Star Drive

Discovery

Thanks to the discovery and generalization of nuclear fusion, which gave humanity access to a great energetic potential. Several companies, the government and several civil actors then considered using this new opportunity to put into practice the famous theory of Miguel Alcubierre. The government, seeing the potential of mastering an engine of this kind, decided to bring together under a partnership several technology companies and the Confederation's Department of Defense to put this theory into practice on the size of a small vessel. Their tests were conclusive and a prototype was built a few years after their first work and succeeded in reaching 40% of the speed of light in 2144.

During the decade following the invention, the technology will be commercialized and will allow humanity to expand throughout the solar system and will begin an area of prosperity for it. Subsequent versions of the engine will be invented in 2187 and 2307 increasing the maximum speed between 150% and 200% of the speed of light depending on the size of the ship's reactor. Also, in 2200, a modification of the Star Drive will allow it to be used in complementarity with the new interstellar gate system. In fact, the bubble that the ship will create will be projected into a tunnel created by the same technology, which will reduce the journey in around ten minutes instead of several years. The reliability of the engines will also be greatly improved in the first years of use, the latter could sometimes fail to create a bubble to increase the speed of the ship.

Complexity

The technology is primarily based on a very old physical theory of space travel theorized by physicist Miguel Alcubierre and later refined by many other physicists. The principle behind it is quite simple, it consists of creating a bubble where the ship stands and allows it to reach speeds faster than light, the current version uses particularly powerful capacitors to create solitons capable of manipulating space-time. Unfortunately, in early versions of the theory, the amount of energy required for the operation was such that it was impossible to apply it practically. Fortunately, subsequent work by other physicists and the partnership established by the government made it possible to find solutions to the problems that required much less energy and with the mastery of nuclear fusion, the energy produced by a single reactor thus made it possible to supply the new engine. This was confirmed with the first prototype of the engine.

Utility

This technology is central to galactic civilization because it allows rapid travel within and between all the systems of the galaxy, this engine is the centerpiece of galactic travel. They are used by all species in the galaxy and without them, civilization as we know it would not be possible.

Manufacturing

This technology is mainly used thanks to a module which is coupled to the main engine of the vessels, it is he which serves as a control center for capacitors whose function is to manipulate space-time thanks to solitons. These modules are manufactured by several companies within the Republic and are accessible quite easily at good prices.

Social Impact

This technology had a major social impact on the standardization of cultures within the solar system, which ultimately led to the creation of the Federal Republic. Indeed, the shortening of travel times has allowed for much greater cultural exchanges, and therefore, the creation of a common cultural baggage. This has not, however, prevented most populations originating from Earth from retaining strong cultural traits. Asian, African and Western cultures have, however, quietly imposed themselves over time as the dominant ones. In addition, the populations of the system will increasingly see each person as being human first and not of their respective ethnic groups.

Today, this mentality has been maintained and allowed the Republic to gain great stability. When the Star Drive were modified to allow interstellar travel, it had major impacts on the mentalities of the citizens of the Republic who found themselves confronted with the immensity of space, which caused collective wonder. Once considered the ultimate barrier, the limits of the solar systems shattered in the collective imagination and humanity found itself faced with the biggest opportunity of his existence. Once the modification became accessible to the general public, it encouraged a rush to new worlds and systems discovered by the Republic.

Inventor(s)

The Star Drive was not mastered by one individual, but rather by several groups working for the various companies that are part of the partnership or the government. Although the modification that will allow to pass the wormholes was not invented by a single person, the major contribution of Rachida Laroui, who first discovered the wormhole between Sol and Alpha Centauri with her ship FRS Sangan, should not be overlooked. Indeed, it was her who led the scientific team to discover a way to cross and led the expedition that tested the new engine.

Access & Availability

The technology is now accessible to any business, individual or level of government that wants it and is considered in the public domain. Indeed, since this technology is essential to anyone who would like to move in space, it has not been patented by any private individuals or corporations.