covenant Slipspace engines are far more accurate than Human drives. Captured Covenant [[Engineer]]s made the [[Gettysburg|UNSC Gettysburg]] the fastest ship in the [[UNSC]] fleet by upgrading its Slipspace drive to near-Covenant specifications. Covenant engines are also more flexible than their Human-made counterparts; atmospheric Slipspace transitions have twice been seen with them<ref>Halo 2 and Halo: First Strike</ref>, and an underpowered slip was successfully accomplished with a Covenant ship<ref>Halo: Ghosts of Onyx</ref>. | The Shaw-Fujikawa drive of the [[Humans]] "punches" its way into Slipspace by using brute force. The [[Covenant]], on the other hand, create small, precise ruptures and then delicately enlarge them. This is the reason that Covenant Slipspace engines are far more accurate than Human drives. Captured Covenant [[Engineer]]s made the [[Gettysburg|UNSC Gettysburg]] the fastest ship in the [[UNSC]] fleet by upgrading its Slipspace drive to near-Covenant specifications. Covenant engines are also more flexible than their Human-made counterparts; atmospheric Slipspace transitions have twice been seen with them<ref>Halo 2 and Halo: First Strike</ref>, and an underpowered slip was successfully accomplished with a Covenant ship<ref>Halo: Ghosts of Onyx</ref>. | ||
Revision as of 17:05, May 23, 2009
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- "The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine became a reality in April 2291 due entirely to the vision, persistence and dedication of these two pioneers in quantum engineering and applied hypothetical physics. They have opened a path to the stars for all of us."
- — Tobias Fleming Shaw, ScD, QeD, FRS January 30, 2220 - November 10, 2317, Wallace Fujikawa ScD, QEnD April 20, 2215 - February 18, 2318[1]
The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine (sometimes abbreviated to SFTE, usually known merely as a "slipspace drive") is a human spacecraft propulsion system which allows transitions to and from slipspace, in turn allowing faster-than-light interstellar travel. The Covenant analogue functions on similar principles, but is exclusively referred to as a "slipspace drive".
History
The engine was developed in secret by a group of military researchers, led by Tobias Fleming Shaw and Wallace Fujikawa around 2291. From that point onward, it quickly became one of the most important technological innovations of humanity, on account of allowing interstellar travel to occur in reasonable time. That said, the drive is far from perfect with short jumps taking several months and long jumps taking over half a year (although this may be partially because of slipspace physics, rather than an engineering limitation).
By 2552, slipspace engines were ubiquitous throughout the UNSC, and most spacecraft were equipped with one.
Functionality
Shaw-Fujikawa engines work by making ruptures between normal space and the alternate dimensional plane known as Slipspace, and then forcing the mass of a spacecraft through. They do this by creating micro black holes with particle accelerators. Because of their low mass, Hawking radiation prevents these microscopic black holes from existing for more than a nanosecond, but in that time the drive is able to manipulate them into forming a coherent rupture between normal space and the slipstream[2].
It is unclear whether Shaw-Fujikawa engines have any role in actually propelling spacecraft through the slipstream, or whether a ship's conventional thrusters are used. It's known that the drives do remain active for the duration that a spacecraft is in slipspace, but their precise functionality during that period is unknown.
Other Uses
There have been several occasions where a slipspace engine has been used for purposes other than those intended.
- In 2531, the Spirit of Fire cannibalised its slipspace engine for use as an improvised explosive. It was used to induce supernova in the miniature star at the core of a Forerunner shield world, with the intent of destroying a dormant fleet of Forerunner warships.
- In the same year, the Office of Naval Intelligence used the radiation emitted by a malfunctioning and decommisioned slipspace drive to cause Spartan-051's armor to malfunction, allowing him to be secretly recruited by them.
Covenant Advantages
The Shaw-Fujikawa drive of the Humans "punches" its way into Slipspace by using brute force. The Covenant, on the other hand, create small, precise ruptures and then delicately enlarge them. This is the reason that Covenant Slipspace engines are far more accurate than Human drives. Captured Covenant Engineers made the UNSC Gettysburg the fastest ship in the UNSC fleet by upgrading its Slipspace drive to near-Covenant specifications. Covenant engines are also more flexible than their Human-made counterparts; atmospheric Slipspace transitions have twice been seen with them[3], and an underpowered slip was successfully accomplished with a Covenant ship[4].
An active Shaw-Fujikawa drive emits Alpha and Beta particles, necessitating heavy radiation shielding. It is also stated that early models were prone to requiring many manual adjustments (which was a dangerous procedure). One can assume that a greater understanding of Slipstream physics has eliminated this requirement.
Trivia
- The emissions of a damaged Shaw-Fujikawa drive were used by ONI to make the armor of Spartan-051 malfunction and send him flying into unknown space, so that he could be secretly rescued, and then repurposed to train the new Spartan-IIIs.
- Covenant Slipspace Drives are seemingly much more advanced than Human ones, as Cortana performs the first atmospheric transition in Halo: First Strike, and Spartans Fred-104, Linda-058, and William-043 manage an underpowered jump using a captured Covenant destroyer in Ghosts of Onyx, which was said to have been attempted twice by UNSC ships, both times resulting in the ship transitioning "into atomized bits".
- The Spirit of Fire's Slipspace Drive was used as an improvised explosive to destroy The unnamed Shield World's internal sun, resulting in the star going supernova; destroying both the Shield World and its contigent of Forerunner Warships's in order to prevent those ships from falling into Covenant hands.
