Launch tube (TOS)

Launch tubes are the primary mechanism for launching the Viper fighter craft from a battlestar.

A battlestar's launch tubes are located within the two quasi- cylindrical nacelle pods located to the port and starboard. Each nacelle has 16 launch tubes, which are slanted towards the battlestar's aft. Designed solely for Viper craft, each tube has a track in the launch bay where the Viper sits prior to launch.

Vipers are loaded into an embarkation area at the inner-most end of the tube during pre-flight prep, and are launched when the pilot is given the "Launch when ready" command. Once inside the sealed tube, the pilot initiates the launch by activating the turbo thrusters on the Viper. This quickly accelerates the Viper, slamming the pilot into the back of their seat and sending the fighter through the length of the launch tube into the stars.

Launch tubes are equipped with surveillance equipment that is accessible from core command. Athena uses the camera to catch Starbuck and Cassiopeia seeking some privacy in a launch tube. Athena activates a steam purge, which is likely intended for maintenance purposes more than for burning unfaithful Viper pilots ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.

The interior of the launch tubes are well shielded, presumably to handle any backwash from a Viper's engines. This is evident when Chameleon fires a laser volley from Starbuck's Viper into the launch tube, after Starbuck lures two Borellian Nomen, Maga and Bora, into the tube without major structural damage ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}.

Related Images

A Viper launching.
Viper accelerating down its launch tube.
Starbuck leads two Borellian Nomen down a launch tube ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}.
Maga and Bora hunt for Starbuck down a launch tube ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}.