Editing Propulsion (TOS)

{{disline|For the propulsion counterparts in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]], see [[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series]].}}

In the [[Original Series]], the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] moves seemingly only at ''sublight'' speeds. There are inferences to FTL use though, even if sporadic and uncertain.

''Lightspeed'' is the term for a Colonial [[Battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] accelerating to the speed of light or faster. ''Galactica'' is one of the few ships in the rag-tag [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] that have lightspeed ability, so normally the battlestar moves no faster than the slowest ship in the Fleet during its exodus from the destroyed [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies]] {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}.

It is rarely mentioned, but beyond the following references, FTL is implied several times in the original ''Battlestar Galactica''. Even just the mention of leaving star systems (possibly mentioned inaccurately as 'galaxies') and showing up in other star systems within short periods of time, lead one to suspect that some form of superluminal propulsion is employed.

* Commander [[Cain (TOS)|Cain]] brings ''{{TOS|Pegasus}}'' to lightspeed in order to outflank {{TOS|Baltar}}'s attack force, though Cain earlier commented that such a maneuver would result in using half of ''Pegasus'''s fuel {{OS|The Living Legend, Part I}}.

* Commander {{TOS|Adama}} orders Colonel {{TOS|Tigh}} to take ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'' to lightspeed, despite Tigh's objections that suggest that it had been some time since the battlestar was ordered to accelerate that fast {{OS|Experiment in Terra}}.

* {{TOS|Baltar}} and [[Lucifer]] have a conversation in which Lucifer states that the Cylons could easily catch up to the slowly moving rag-tag Fleet if they used lightspeed {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}.

* Starbuck's Viper "[[Starchaser|Recon 1]]" could be inferred to be able attain this lightspeed as well, as it has to drop to sub-light when it detects a freighter and fighter {{OS|The Long Patrol}}.

Other than these oblique references, there is nothing that would substantiate how the ships achieve this form of propulsion other than by just accelerating until they reach their top speed. Oddities include never showing [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] using FTL, though this is probably due to budget constraints in the special effects that could be used in an ongoing series at the time.

== Observed Properties ==

Propulsion systems of spaceships in the Original Series exhibit a number of characteristics, including --

* Slow relative movement near planets or other spacecraft, in interplanetary space.  The approximate distance between Colonial Vipers and Cylon Raiders in space battles can be estimated since the sizes of both are known. The range is typically a few tens of meters (<100 feet) and the relative velocities only ~100 meters/second (240 mph) or comparable to WW II fighter aircraft. Colonial Battlestars and Cylon Basestars also move slowly during space battles.

* Extremely rapid acceleration in deep space, or otherwise the Battlestars could never achieve near-lightspeed within a matter of minutes or hours in the episodes "[[The Living Legend, Part I]]" and "[[Experiment in Terra]]". This requires some sort of acceleration damping forcefield or else the crew would be crushed out of existence. A ship constantly accelerating at one Earth gravity (9.81 meters per second) would need more than a year to achieve light speed, clearly ruling out missions to other star system in next week's episode even when relativistic [[w:time dilation|time dilation]] is factored in.

== Tie-in Material Information ==
* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):''
: The Aerians developed the first [[Agro Ship|Agro ships]] to nourish interstellar space crews on the long journey between the stars before the invention of faster-than-light drive. The [[solium]] afterburner provided light in the dark reaches between the stars; genetic engineering produced new plants that could use the solium light spectrum efficiently.<ref name=":0">{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=13}}</ref> 

: Ultra-light-drive was invented in [[4980]], marking the beginning of the [[Long Peace]]. This technological breakthrough allowed for faster-than-light travel between the Colonies. Because of the high cost of ultra-light travel, sub-light freight carrier convoys continued to require Agro ship support even up to the time of the Final Destruction. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=13,59}}</ref>

: [[Battlestar (TOS)|Battlestars]] are powered to sub-light speeds by twin solium energizers that convert matter directly into propulsive force. [[Tylium (TOS)|Tylium]] thrusters boost the ship past the light barrier; on full power, speeds of light times ten have been attained. <ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=20-21}}</ref>

: Freighters are sub-light vehicles, powered by a single solium energizer. Low thrust applied for [[Quatron|quatrons]] in the vacuum of space eventually accelerate them to a cruising speed of .998 of the speed of light. As a freighter nears its destination, it must apply its thruster in reverse for several quatrons more in order to slow it down. <ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=36}}</ref>

== Novelizations ==

{{separate continuity|universe=1980|type=line}}

In the ''[[Galactica Discovers Earth (Book)|Galactica Discovers Earth]]'' novelization, FTL technology is described as being driven by [[w:tachyon|tachyon]] particles.<ref>{{cite_book|last=Resnick|first=Michael|authorlink=Michael Resnick|authorlinkurl=|year=1981|title=[[Battlestar Galactica 5: Galactica Discovers Earth]]|publisher=Berkley Books|location=|id=|pages=89}}</ref>.

== References ==

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[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Technology (TOS)]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology (TOS)]]
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[[fr:Propulsion (LSO)]]