highest warp in star trek

Star Trek: How Fast Is Warp Speed Exactly?

"Star Trek" fans are well accustomed to hearing Starfleet captains give the order to travel at maximum warp, but what, exactly, does that mean? The intergalactic storytelling in the "Star Trek" franchise is enabled by the futuristic invention of faster-than-light travel, with starships able to cross impossibly vast distances of space in the time it takes for a commercial break. But for fans who've wondered how fast warp speed actually is, things start out relatively (pun intended) simple. The way warp works is the complex part.

Basic warp speed, also referred to as warp 1, is exactly the speed of light. That's approximately 300,000 kilometers per second. Anything below that speed is described on board a Starfleet vessel as a fractional. But the scale isn't linear, which makes things tricker to calculate at any speed other than a flat warp 1. The best scale to use is the one from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," by which point there was an actual mathematical formula in use to calculate warp speeds. By that scale, a warp factor of 0.5 is only about one-tenth the speed of light, while warp 5 is 213.7 times faster than light.

As seen in many "Star Trek" episodes, the laws of space-time start to break down entirely once warp 10 is reached . Warp 10 gets defined as infinite speed, which means anything traveling at it would occupy all points in space at the same time. Even in science fiction, there must be a limit somewhere.

The science of Star Trek's warp speed

Faster-than-light travel isn't possible with current technology, and may not be possible at all. The speed of light, 300,000 kilometers per second, is thought to function as a sort of "cosmic speed limit." Nothing with mass can travel at that speed or faster, with light being the exception since it has no weight. As Einstein proved, this simple rule holds the fabric of space and time together. So how does the warp drive in "Star Trek" circumvent this apparent law of nature?

As astrophysicist Erin MacDonald explained on the Star Trek YouTube channel , "Just because nothing can travel faster than the speed of light on the surface of space-time, nothing says that space-time itself can't go faster than the speed of light." But how does a warp engine use that loophole in the laws of physics to accomplish FTL travel? By generating a field of energy that warps the space-time around a starship. Said MacDonald, "The idea with warp drive is that you build a bubble of space-time around your ship and then that propels you faster than the speed of light." These bubbles are called warp fields.

This is also how different warp factors can be achieved. A single warp field causes a starship to travel at warp 1, but adding an additional bubble around the first causes even more acceleration — warp 2, 3, and so on. "Eventually, you get to the point where you wrap all of space and time around your ship, and that, you can think of as warp factor 10," MacDonald said.

The history of Star Trek's warp drive

The invention of warp technology is well-documented in "Star Trek" lore. In the franchise's fictional history, Earth went through a dark period between the late 1900s and mid-21st century. First, the Eugenics Wars ravaged the planet, though its dates have been retconned. Next, starting in the early to mid-2020s, World War III broke out following a period of economic collapse. We see the beginnings of this during "Star Trek: Picard" Season 2. But in the post-atomic wastelands of the period that followed, a scientist named Zefram Cochrane managed to engineer the first warp-capable ship.

The movie "Star Trek: First Contact" tells the story of what happened next. Visited by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise after they travel through a temporal vortex created by the Borg, Cochrane finishes his work on the warp drive. On April 5, 2063, he takes it on a maiden voyage. This triggers the attention of nearby Vulcans, who, realizing a new species has become interplanetary, visit Earth to introduce themselves to humanity.

In the "Star Trek" universe, April 5 is celebrated across the Federation as First Contact Day, and many fans join in on the fun in real life by honoring the holiday. More than a time to celebrate "Star Trek," it's a day to celebrate what the franchise represents: the hope for a future where humanity warps past our petty quarrels to unite with a shared sense of curiosity and exploration.

• Mirror Universe

The alternate USS Enterprise at warp

Warp drive or warp engine was a technology that allowed space travel at faster-than-light speeds . It worked by generating warp fields to form a subspace bubble that enveloped the starship , distorting the local spacetime continuum and moving the starship at velocities that could greatly exceed the speed of light . These velocities were referred to as warp factors . Warp drive was the most common form of interstellar propulsion used in the Milky Way Galaxy , making interstellar civilization, exploration, and commerce possible. By the 24th century, warp was the primary means of interstellar transport , but scientists from various cultures were pursuing various alternative propulsion methods that were hypothetically faster or more efficient.

• 1 Etymology
• 2.1 Parts of the system
• 2.2 System types
• 3.1 21st century
• 3.2 22nd century
• 3.3 23rd century
• 3.4 24th century
• 3.5 ...and beyond
• 4.1 Background information
• 4.2 External links

Etymology [ ]

The USS Discovery at warp in 2257

The USS Stargazer performs a warp jump

In 2063 , the term "warp drive" was already used by Zefram Cochrane of his engine on the Phoenix . However, Cochrane used the term "space warp generator" in the monitor displays on his spacecraft. ( Star Trek: First Contact ) Even as late as the 2150s , the warp five engine was still officially known as a " gravimetric field displacement manifold" ( ENT : " Cold Front ").

Most cultures throughout the Milky Way Galaxy used the term "warp drive" and by the late- 23rd century it was the most common term used by the Federation as well ( Star Trek: The Original Series , et al.). In the 2250s the term "hyperdrive" was used by Starfleet , ( TOS : " The Cage ") and the Ferengi occasionally used the term "lightspeed drive". ( TNG : " Peak Performance ") Finally, there was the term "star drive" which was only used by the Federation and Starfleet in the 2260s. ( TOS : " Bread and Circuses ", " The Paradise Syndrome ")

Space warp was one of the vocabulary words listed on the chart "A Tunnel in the Sky". This chart was seen in the schoolroom aboard Deep Space 9 in 2369 . ( DS9 : " In the Hands of the Prophets ")

The process of going to warp was described as a warp jump . ( ENT : " Horizon "; TNG : " Peak Performance ", et al.)

The use of the term "hyperdrive" in " The Cage " was never fully explained, but the writer's guide, The Star Trek Guide (third rev., p. 8) [1] suggests an origin for the term. According to the guide, "hyper-light speed" was an alternative, less preferred, term for "space warp speed". Decades later, the term "hyper-speed" is referenced in a descriptive/action paragraph of the script for " Where No One Has Gone Before ". Hyperdrive later became more prominently known as the ftl drive in the Star Wars franchise.

According to Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (p. 54), the original official term used by Cochrane in the 2060s was "continuum distortion propulsion", which was only informally dubbed as "warp" propulsion at the time.

Technology [ ]

Enterprise with a disabled warp engine

Warp engines were the bulky units found, in many cases, in a starship's nacelle . ( TNG : " New Ground ")

24th century Federation warp engines were fueled by the reaction of matter ( deuterium ) and antimatter ( antideuterium ), mediated through an assembly of dilithium crystals, which were nonreactive with antimatter when subjected to high-frequency electromagnetic fields . This reaction produced a highly energetic plasma , called electro-plasma or warp plasma , which was channeled by plasma conduits through the electro-plasma system (EPS); that system also provided the primary energy supply for the ships other electronic systems. For propulsion the electro-plasma was funneled by plasma injectors into a series of warp field coils , usually located in remote warp nacelles . These coils were composed of verterium cortenide and generated the warp field .

Other civilizations used different power sources, such as the Romulans ' use of artificial quantum singularities to power their warp drives, ( TNG : " Timescape ") but the basic process was similar. In some vessels, such as the Intrepid -class , the nacelles were mounted on variable geometry pylons . ( VOY : " Caretaker ")

A display showing the main components of a warp drive

Parts of the system [ ]

• Antimatter containment
• Antimatter inducer
• Antimatter relay
• Deuterium cartridges
• Deuterium control conduit
• Electro-plasma
• Emergency shutdown trips
• Main stage flux chiller
• Magnetic interlock
• Bussard collectors
• Plasma injector
• Nullifier core
• Pre stage flux chiller
• Phase inducer
• Plasma conduit
• Plasma coolant
• Plasma regulator
• Power transfer conduit
• Power transfer grid
• Space matrix restoration coil
• Warp field generator
• Warp plasma conduit
• Antimatter injector
• Antiproton injection seal
• dilithium articulation frame
• dilithium chamber hatch
• dilithium crystal
• dilithium regulator
• Intermix chamber
• Matter injector / deuterium injector
• Theta-matrix compositor

System types [ ]

• Class 7 warp drive
• Class 9 warp drive
• Enhanced warp drive
• S-2 graf unit
• Subspace resonator
• Tetryon plasma warp drive
• Tricyclic plasma drive
• Warp five engine
• Warp three engine
• Yoyodyne pulse fusion

Development [ ]

Warp drive and other faster-than-light (FTL) propulsion technologies were the linchpin of an interstellar civilization, making trade and exploration across vast interstellar distances viable. Without these technologies, these distances could not be crossed in any reasonable period of time, making interstellar civilization usually limited to a single sector. ( TNG : " A Matter Of Time ") To put this in perspective, planets that were years away with impulse speeds could be reached in days with ships equipped with warp drive. ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ")

The IKS Rotarran accelerates to warp, viewed from within the vessel

Cultures in the galaxy discovered warp drive at their own pace and rate of development, as most of the cultures had to do. The Vulcans were an interstellar civilization by 9th century BC and had reached the level of warp 7 by 2151 . ( ENT : " The Andorian Incident ", " Fallen Hero "; DS9 : " Little Green Men ") Klingons had interstellar travel capability around the time of Kahless in the 9th century . They had achieved the capability of warp 6 by 2151. ( TNG : " Rightful Heir "; DS9 : " Little Green Men "; VOY : " Day of Honor "; ENT : " Judgment ") Romulans were once considered a group of petty thugs and warp drive was regarded as the key technology that allowed the founding of the Romulan Star Empire . ( Star Trek: Insurrection ) The Vissians developed warp drive around the 12th century . ( ENT : " Cogenitor ") The Borg in the Delta Quadrant began to establish their interstellar collective by the 15th century . ( VOY : " Dragon's Teeth ") In the Alpha Quadrant, the rapid progress of Humanity in the 22nd century led to the wide-scale exploration of the galaxy being one of the basic goals of the United Federation of Planets , founded in 2161 .

Quark stated in "Little Green Men" that the Ferengi would have had warp drive "centuries" before the "Humans, Klingons, and even the Vulcans," had he delivered warp technology to Ferenginar in 1947. See Little Green Men – Trivia for more information. For the Vulcans, this is contradicted in ENT : " Carbon Creek ", where Vulcans are clearly depicted as warp-capable in 1957 , with the ability to reach Earth with relatively small survey ships .

According to "Rightful Heir", before Kahless died, he declared he would one day return, in the Boreth star system . Shortly after this, Klingons built the Boreth monastery there to await for his return. According to the episode "Day of Honor", Kahless lived in the 9th century. It is stated in Star Trek: Star Charts (p. 55) that Klingons had achieved warp capability in the year 930. Quark, however, stated in "Little Green Men" that the Ferengi would have had warp drive before the Klingons, had he delivered warp technology to Ferenginar in 1947.

Regarding Vulcan propulsion technology aboard the T'Plana-Hath , Ronald D. Moore commented, " Certainly Cochrane is credited with the invention of warp drive as we know it in Trek , so we could assume that the Vulcans were using something else – possibly a variant of the contained singularity used by the Romulans. That might have been a much more dangerous and inefficient technology which was quickly abandoned by most of the galaxy when Cochrane's system was introduced. " ( AOL chat , 1997 )

The development of the warp drive was recognized by the United Federation of Planets as the marker of an advanced society. It was only after a people developed warp drive that the Federation made contact, as codified in the Prime Directive . ( TNG : " First Contact ") A warp capable society was deemed technically and psychologically ready to embrace the universe at large.

According to Science Officer Spock in 2259 , not once in the entire history of first contact had warp been first developed as anything but a drive. However, the Kiley had developed warp in the form of a warp bomb . ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ")

21st century [ ]

Phoenix goes to warp

On Earth , warp drive was initially developed by Zefram Cochrane , in the period following World War III . ( Star Trek: First Contact )

The spacecraft credited with discovering the space warp phenomenon was the Bonaventure . ( DS9 : " The Nagus ", production art )

Despite the hardships imposed by the war's aftermath and the lack of advanced materials, Cochrane was able to build a manned warp-capable vessel using a converted Titan II missile. The successful first flight of his ship – the Phoenix – took place on April 5 , 2063 , and drew the attention of a Vulcan exploratory vessel, leading to the event known as First Contact . ( Star Trek: First Contact )

The Bonaventure then became the first deep-space starship to have warp drive installed. ( TAS : " The Time Trap ")

22nd century [ ]

Two NX-class starships in tandem warp flight

Development of warp technology by Humans proceeded slowly over the next eighty years, after the flight of the Phoenix – due, in no small part, to the cautious advice of the Vulcans – and it was not until the 2140s that a warp engine developed by Henry Archer at the Warp Five Complex could exceed warp factor 2.

This engine was successfully tested in the second NX prototype by Commanders A.G. Robinson and Jonathan Archer to a speed of warp 2.5, breaking the so-called " warp 2 barrier " in 2143 . Eight months later, Duvall achieved warp 3 with the NX Delta . Warp 4 was first achieved by the USS Franklin . ( ENT : " First Flight "; Star Trek Beyond )

By the year 2149 , warp technology was sufficiently advanced to begin the construction of Enterprise , a vessel capable of warp 5 and launched in 2151 . ( ENT : " Broken Bow ") Although Enterprise was at first unable to fully realize this potential (maxing out at warp 4.7), the starship finally reached warp 5 on February 9 , 2152 . ( ENT : " Fallen Hero ")

By 2161 , Starfleet warp drive technology had achieved the capability to reach warp 7, and these engines were being built into the latest class of Starfleet vessels as the NX-class ships were being decommissioned. ( ENT : " These Are the Voyages... ")

23rd century [ ]

The USS Shenzhou at warp in 2256

Development and improvement of warp drive continued apace, and by the 2240s , Starfleet vessels of the Constitution -class had standard cruising speeds of warp 6 and emergency speeds as high as warp 8 (although under the right conditions, the engines could reach warp 9). These ships took advantage of a major breakthrough in warp technology that took place between 2236 and 2254 , the breaking of the so-called " time barrier ". ( TOS : " The Cage ")

Higher warp factors continued to be reached, mostly through alien intervention, or dangerous malfunction. The USS Enterprise was modified by the Kelvans to maintain a speed of warp 11 in 2268 . Later that year, the Enterprise accelerated to a speed of warp factor 14.1, after being sabotaged by a Kalandan planetary defense system . At that velocity, however, the ship came within moments of destroying itself. ( TOS : " By Any Other Name ", " That Which Survives ")

At around the same time, warp engines were being redesigned to allow standard speeds of warp 8 and above. During the refit of the Constitution -class, the cylindrical-shaped nacelles were replaced with a new flattened design. Engines required precise tuning; imbalanced engines caused a wormhole effect that almost destroyed Enterprise on its first mission after refit. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

According to the Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology (p. 180), the new warp drive of the Enterprise after the refit was an advanced fourth generation warp drive system known as "pulsed warp drive".

The USS Enterprise -A jumps to warp to escape an incoming photon torpedo

Warp theory continued to advance with the development of the first transwarp drive engines in the mid- 2280s , which would have theoretically allowed greater efficiency and any warp speed to be available for a ship. However, the transwarp experiment of USS Excelsior ended in failure, and the technology was abandoned at that time. The Excelsior itself was deemed spaceworthy, retrofitted with conventional warp drive and commissioned as NCC-2000 under the command of Captain Hikaru Sulu . ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; VOY : " Threshold "; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

24th century [ ]

The USS Enterprise -D at warp

At some point in the 24th century, a new warp factor scale came into use, which placed warp 10 as a theoretical maximum. ( VOY : " Threshold ")

According to Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual , the new scale was a more advanced function than the previous cubic power scale, with factors increasing exponentially in terms of power consumption and equivalent speed. This "new" scale also presents a maximum "cap" on the absolute velocity of a warp drive, even beyond the warp 10 limit; since energy cannot be created or destroyed, an exponential increase in power consumption would eventually outstrip the amount of available energy in the known universe.

By the time the Galaxy -class starship was being designed in the 2360s , warp technology had progressed to the point where speeds of warp 9.6 could be sustained for up to twelve hours, although warp 9.2 was considered the "red line." ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ")

According to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual (pp. 151-158), the classification of Federation warp drives capable of maintaining speeds of warp factor 9.2 and above for at least twelve hours was "1,500+ cochrane warp core".

In 2367 , the warp drive on the Galaxy -class starship was managed by the warp propulsion power system . In that year, when Data hijacked the USS Enterprise -D , he issued a command override on this system giving him complete control of the system from the bridge . ( TNG : " Brothers ")

Voyager accelerates to warp

The USS Voyager was capable of a top cruising speed of warp 9.975. ( VOY : " Caretaker ", " Relativity ")

The USS Prometheus was capable of a sustained cruising speed of warp 9.9. ( VOY : " Message in a Bottle ")

In 2370 , the Hekaran scientist Serova discovered that the use of conventional warp engines caused damage to the fabric of spacetime. The Federation Council imposed a speed limit of warp factor 5 on all Federation vessels in all but extreme emergency cases, such as medical emergencies. A conspiracy theory posit by Steve Levy suggested that the discovery of this was part of a Vendorian morality test ( TNG : " Force of Nature ", " The Pegasus ", " Eye of the Beholder ", LD : " Caves ")

Warp speeds above warp 5 were routinely used after 2370, without mention of the harmful effects, suggesting a solution was found, even though it was not mentioned on-screen. ( Star Trek Encyclopedia , 2nd ed., p. 187) See also: Variable geometry pylon . As the "speed limit" probably also limited potential future storylines, it seems that the concept was quietly done away with, shortly into the next season. Brannon Braga has noted that, " When you limit warp drive, the rug is being pulled out from under Star Trek . " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 294) Technical specifications for the USS Voyager published in Star Trek: Voyager 25th Anniversary Special state that the vessel's advanced warp system allows the vessel to exceed the warp speed limit without damaging the nearby space continuum.

It was not until 2372 , that the transwarp threshold was broken by the Federation. Tom Paris of the USS Voyager managed to achieve infinite velocity on the shuttlecraft Cochrane . However, this form of travel was found to have severe, unanticipated side effects . ( VOY : " Threshold ")

...and beyond [ ]

In what was originally the future which was observed and altered by Jean-Luc Picard , speeds of at least warp 13 were possible. ( TNG : " All Good Things... ")

In the October 1995 issue of OMNI , science advisor Andre Bormanis stated the idea of warp factors beyond 10 in the alternative future was a recalibration of the warp scale, as ships of that era had gotten faster. Bormanis suggested the possibility that warp factor 15 was set to be the ultimate speed limit and warp 13 in that scale would have been the equivalent of warp factor 9.95 in the previous scale.

The box of the Playmates desktop model of the alternative future Enterprise -D called it a transwarping ship. [2]

In the late 32nd century , the pathway drive was developed by the Federation as an alternative to warp drive as it eliminated their reliance on dilithium . Decades later during the 33rd century , the pathway drive appeared to have replaced the warp drive completely. ( DIS : " Red Directive ", " Life, Itself ")

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Gene Roddenberry originally intended the Enterprise to become transparent while in warp drive, as depicted in " The Cage " (later reformatted into the two-part "The Menagerie"). The idea was that the ship would be traveling faster than light, which means that light would not reach it, rendering the vessel invisible to the naked eye. However, according to Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity, the speed of light is a constant from any frame of reference; an observer moving at close to c would still observe light moving toward him and away from him at c .

External links [ ]

• Warp drive at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Hyperdrive at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Warp drive at Wikipedia
• André Bormanis's explanation of warp drive (X)
• 1 Bell Riots
• 3 Christopher Russell

6 Warp Speed Measurement

The Physics and Technology of Warp Propulsion

6.1 Concept of Warp Factors 6.2 TOS Scale (23rd Century) 6.3 TNG Scale (24th Century) 6.4 Possible Future Scale

6.1 Concept of Warp Factors

• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - Real Physics and Interstellar Travel
• Chapter 3 - Subspace
• Chapter 6 - Warp Speed Measurement
• Chapter 7 - Appendix

A warp factor is a unitless figure that represents the speed of a starship or of a signal traveling faster than light. There is a non-linear dependence between the warp factor and the effective FTL speed. In every known variant of the warp scale the speed rises exponentially with the warp factor, meaning that from Warp 1 to Warp 2 the speed more than doubles. The exponent is subject to vary between the scales.

There is no common canon symbol or abbreviation for warp factors, although "WF" or "wf" are sometimes used in textbooks. In spoken language they are referred to as "Warp X" (written with a capital "W") or, now rather antiquated, "warp factor X" during the time of TOS.

In all known warp scales "Warp 1" corresponds to the speed of light. The warp scale is continuous, meaning that real numbers such as "Warp 8.179" are possible, although it seems that starships most often travel at integer warp factors 7, 8, 9, etc.

Warp factors below Warp 1 are occasionally mentioned in Star Trek, mostly in the scope of the 24th century scale. Consequentially these refer to sublight speeds. The question whether something like Warp 0.5 exists has some relevance. Warp 0.5 could either mean that the warp drive also operates at sublight speeds, without a need to activate the impulse engines, or that the warp scale is simply extrapolated below Warp 1, even if only the impulse drive is on. With the note in the TNG Technical Manual [Ste91] that the impulse drive makes use of subspace driver coils the latter makes sense also technically, because if the warp factor generally describes the formation of a subspace field, it may as well apply to the field generated by the driver coils at sublight speed.

Bearing in mind that the speed of light c is already as high as 3*10^8m/s, it is obvious that with conventional units such as meters per second or kilometers per hour as they are used for the speeds of today's planes or spaceships we would end up with unreasonably large and unhandy figures when describing FTL motion. Generally, it may have been possible to switch to something like light years per day or similar manageable time and distance units. The reason why Starfleet introduced the apparently abstract and strangely non-linear warp factor must lie in the physical principle and/or the technical implementation of the propulsion system. In other words, the function of speed vs. warp factor most likely reflects how strong a warp field must be to achieve a certain speed.

Side note Gene Roddenberry may have originally conceived warp factors for the sake of the dramatic impression of Kirk's commands. "Mr. Sulu, ahead Warp factor two." is more precise than "half speed ahead", and it sounds much more to the point than "increase to three light years per day". Moreover, with warp factors obscuring the real speed of the ship, calculation errors between speeds, times and distances mentioned on screen were less likely to occur. It was as late as in TNG that a correlation between all of the three figures was routinely made on screen (most often by Data), revealing the "true" significance of warp factors.

The sawtooth curve of the power expenditure vs. warp factor as shown in Fig. 6.1 and discussed in 3.3 Subspace Fields and Warp Fields is canon since it appeared on screen in ENT: "First Flight". The tips of the sawtooth are the so-called peak transitional thresholds, the points at which the power expenditure rises steeply because there is supposedly a physical threshold (in one possible interpretation, the transition to the next subspace layer) to be crossed. These peak transitional thresholds are located at the integer warp factors 1, 2, 3, and so on. Their existence is evidence that something significant happens at integer warp factors, justifying that the scale is based on these prominent points. In other words, the scale is designed in a way that the warp factors count up certain events that occur as the warp field is being expanded and intensified, which corresponds with an increase in speed.

Fig. 6.1 also shows a reason why ships customarily travel at integer warp factors or slightly above but never slightly below. We have to bear in mind that warp propulsion is non-Newtonian and a constant power supply is required to maintain a constant speed. If we imagine for a moment that the peaks are smoothed out, the power consumption (yellow sawtooth curve) overall increases stronger with the warp factor than the speed v/c (white for the TNG scale) does. In other words, the faster a ship goes, the higher is the energy consumption for the trip.

However, as we take into account the peak transitional thresholds, the power consumption per cochrane rapidly drops to a much lower value on the right side of each peak. More precisely, the drop happens slightly above the integer warp factor, but for the sake of simplicity we may assume that "increase speed to Warp 6" means to cross the sixth threshold, after which the ship may be actually at Warp 6.01. Here the power consumption is a lot lower than at Warp 5.99. It is obvious that staying slightly below Warp 6 would be very disadvantageous.

We can also see that a bit above Warp 6 the power consumption per cochrane is the same as at Warp 5.6. Since the cochrane value is equivalent to v/c, the effective increase of power consumption between Warp 5.6 and Warp 6.01 is the same as the speed increase. So the total energy consumption for a trip at Warp 6.01 is the same as at Warp 5.6 but the ship is some 25% faster. Hence, Warp 5.6 is some sort of break-even point, above which it is advantageous to speed up even further to Warp 6.01.

6.2 TOS Scale (23rd Century)

During the era of The Original Series (TOS) a warp scale was in use where the warp factor was described with:

So the warp factor equals the cubic root of the ship's achieved speed ratio v/c, with v being the effective ship speed and c being the speed of light. Warp 1 corresponds to the speed of light.

Side note The TOS scale is often referred to as "Cochrane scale" in fandom, but this is conjecture and, like the underlying formula, was never mentioned in the series.

Strictly speaking, the warp scale used in the TOS era is conjectural. There is no reference that would allow us to relate a warp factor stated on screen to a distance and a time. The now widely accepted scale, however, must have been established behind the scenes in a kind of writer's guide. David Whitfield, who had access to essential documents of Roddenberry's staff mentions the scale in his book The Making of Star Trek [Whi68] as soon as 1968. In his reproduction of the warp scale, Warp 1 denotes the speed of light, Warp 3 is 24c, Warp 6 is 216c and Warp 8 is 512c. Actually Warp 3 should be 27c, but with the other values following exactly the third-power law of Eq. 6.1 we have a confirmation that the scale was really being used at least as a guideline.

The continuous curve of the TOS scale (teal in Fig. 6.1) insinuates that warp factors below 1 and fractional values were well possible in this measurement system. Warp factors below 1, however, were not mentioned once in TOS, and fractions occurred only occasionally. As late as in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (TMP) warp factors lower than Warp 1 appeared for the first time, when Sulu carefully activated the untested warp drive and slowly accelerated to warp speed. More precisely, the ship was already at Warp 0.5 but was only running on impulse drive when the warp drive was engaged. So it appears that impulse speeds can be measured with warp factors as well, the scale is uninterrupted. Since we shouldn't assume that the measurement system has changed between TOS and TMP, we can assume that warp factors below 1 already existed in TOS. In TOS, it often seemed like Kirk ordered to go to warp, a switch was flipped and the ship's speed immediately jumped up to Warp 1, but perhaps we should ascribe this immediate effect to dramatic license.

Warp factors higher than 10 are possible in the TOS warp scale. We know of a few incidents where the Enterprise was said to have achieved such high speeds that are well beyond the nominal top speed of Warp 8. The first one is in TOS: "The Changeling", where Nomad improved the Enterprise's engines to achieve speeds of up to Warp 11. Another one is in TOS: "That Which Survives", where a modification to the engines by Losira accelerates the Enterprise to as much as Warp 14.1. This is also one of very few examples of fractional warp factors. On another occasion, in TOS: "By Any Other Name", the Enterprise was tampered with by the Kelvans crossed the Galactic Barrier at Warp 11. The Kelvans were going to reach the Andromeda Galaxy, 2.3 million light years away, in three centuries. This gives us an indirect speed reference of as much as Warp 19.7. Yet, a definite figure was not mentioned for the warp factor during the long trip.

As already mentioned above in Section 6.1 , the warp factors likely reflect the physical principle and/or the technical implementation of the warp drive. The peak transitional thresholds and the corresponding prevalence of integer warp factors is a reason why the structure of the warp field and/or of subspace is most likely a layered one, as outlined in 3.3 Subspace Fields and Warp Fields . So in the TOS warp scale "Warp 1" may simply mean that the subspace field extends just into the first layer of subspace, having crossed the first peak transitional threshold. This may go on for Warp 2, 3, and so on. In the TOS scale there is no theoretical limit for warp factors and for the according submersion of the warp field into subspace. Only the power available on a ship imposes a limit to crossing the peak transitional thresholds of always deeper layers.

In TOS: "That Which Survives" one of the following two things may have happened when the ship attained Warp 14.1. The first possibility is that actually 14 subspace layers were subsequently crossed by tuning the warp field accordingly, although this has never been attempted before. The other possibility is that the Enterprise's engines were never built to penetrate more than eight layers (Warp 8 was said to be the maximum safe speed), and that simply so much power was pushed into the first to the eighth layer, overstressing these layers, that the equivalent warp factor was 14.1. In other words, in the latter case the Enterprise's instruments would not have registered further thresholds and may have been off scale anyway, so the equivalent warp factor would have been calculated from the actual speed.

Use in Star Trek Enterprise

For the sake of plausibility, we should assume that the 22nd century (Star Trek Enterprise) uses the same warp scale as in the 23rd century (TOS), rather than the one of the 24th century (TNG). Enterprise NX-01 has a top speed of Warp 5, which in the TOS scale is reasonably slower than the max. speed of the Enterprise NCC-1701 (Warp 6) or its max. emergency speed (Warp 8). If Enterprise used the TNG scale, NX-01 would be almost as fast as the NCC-1701.

There are some cases in which the original Enterprise must have traveled at extremely high speeds, even without alien modifications to the engines. The first example is Pike's line in "The Cage" that his ship comes from "a stellar group at the other end of this galaxy" . Also, in TOS the Enterprise crosses the Galactic Barrier no less than three times, which is supposedly at the very least a thousand light-years from Federation space. Finally, in "Star Trek: The Final Frontier" the Enterprise-A explicitly travels to the center of the galaxy, which is some 25,000 light-years away, a journey that would take a lifetime at Warp 8. Enterprise NX-01 too is occasionally much faster than Eq. 6.1 would allow. The most blatant case is in ENT: "Broken Bow" when the travel time to Qo'noS is said to be "Four days there, four days back." , which would place the Klingon homeworld only 1 light-year away from Earth, considering that Enterprise's top speed at the time is merely Warp 4.5.

There are occurrences in other Trek series too where the starships are effectively many times faster than they should be, or travel to destinations that should be far out of reach. See also the examples in Section 6.3 . These are most often fundamental plausibility problems of the stories, rather than of the warp speed measurement. Yet, it has been suggested that the actual speed of a starship at a given warp factor depends on environmental conditions.

The TNG Technical Manual [Ste91] states: "The actual values [of the cochrane value and hence of the speed attainable at a warp factor] are dependent upon interstellar conditions, e.g., gas density, electric and magnetic fields within the different regions of the Milky Way galaxy, and fluctuations in the subspace domain. Starships routinely travel at multiples of c, but they suffer from energy penalties resulting from quantum drag forces and motive power oscillation inefficiencies." In order to explain away warp speed inconsistencies along these lines, we need a correction factor k to give us the actual relation between warp factor and speed, modifying Eq. 6.1 for the TOS scale to WF=k*(v/c)^(1/3). While some regions of space may allow only below average speeds, most importantly there have to be other regions in which a much higher speed is attainable at a certain warp factor (known as "warp highways" in fandom). In these regions k has to be considerably lower than 1 and in extreme cases (travel across the whole galaxy) close to 0. There are a couple of problems with this assumption, however:

If there is a coefficient k (x,y,z) of spatial conditions that locally influences the warp speed at a given warp factor, this k ought to play a role in the stories. It is totally implausible that it was never mentioned in any form. Well, we know of the low-warp Hekaras Sector in TNG: "Force of Nature", but here the problem is to maintain a stable warp field in the first place; there is no hint that in this region warp factors may correspond to lower speeds. The whole series Star Trek Voyager makes no sense under the assumption that there are warp highways everywhere. The crew was seeking wormholes and other rare phenomena all the time, not on-ramps and exits of warp highways. Well, thanks to Seven's work in the astrometric lab five years could be shaved off as mentioned n VOY: "Year of Hell, Part I", but on the display it looks like Seven, with the more accurate Borg technology, just plotted a straighter course than the previous one (or one with fewer obstacles to be avoided). A ship's captain (sea or space) orders a course and a speed. If a captain has to take into account the gradient of an additional coefficient along the flight path that strongly influences the speed, he either has to be a genius in mental calculus, or he doesn't really care how soon the ship actually arrives. Well, there is always the possibility of asking the computer to calculate the course and the travel time in advance, but in Star Trek offhand ETA calculations and swift orders to go to a certain course and warp factor are commonplace. These would be pointless if the travel time to the same destination could vary between minutes and months, and the best course would not be a straight line. Well, we may expect that realistically the interstellar conditions don't vary too strongly, with a factor of perhaps 2 between the highest and the lowest possible speed at a given warp factor, which would alleviate the preceding point. Moreover, on very long journeys the varying conditions in the flight path will average out. But then the theory of fluctuating conditions couldn't explain phenomena such as the Enterprise's journey to the center of the galaxy at all. Eq. 6.1 and Eq. 6.2 give us quite simple relations between warp factor and speed, without a correction factor (or with k=1) or any other coefficients in it. If anything, these formulae look like they describe a "basic" or "optimum" condition of space (without interstellar dust, without interfering fields, etc.), rather than an average. And if they really describe an average as hinted at in the TNGTM , there is the question of the averaging method, the size of the sample, the sampling region and how frequently such an average would need to be updated.

Summarizing, there may be regions in which warp travel is facilitated, meaning that less power is required to achieve and/or maintain a certain warp factor. There may be other regions where the contrary is true (such as the Hekaras Corridor). But while the peak transitional thresholds may be lowered, they rather wouldn't shift with the natural inhomogeneity of space, because this would make the concept of warp factors pretty useless. And even if they do shift, it may not suffice to explain anomalous warp speeds.

6.3 TNG Scale (24th Century)

Definition up to warp 9.

Some time between the TOS Movie era (late 23rd century) and the TNG era (mid-24th century) the warp scale changed. The new scale is valid in all series set in the 24th century (TNG, DS9, Voyager). In this new TNG scale Warp 1 still denotes the speed of light. But above Warp 1 the speed corresponding to a certain warp factor is generally higher than in the TOS scale. The discrepancy slowly grows between Warp 1, where the curves intersect, to Warp 9, where the speed is 729c according to the TOS scale but 1516c for the TNG one (see Fig. 6.1). The exact equation for speeds up to Warp 9 in the TNG scale is:

So the exponent increased from 3 to 10/3=3.333..., accounting for the higher speed at a given warp factor.

Definition between Warp 9 and 10

The difference between TOS and TNG scale, however, becomes dramatic above Warp 9. The warp speed table was changed in accordance with Roddenberry's wish that Warp 10 should be the absolute maximum speed.

Side note The TNG Technical Manual [Ste91] states about the real-life rationale for the recalibration: "Figuring out how 'fast' various warp speeds are was pretty complicated, but not just from a 'scientific' viewpoint. First, we had to satisfy the general fan expectation that the new ship was significantly faster than the original. Second, we had to work with Gene's recalibration, which put Warp 10 at the absolute top of the scale. These first two constraints are fairly simple, but we quickly discovered that it was easy to make warp speeds TOO fast. Beyond a certain speed, we found that the ship would be able to cross the entire galaxy within a matter of just a few months. (Having the ship too fast would make the galaxy too small a place for the Star Trek format.) Finally, we had to provide some loophole for various powerful aliens like Q, who have a knack for tossing the ship millions of light-years in the time of a commercial break. Our solution was to redraw the warp curve so that the exponent of the warp factor increases gradually, then sharply as you approach Warp 10. At Warp 10, the exponent (and the speed) would be infinite, so you could never reach this value. (Mike used an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the speeds and times.) This lets Q and his friends have fun in the 9.9999+ range, but also lets our ship travel slowly enough to keep the galaxy a big place, and meets the other criteria. (By the way, we estimate that in 'Where No One Has Gone Before' the Traveler was probably propelling the Enterprise at about Warp 9.9999999996. Good thing they were in the carpool lane.)"

In the TOS scale the speed continued to increase with the third power as in Eq. 6.1, with Warp 10 being as "slow" as 1000c. In the TNG scale, beyond Warp 9, the exponent rises in a way that at exactly Warp 10 the speed (as well as the power expenditure) becomes infinite. In other words, the TNG scale ends at Warp 10. The recalibration compresses the whole range from about Warp 9 to infinite Warp factor in the TOS scale into the Warp 9..10 interval of the TNG scale.

A table in the Star Trek Encyclopedia III [Oku99] lists selected TNG warp factors and the corresponding speeds above Warp 9. But these figures don't seem to originate in Mike Okuda's Excel sheet mentioned in the TNGTM . In an e-mail from January 1995 Mike Okuda states, "Between 9 and 10, I gradually increased the exponent so that it approached infinity as the warp factor approached 10. Lacking knowledge of calculus, I just drew what looked to me to be a credible curve on graph paper, then pulled the points from there." So there does not seem to be an "official" underlying formula for the range between Warp 9 and Warp 10.

Side note There are some fan-made approximations, notably the formula by Graham Kennedy at DITL and the ones on Joshua Bell's site for TNG warp factors beyond 9.

The following table compares the two warp scales:

Tab. 6.1 Comparison of TOS and TNG warp scales

As the TNGTM explains, the real-world reason for changing the warp scale was to put a limit to the warp factors that otherwise may have continued rising indefinitely (in a similar unfortunate fashion as the amounts of quads that can be stored in the computer did on Voyager).

Making up a fictional explanation for the recalibration is not so easy, however. Speed measurements can be expected to be very accurate, their improvement certainly wouldn't lead to a factor of 2 at Warp 9 between the TNG and the TOS scale. Likewise, the peak transitional thresholds that define the integer warp factors wouldn't shift just because the measurement of the ship's power consumption is improved. We have to seek the explanation in a better understanding of subspace physics, one that allowed to refine the working principle of a ship's warp engines in a way that the peak transitional thresholds and hence the warp factors could be moved to higher speeds. In other words, the warp engines were improved in a way that less power was necessary to attain the same speed. This modification must have been so successful and universally applicable that it was decided to change the warp scale. For older ships without this modification the new scale would give us just an equivalent warp factor, meaning that an old ship with the true power expenditure of Warp 6 (TOS scale) is rated with an equivalent warp factor 5 (TNG scale). The same equivalent rating may apply to alien ships whose propulsion system may work differently than that of the Federation, and perhaps not even based on conventional warp fields.

This theory still doesn't explain the dramatic speed increase between Warp 9 and 10 in the TNG scale though. But we could imagine that, as part of the refinement of the propulsion system, at least on Federation vessels, it was recognized that submerging the warp field more than nine layers into subspace was not practically possible or at least inefficient. We have to bear in mind that, as seen in Section 6.2 , the maximum possible speed of the TOS era was Warp 8, and that the warp factor 14.1 attained by the Enterprise in TOS: "That Which Survives" may have been just an equivalent figure. So it may have been discovered some time between TOS and TNG that there are other, more efficient methods to attain high speeds than crossing the tenth subspace barrier. And since the peak transitional thresholds 10, 11, etc. don't exist any longer, the scale was changed to reflect this, effectively compressing the whole range from warp factor 9 to infinite warp factor into the new range between Warp 9 and 10. We may even speculate that the refinement of the warp scale has something to do with the Excelsior transwarp experiment, and that "transwarp" here merely means that the principles that would be commonplace in the TNG era were tested for the first time, rather than "transwarp" being something akin to "Borg transwarp" or even Tom Paris's alleged Warp 10 engine.

In TNG, DS9 and Voyager there are various statements by crew members such as Data that allow to correlate warp factors, distances andtravel times. Sometimes they correspond to Eq. 6.2, sometimes they are significantly off. Overall, however, there are no gross violations of the concept of limited speed, because the ships don't travel to regions of space that should be out of reach, unless the ship's warp drive was explicitly accordingly modified. In Star Trek Voyager it is even a key concept of the series that the ship would need 75 years at maximum warp to travel the 70,000 light-years back to Federation space. This corresponds to about Warp 9.8, going by the figures in Tab. 6.1.

There are three incidents that conflict with the TNG scale more fundamentally because they call the Warp 10 limit into question. The first is in TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before". During Kosinski's experiment Geordi says at one point: "We're passing Warp 10." This should be absolutely impossible considering that Warp 10 means infinite speed, and there can be nothing equal to or even faster than infinite speed. But there is an explanation for Geordi's line. A few moments later Data states that the speed is off the scale. This could mean that Geordi was reading some sort of overflow on the speed display, which was simply leaving the valid range up to Warp 9.9something, so he didn't mean "infinite speed" or even "more than infinite speed" although he effectively said it. Still later, however, Kosinski claims that the "warp barrier" has become meaningless thanks to his work. This seems to corroborate the wrong notion that Warp 10+ might be possible. On the other hand, Kosinski may simply mean the peak transitional thresholds that have shifted or were lowered thanks to his work (or actually, thanks to his assistant, the Traveler).

The second mention of breaking the Warp 10 barrier is in TNG: "Time Squared", where Riker notes that accelerating beyond Warp 10 would enable time travel. More precisely, he states that this constitutes the only known method of going to the past, which is not true for all we know from the countless time travel episodes. Anyway, if we believe him and anything beyond Warp 10 is equivalent to time travel, we may interpret it in a way that achieving exactly Warp 10 may be still impossible. Beyond Warp 10 the speed of a ship becomes undefined within the bounds of our space-time, because speed as a physical quantity always requires a fixed time frame that doesn't exist during a time travel.

The third problem with the Warp 10 limit occurs in the infamous episode VOY: "Threshold". There are many problems and errors with this story, the most pressing of which is how Tom could possibly attain a speed of Warp 10 with his shuttle. As correctly stated in this very episode by Harry Kim: "Nothing in the universe can go warp ten. It's a theoretical impossibility. In principle, if you were ever to reach warp ten, you'd be traveling at infinite velocity." We could argue that, just as in Geordi's case, the speed of the shuttle was simply off scale and hence may have registered as Warp 10, although it was actually slower. The dilemma is that the very intention of Tom's flight was to "break the warp barrier" as already Kosinski expressed it, and explicitly to speed up to Warp 10 and not to Warp 9.999something. Also, the speed was later confirmed to have been infinite, unlike it was the case in the TNG episode. This Voyager episode only makes sense if we ignore many statements and essentially major parts of the story.

6.4 Possible Future Scale

The warp scale changed yet again in the late 24th century, albeit just for the TNG series finale "All Good Things", part of which is set in the year 2395. In this new AGT scale, starships such as the three-nacelled Enterprise-D and the Pasteur routinely achieve Warp 13.

There is no official formula to calculate the speed corresponding to the revised warp factors. In the October 1995 issue of the Omni magazine, science advisor Andre Bormanis states: "I raised that question in a TECH note. Basically, the idea there was that they recalibrated the warp scale. I don't think that ended up in the final draft teleplay, but the idea there was that if you've got ships that can routinely travel at speeds in excess of Warp 9, then maybe it makes sense to recalibrate your speed scale so that Warp 10 is no longer infinite velocity. Maybe Warp 15 will be the ultimate speed limit, and Warp 13 in that scale will be the equivalent of warp 9.95 or something like that."

See Fig. 6.7 for an illustration of Bormanis's proposal (yellow). Here AGT Warp 13 corresponds to 5200c, which is about the same as TNG Warp 9.95 just as Bormanis reckoned.

The only thing really known about the AGT scale is that it permits warp factors higher than 10 that, as fans are well aware of, were not allowed in the TNG scale. The obvious real-world reason to switch to this new scale for this one episode was to emphasize that a lot has changed from 2370 to 2395 - just like the additional nacelle on the Enterprise or the new uniforms.

The in-universe explanation may be just as Bormanis suggested. At some point it would be tiresome for the crews of always faster ships to speak out warp factors in the TNG scale with always more decimal places. "Go to Warp 9.9996." and "Go to Warp 9.99996." are unhandy, and they look and sound so much alike to a human crew member that it is likely to become a source of confusion. If, however, the scale was only changed to decompress the warp factor range of high warp speeds for the sake of convenience, the question arises why it was compressed in the first place and if the move of the limit to to Warp 15 or something wouldn't just postpone the problem yet again.

Perhaps, rather than being a totally arbitrary recalibration along the lines of "We think Warp 10 is too low a limit, let's move it up to Warp 15", the new AGT scale reflects a change in the propulsion principle yet again. As already explained for the TNG scale in Section 6.3 , the highest possible warp factor may denote the deepest possible subspace layer boundary that the ship's warp field penetrates. If, in the year 2395, warp engines are generally modified in a way that they reach down to the the 13th layer, the AGT scale makes sense again. And if 14 subspace layers instead of previously 9 is a commonly accepted limit, the limit of the scale may be located at Warp 15 just as Bormanis suggested, only that the rationale would be different one.

Alternatively, we could imagine that the perhaps impractical warp factor limit was dropped altogether. In Fig. 6.7, the orange curve shows the TNG warp scale without the asymptotic behavior at Warp 10 (TNG scale) or at Warp 15 (AGT scale as suggested by Bormanis).

It is even possible that the warp factors up to Warp 10 are still exactly the same as in the TNG scale, denoting conventional operation of the warp drive, but that a completely new and independent AGT scale begins above Warp 10, denoting a new propulsion system such as transwarp or quantum slipstream drive. In this case, the new warp factors may as well have been named "Transwarp I, II, III, etc." Anyway, the two scales wouldn't be compatible, but we could imagine a transition from one scale to the other. The ship naturally wouldn't go up to Warp 10 with conventional warp drive, but may accelerate up to the break-even point at something like TNG Warp 9.5 and then activate the new propulsion system. After a short transition phase in which both engines (or both working principles of the same engine) are active, the ship may end up at AGT Warp 10, which is perhaps the equivalent to TNG Warp 9.6.

Power & Propulsion - about the right intermix ratio, warp inside a star system, how to stop a starship etc.

A Close Look at 22nd Century Technology - with considerations about the speed of Enterprise NX-01

Voyager Inconsistencies - with a rant about Tom's "Warp 10" flight

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/treknology/warp6.htm

Last modified: 02 Dec 2022

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Comment and Physics

How star trek’s warp drives touch on one of physics' biggest mysteries.

Field notes from space-time | Star Trek’s light speed engines may not be possible in our universe, but we are learning more about the particles that fuel them

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

12 June 2019

Paramount Pictures/RGA

EVERY year, I attend the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, and every year, I get asked whether warp speed will ever be possible. In the Star Trek universe, humanoid species zoom around the galaxy at speeds faster than light, using warp engines fuelled by antimatter. Travelling faster than the speed of light is unlikely, but antimatter is real. Every particle has an antimatter partner that we call an antiparticle.

So, as a particle physicist, what I really want to be asked about isn’t the likelihood of travelling long distances quickly, but instead about the particle type that underlies this fictional technology. Star Trek ‘s futuristic antimatter engine touches on one of the great unsolved mysteries in particle physics: where is all of the antimatter anyway?

The best known type of antimatter is the positron, which is the antielectron. The positron has the same mass as an electron, but the opposite electrical charge. When matter collides with its antimatter partner, they annihilate each other . This isn’t simply a matter of theory: we have seen antimatter in the lab, and not just with the electron and its partner.

Positrons can be made through radioactive decay. They are also created in a pair with electrons when extremely energetic photons, better known as gamma rays, interact with atomic nuclei. Antiprotons have also been produced, and, in 1995, scientists were finally able to directly combine positrons and antiprotons to create antihydrogen.

Although antimatter is real, it is rather difficult to make in the lab. Since matter and antimatter annihilate one another on contact, one has to wonder why we are here at all. If they are each other’s complete opposites, one might expect the same amount of matter and antimatter to have been produced in the big bang, quickly leading to annihilation and an empty universe. Instead, we live in a highly asymmetric version of the universe, where the negatively charged electron is a fundamental particle that forms a core part of all atoms, hovering in their orbitals. Why did nature use only half of the building blocks available to it?

“ Star Trek ‘s futuristic antimatter engine touches on one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of particle physics”

Efforts to make sense of this asymmetry are under way in both theoretical and experimental physics. Many theorists believe that the lopsided bias towards matter is connected to violations of something called charge-parity symmetry, more commonly known among physicists as CP symmetry. This is a property that demands that all particles are interchangeable with their antiparticle when their spatial coordinates are flipped, a kind of mirror symmetry. Most observed particles obey CP symmetry, but it can be violated.

Though most famous for being the facility where the Higgs boson was first detected, the Large Hadron Collider is also home to experiments that are seeking to learn more about CP symmetry breaking.

The Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment, for example, specifically focuses on b-physics. B-physics refers not to low-budget physics, something that our governments surely dream of, but instead to the physics of beauty quarks (sometimes referred to as bottom quarks).

Beauty quarks are just one of six flavours of subatomic quarks, which are the constituents of neutrons and protons. The other five varieties have equally delightful names: top, up, down, strange and charm. The fundamental “weak” nuclear force can cause quarks to change flavours, and it also causes the quarks to break CP symmetry. This gives us an important hint that CP symmetry violations are possible, leading theorists to consider matter-antimatter models that rely on it.

In addition to beauty quarks, LHCb can also study the properties of charm quarks. Excitingly, the experiment recently found the first evidence of CP violation among them. In order to achieve this result, LHCb looked at decays of D° mesons – short-lived particles made of a charm quark and an up antiquark.

This result is an exciting affirmation of a phenomenon that scientists had expected to find for decades, but had yet to produce in the lab. The discovery doesn’t radically change our perspective on physics yet because it matches theoretical predictions – and it certainly isn’t a warp engine. But it suggests that, under the right conditions, CP violation can occur. Perhaps those conditions existed during the big bang, producing the nearly antimatterless universe we see today.

• This column will appear monthly. Up next week: Graham Lawton
• particle physics

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• Welcome to the Trek BBS!
• General Trek Discussion

Warp 1 =/= The Speed of Light, So How Fast Are They Going? (Also Stellar Cartography)

• Thread starter Kirk-to-Enterprise
• Start date Mar 12, 2023

Kirk-to-Enterprise

• Mar 12, 2023

Alpha Centauri, the closest star to Earth, is 4.35 lightyears away. So if Warp 1 = the speed of light, then even travelling at warp 9, it would take over 6 months just to get there. So yeah, that can't actually be how the warp system works. So how fast are they going? They seem to be able to get wherever they need to in a matter of hours, days at most. I'd also like to see a map of the alpha quadrant, with all the big major worlds highlighted. But that doesn't exist...right?  

Lux in tenebris lucet

Welcome to the board. It's pretty well established that the Warp scale isn't linear. Warp 9 isn't 9x the speed of Warp 1. In Kirk's era, it seems that the warp scale is probably the warp factor raised to the third power. So Warp 1 would indeed be 1c, but Warp 8 is 512c, so at max safe speed, Enterprise NCC-1701 could reach Alpha Centauri in 3-4 days, which is still quite a long trip, but not unbelievable given we don't see every minute of every day on screen. By the time of Picard's era, the Warp scale has changed, and a more complex (and unknown) equation is in play, based on the power required to get to each speed. On this scale, Warp 1 is still 1c, but Warp 10 is infinite speed. Warp 8 is around 1000c, Warp 9 is around 1500c, Warp 9.6 (Galaxy class original top speed) is approx 1900c, Warp 9.975 (Intrepid class top speed) is around 3000c, so for USS Voyager, a trip to Alpha Centaur would take only 12 hours.  

Christopher

Verteron said: By the time of Picard's era, the Warp scale has changed, and a more complex (and unknown) equation is in play, based on the power required to get to each speed. On this scale, Warp 1 is still 1c, but Warp 10 is infinite speed. Click to expand...

JirinPanthosa

Warp 1 is the speed of light but it doesn't scale linearly. There's a chart in the old TNG technical manual to refer to, but basically warp 8 is a little over 1000c.  

Paul Weaver

Vice admiral.

Warp speed alone isn’t consistent. Warp 3 in enterprise explicitly did 4 light years in 3 days in “Damage” (let alone the time to get to the Klingon homeworld). In TNG 23 hours at warp 3 would get you 1/10th of a light year. the problem is stars in reality are too far apart to have a slow warp speed be suitable for the plot, but if you increase the speed then the galaxy becomes too small. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Warp_factor has a list of the different warp speeds vs distance explicitly mentioned, that doesn’t take into account things like travel time from DS9 to Earth etc which are also problematic. aside from the tedious “speed of plot” explanations, one hypothesis is the idea of “space lanes”, or “local subspace conditions”, where travel distance in some volumes of space is far faster or slower at a given speed than others. There is very little evidence for this on screen though.  

Paul Weaver said: the problem is stars in reality are too far apart to have a slow warp speed be suitable for the plot, but if you increase the speed then the galaxy becomes too small. Click to expand...

The technical manual used to say something about TNG Warp 9 taking about a day to go 5 lightyears and I always remembered that because in "Scorpion 2" or "The Gift" they say it'll take them 5 days to go 40 light years implying Voyager could do about 8 light years a day. And then "Broken Bow" came along and it's 3 days to Qon'os at Warp 5. I know warp speeds were already broken between TOS and TNG but come on. I like this quote from the early TNG notes: The Warp Drive. This is a faster-than-light drive for our spaceship. Warp speed is measured in warp factors. Warp ten is the highest warp factor possible. Beyond that time-space continuity is disoperative. Warp factor two is the speed of light multiplied by the speed of light; it’s the speed of light squared. Warp factor ten is the speed of light multiplied by the speed of light ten times. The difference between warp 9.4 and warp 9.5 is vastly greater than the difference between warp 1 and warp 2. Even though they don't really depict that at all, like when the Bird-of-Prey is flying around the sun or when they're trying to outrun the Borg.  

I think some here toyed with warp 1 being a bit over light speed.  

Guy Gardener

Fleet admiral.

Speed of plot. But TOS ships consider blowing up at warp 8. TNG ships start overheating at warp 9.3 Voyager turns into a salamander at Warp 10.  

somebuddyX said: The technical manual used to say something about TNG Warp 9 taking about a day to go 5 lightyears and I always remembered that because in "Scorpion 2" or "The Gift" they say it'll take them 5 days to go 40 light years implying Voyager could do about 8 light years a day. Click to expand...

at Quark's

Rear admiral.

Christopher said: The thing is, in the original series, interstellar travel was meant to be treated as something that took a fair amount of time, like international travel in the Age of Sail. The TNG Writers' Guide even explicitly warned writers against "treating deep space as a local neighborhood" and telling stories about bouncing easily from system to system. The whole reason it's called Star Trek is because a journey between the stars should be a trek, a major undertaking, not just a casual commute. If you look at TOS/TAS, they only infrequently had episodes where the ship visited two or more different star systems within the same story. Interstellar travel was portrayed as something that took a fair amount of time. Unfortunately, the modern shows have forgotten that and depict even long interstellar journeys as a matter of hours, days at most. I think modern writers are too accustomed to the jet age when anywhere on Earth is less than a day away. Click to expand...

The S.S. Yorktown in the original notes had a "maximum velocity .73 of one light year per hour." We saw the TOS Enterprise cross long distances. It gets shoved 500 parsecs in "Arena" and it's no biggie. The film Enterprise continued that, going to the centre of the galaxy and other star systems rapidly. If anything TNG slowed them down.  

Deuterium is fuel. Deuterium is Star farts. Bussard collectors are star fart vacuums. Collecting farts in a solar system is most convenient. But how long does it take a ship to burn through their reserves? Weeks to days depending on how you abuse the engine. You can't plot a course to where ever in a straight line. You got to leap from star to star and huff their farts, or you're dead in space, eventually.  

The ship's space warp ability gone. Earth bases which were only days away are now years in the distance. Our overriding question now is what destroyed the Valiant? They lived through the barrier, just as we have. What happened to them after that? Click to expand...

Qonundrum said: That said, Star Trek V did play "galaxy hopping", literally, in getting from the milky way to the galactic center in a matter of hours. Click to expand...

You're assuming the galactic nucleus surrounded by the great barrier is a tiny nut. What if barrier has a radius of 20 thousand light years?  

Orphalesion

Guy Gardener said: You're assuming the galactic nucleus surrounded by the great barrier is a tiny nut. What if barrier has a radius of 20 thousand light years? Click to expand...

Warp factors as it relates to plot: Warp 1: We've just discovered warp propulsion, and testing our prototype! Warp2: We just need to outrun an explosion/probe, but don't actually want to go anywhere. Warp 3: Extremely bulky cargo, man. Warp 4: Shuttlepod speed Warp 5; Environmentally friendly or mid-22nd century or going to the Admiral's banquet where you don't want to arrive early at any prize Warp 6: relaxed cruising speed for your average mission Warp 7: Let's chase the baddie, but not too urgently, after all, there's still 23 minutes of episode left Warp 8: Things are getting kind of urgent Warp 9 and higher: Now it's an emergency for real!  

All warp factors, including Warp 1, may depend on local stellar and subspace conditions, so they could vary considerably depending on where you are in the Galaxy and what navigational course you set, IMO. You can have two ships set both out from Earth to Qo'noS at Warp 4.5. One ship can get there in several weeks, while the other ship that knows the location of a previously charted "subspace shortcut" can get there in only a few days.  

C.E. Evans said: All warp factors, including Warp 1, may depend on local stellar and subspace conditions, so they could vary considerably depending on where you are in the Galaxy and what navigational course you set, IMO. You can have two ships set both out from Earth to Qo'noS at Warp 4.5. One ship can get there in several weeks, while the other ship that knows the location of a previously charted "subspace shortcut" can get there in only a few days. Click to expand...

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A Warp Drive Breakthrough Inches a Tiny Bit Closer to Star Trek

A team of physicists has discovered that it’s possible to build a real, actual, physical warp drive and not break any known rules of physics . One caveat: The vessel doing the warping can’t exceed the speed of light, so you’re not going to get anywhere interesting anytime soon. But this research still represents an important advance in our understanding of gravity .

Moving Without Motion

Einstein’s general theory of relativity is a tool kit for solving problems involving gravity that connects mass and energy with deformations in spacetime. In turn, those spacetime deformations instruct the mass and energy how to move. In almost all cases, physicists use the equations of relativity to figure out how a particular combination of objects will move. They have some physical scenario, like a planet orbiting a star or two black holes colliding, and they ask how those objects deform spacetime and what the subsequent evolution of the system should be.

But it’s also possible to run Einstein’s math in reverse by imagining some desired motion and asking what kind of spacetime deformation can make it possible. This is how the Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre discovered the physical basis for a warp drive—long a staple of the Star Trek franchise.

The goal of a warp drive is to get from A to B in the time between commercial breaks, which typically involves faster-than-light motion. But special relativity expressly forbids speeds faster than light. While this never bothered the writers of Star Trek , it did irritate Alcubierre. He discovered that it was possible to build a warp drive through a clever manipulation of spacetime, arranging it so that space in front of a vessel gets scrunched up and the space behind the vessel stretched out. This generates motion without, strictly speaking, movement.

It sounds like a contradiction, but that’s just one of the many wonderful aspects of general relativity. Alcubierre’s warp drive avoids violations of the speed-of-light limit because it never moves through space; instead space itself is manipulated to, in essence, bring the spacecraft’s destination closer to it.

While tantalizing, Alcubierre’s design has a fatal flaw. To provide the necessary distortions of spacetime, the spacecraft must contain some form of exotic matter, typically regarded as matter with negative mass. Negative mass has some conceptual problems that seem to defy our understanding of physics, like the possibility that if you kick a ball that weighs negative 5 kilograms, it will go flying backwards, violating conservation of momentum. Plus, nobody has ever seen any object with negative mass existing in the real universe, ever.

These problems with negative mass have led physicists to propose various versions of “energy conditions” as supplements to general relativity. These aren’t baked into relativity itself, but add-ons needed because general relativity allows things like negative mass that don’t appear to exist in our universe—these energy conditions keep them out of relativity’s equations. They’re scientists’ response to the unsettling fact that vanilla GR allows for things like superluminal motion, but the rest of the universe doesn’t seem to agree.

Warp Factor Zero

The energy conditions aren’t experimentally or observationally proven, but they are statements that concord with all observations of the universe, so most physicists take them rather seriously. And until recently, physicists have viewed those energy conditions as making it absolutely 100 percent clear that you can’t build a warp drive, even if you really wanted to.

But there is a way around it, discovered by an international team of physicists led by Jared Fuchs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. (The team is also affiliated with the Applied Propulsion Laboratory of Applied Physics, a virtual think tank dedicated to the research of, among many other things, warp drives.) In a paper accepted for publication in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity , the researchers dug deep into relativity to explore if any version of a warp drive could work.

The equations of general relativity are notoriously difficult to solve, especially in complex cases such as a warp drive. So the team turned to software algorithms; instead of trying to solve the equations by hand, they explored their solutions numerically and verified that they conformed to the energy conditions.

The team did not actually attempt to construct a propulsion device. Instead, they explored various solutions to general relativity that would allow travel from point to point without a vessel undergoing any acceleration or experiencing any overwhelming gravitational tidal forces within the vessel, much to the comfort of any imagined passengers. They then checked whether these solutions adhered to the energy conditions that prevent the use of exotic matter.

The researchers did indeed discover a warp drive solution: a method of manipulating space so that travelers can move without accelerating. There is no such thing as a free lunch, however, and the physicality of this warp drive does come with a major caveat: The vessel and passengers can never travel faster than light. Also disappointing: the fact that the researchers behind the new work don’t seem to bother with figuring out what configurations of matter would allow the warping to happen.

The Future of Gravity

On one hand, that’s a gigantic letdown. We already have plenty of methods for traveling slower than light (rockets, walking, etc.), so adding one more to the list isn’t all that exciting. Plus, even if we wanted to build this warp drive, the gulf between this hyper-theoretical work and an actual, physical propulsion mechanism is the same as the difference between writing down Newton’s laws and building a Falcon 9.

But that doesn’t mean this new development isn’t interesting. We don’t fully understand gravity, and we know that Einstein’s theory is incomplete. One of the signposts that we have to a future understanding of gravity is the fact that general relativity allows for interesting, exotic solutions—like warp drives—that appear to violate other domains of physical understanding.

Us physicists like it when all of our theories line up and agree on the nature of the Universe. So if the energy conditions set real limits on physics—limits where things like negative mass don’t just not exist , but can’t exist —then we’d like a physical theory that says that from the beginning, instead of relying on add-ons like the energy conditions.

Exploring how a warp drive might (not) work, and under what conditions and restrictions, is a step in that direction. For years physicists thought that the energy conditions outlawed all kinds of warp drives, yet the new research shows a possible way around that. What comes next will be a win no matter what; whether we get a fancy superluminal warp drive or not. That’s because whatever comes out of future lines of inquiry along these directions, we’re going to learn more about the force of gravity, and just possibly revolutionize our understanding of it.

And who knows what we’ll get once we understand gravity better.

This story originally appeared on Ars Technica .

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Is the Orville really faster than the USS Enterprise?

• David Latchman
• 8 responses
• October 12, 2017

In The Orville episode, "Pria," Capt. Ed Mercer ( Seth MacFarlane ) tells Pria Lavesque ( Charlize Theron ) his ship is powered by a Dysonium quantum drive capable of speeds in excess of 10 lightyears (ly) per hour. This speed scale is far more intuitive than Star Trek's warp factor but how exactly does it compare? Could the Orville beat the Enterprise?

What does the Orville's speed mean?

Captain Mercer mentions that his ship can go an excess of 10 ly an hour. We will assume this means the ship can travel faster for limited periods should an emergency arise. There are 8.760 hours in a year. If the Orville travelled at that speed for a year, it would travel a total distance of D = 10 × 8,760 = 87,600 ly. A lightyear is the distance a light beam will travel in one year. This means that the Orville can travel at speeds of 87,600 times the speed of light or 87,600 c .

To put this in context, our nearest star system Alpha Centauri is just 4.2 ly away. The Orville could travel that distance in a little over 25 minutes. If the crew gets hard-up for money, they can run an inter-solar system pizza delivery service. Getting to the Galatic Center—the rotational center of the Milky Way—which is about 27,000 ly away, will take a little over 112 days. Assuming the ship's engines can run constantly for extended periods of time, the Orville crew could get there in less than four months.

Enterprise NX-01

The Enterprise (NX-01) built in 2151 was Earth's first warp 5 capable ship. It had a maximum speed of warp 5.06 but could reach speeds of warp 5.2 for short periodsin the case of an emergency. We can convert this speed relative to the speed of light using the formula v = w 3 c , where w is the warp factor. Plugging the NX-01's maximum speed into the warp equation and we get a maximum speed of 129.6 c . This is nowhere close to the Orville's max speed. Maybe the other ships to bear the name Enterprise will fare better.

Travel to Alpha Centauri will take the Enterprise close to 12 days. In a race against the Orville, the NX-01 loses easily. While it will take months for the Orville to make the trip to the center of the galaxy, it will take the Enterprise over two centuries, about 208 years to be exact. The crew of the Enterprise may begin the journey but they won't live to see the crew of the Orville gloat over their victory.

USS Enterprise NCC-1701

The Enterprise captained by James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) is a much faster ship than the NX-01, coming in at warp 8.0. This means the NCC=1701 can travel at speeds that is 512 times the speed of light or 512 c . Again, this is nowhere near the Orville's speed so, it too will easily be beaten in a race. A race to Alpha Centauri will take this Enterprise about three days. A trip to the Galatic Center is a little better than her predecessor but Kirk will still take several decades to get to the finish line, taking about 53 years to get there. Again, the crew of the Orville will be waiting for some time before the Enterprise reaches the finish line and they will probably be laughing while they are at it.

USS Enterprise NCC-1701D

This is where things get interesting. For Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent series, Michael Okuda modified the previous formula to incorporate a few important differences. For warp factors 1 through 9, the formula to calculate a ship's speed is v = w 10/3 c but for warp speeds between 9 and 10, the speed increases exponentially. This has come to be known as the  Okuda scale as this section of the graph was hand drawn. This means there is no known formula for the interval between 9 and 10 but fortunately Wolfram Alpha  can extrapolate a value from the curve printed in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual . The USS Enterprise NCC-1701D has a maximum speed of warp 9.2 but can travel at warp 9.6 in emergency situations up to 12 hours. Plugging those specs into Wolfram Alpha yields speeds of 1,649 c and 1,909 c respectively .

Though more advanced than the previous ships to carry the name Enterprise, this ship is still much slower than the Orville. Capt. Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) manages to reach Alpha Centauri in a little under a day—22.3 hours—but the Orville crew has already had a full day's rest and relaxation as they waited for the Enterprise crew to cross the finish line. Running the engines at warp 9.6 will only shave three hours off the Enterprise's trip which means the Orville still wins. If anything, the Enterprise-D fares better than previous ships in a race to the Galactic Center but this is still nothing to boast about. A trip to the center of the Milky Way takes a little over 16 years. The crew of the Enterprise will make it in their lifetimes but any children born on the Orville will already be in high school and probably be laughing at the relic they learned in their history classes as it crosses the finish line.

USS Enterprise NCC-1701E

If the Enterprise-D can't beat the Orville surely the Enterprise-E will. It is, after all, a more advanced ship that can travel at warp 9.995. As this section of the graph increases asymptotically, it is several times faster than Enterprise-D, clocking in at 14,507 c . It seems that despite being a more advanced ship, the Federation can't build something that will beat the Orville. A race to Alpha Centauri isn't as big a loss compared to previous Enterprises—the Enterprise-E arrives in a little over two-and-a-half hours. They still lose the race but it's not bad compared to the other ships. Things are also better in a race to the Galactic Center. Obviously Picard and his crew lose to the Orville but they get there in a little over 1 year and 10 months. Maybe the Orville can have a little fun while they are at it. They can make about three round trips to the Galactic Center before the Enterprise-E makes it across the finish line.

Who is Faster?

Definitely the Orville. Maybe the next generation of Federation ships will beat what the Union has to offer but I won't be holding my breath anytime soon. To be fair, Star Trek has not always strictly adhered to transit times in the TV shows or movies but we can safely say that the Orville is truly the ship you want to be on—it will get you where you want to go with lots of time to spare.

Check out the calculations behind this article in " Physics of Orville vs. Enterprise ".

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Tagged: Charlize Theron , Ed Mercer , James T. Kirk , Jean-Luc Picard , Michael Okuda , Patrick Stewart , Pria Lavesque , Seth MacFarlane , Star Trek , The Orville , Warp Factor , William Shatner

David is the founder of the Science vs. Hollywood website and is a major science and sci-fi geek who loves to communicate science to a (sometimes) interested audience.

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Does 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' attain warp speed?

Glen Weldon

Chris Klimek

Laura Sirikul

Mike Katzif

Jessica Reedy

Anson Mount and Ethan Peck star on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . Marni Grossman/Paramount+ hide caption

Anson Mount and Ethan Peck star on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , USS Enterprise Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Spock (Ethan Peck) and their diverse crew boldly go exploring the galaxy. The Paramount+ series takes place a few years before the original series from the '60s, and new show's tone and narrative certainly feel like a return to old-school Star Trek .

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10 great star trek episodes written by women.

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 1 Ending & TNG Treasure Explained

10 best star trek episodes directed by jonathan frakes, all 10 star trek: tos episodes written by d.c. fontana, ranked worst to best.

• Women writers have always been integral to Star Trek, paving the way for diversity and inclusion on screen and behind the scenes.
• D.C. Fontana, Phyllis Strong, and other talented women have penned some of Star Trek's most iconic episodes, shaping the series for generations to come.
• Episodes like "Damage," "Red Directive," and "The Measure of a Man" showcase the depth and impact of women's contributions to the Star Trek universe.

Throughout Star Trek 's long and varied history, several incredible episodes have been written by women. Since Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966, the franchise has championed diversity on screen. While this philosophy did not always extend to the people working behind the scenes, Star Trek: TOS did have several women writers, including D.C. Fontana as a story editor. As trends in the entertainment industry began to shift, more women have become writers and directors across television, including Star Trek .

From Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura to Kate Mulgrew's Captain Kathryn Janeway to Sonequa Martin-Green's Captain Michael Burnham, women have always played a vital role in Star Trek. It's important, then, that Star Trek champions women behind the scenes, as well. D.C. Fontana was the first woman to write for Star Trek, penning the second episode of TOS, "Charlie X," based on an idea from Gene Roddenberry. Fontana went on to write nine more Star Trek episodes throughout TOS, several of which were based on her own original ideas, helping to pave the way for all the women writers who came after her. Here are 10 great Star Trek episodes written by talented women.

20 Awesome Women In Star Trek

Throughout its nearly 60-year history, the Star Trek franchise has introduced an incredible cast of women and iconic female characters.

10 "Damage" - Written By Phyllis Strong

Star trek: enterprise season 3, episode 19.

As part of the season-long Xindi arc in Star Trek: Enterprise season 3, "Damage" features Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) facing a tough choice when the Enterprise NX-01 suffers heavy damage and losses. When Archer returns to the Enterprise after being captured by the Xindi, he learns that his ship needs a new warp core. Archer tries to negotiate with a nearby Illyrian spacecraft, but the captain refuses to give up his own warp core.

Desperate to save Earth from destruction at the hands of the Xindi, Archer decides to attack the Illyrian ship and steal their warp core. Sub-Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) reacts emotionally to Archer's decision, eventually revealing to Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) that she hid a three-month addiction to Trellium-D. With a tense plotline, "Damage" takes some unexpected turns and shows another side to Captain Archer.

Star Trek: Enterprise

Not available

9 "Red Directive" - Written By Michelle Paradise

Star trek: discovery season 5, episode 1.

Star Trek: Discovery's fifth and final season gets off to an explosive start with "Red Directive," sending Captain Michael Burnham and the USS Discovery on an intergalactic treasure hunt. With the introduction of Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) and the villains Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis), "Red Directive" sets the stage for an action-packed final season. Burnham and Rayner must work together on a mysterious Red Directive mission to investigate an 800-year-old Romulan ship.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere dropped a bombshell that ties all the way back to Star Trek: The Next Generation. We break it down.

Moll and L'ak manage to evade capture and visit an android named Fred (J. Adam Brown) , who bears a striking resemblance to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). In the end, Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) lets Captain Burnham in on the secret Red Directive mission, revealing the search for the powerful technology the Progenitors used to create humanoid life. With spectacular scenes of sci-fi action and several nods to past Star Trek shows, "Red Directive" got Star Trek: Discovery's final season off to a thrilling start.

Star Trek: Discovery

8 "all our yesterdays" - written by jean lisette aroeste, star trek: the original series season 3, episode 23.

In the penultimate episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) find themselves trapped 5,000 years in the past on a planet in the middle of an ice age. Spock and McCoy soon encounter a woman named Zarabeth, the only other humanoid on the planet. As Spock grows increasingly emotional, reverting back to the barbarism of the ancient Vulcans, he begins to experience feelings for Zarabeth.

Spock falls in love with Zarabeth, and the Vulcan Science Officer wishes to remain in the past. McCoy, however, eventually convinces Spock that they must return to their own time, and Spock reverts back to his stoic self after the return trip. A Star Trek fan herself, Jean Lisette Aroeste penned "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" and "All Our Yesterdays" and sold the scripts with no prior television writing experience. They remain her only television writing credits.

Star Trek: The Original Series

7 "author, author" - written by phyllis strong & mike sussman, story by brannon braga, star trek: voyager season 7, episode 20.

Throughout Star Trek: Voyager's seven seasons, Robert Picardo's Doctor became one of the show's most compelling characters, and "Author, Author" gives him the spotlight. When the Doctor creates a holonovel entitled Photons, Be Free, his rights as a hologram are called into question (much like the rights of Data were questioned in TNG's "The Measure of a Man"). Voyager's crew members take issue with the Doctor's holonovel, as the characters resembling them are not particularly flattering.

Writer Phyllis Strong co-wrote four episodes of Star Trek: Voyager and twelve episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise . She also served as a story editor throughout Enterprise season 1.

The Doctor goes to edit his story, making it more fictionalized, but soon discovers that his holonovel has already been distributed without his permission. An arbiter eventually determines that while the Doctor is not considered a person under Federation law, he is an artist and has control of his art. With hilarious portrayals of Voyager's crew and clever meta-commentary about Star Trek: Voyager as a show, "Author, Author" remains an incredibly fun and entertaining episode.

Star Trek: Voyager

6 "seventeen seconds" - written by jane maggs & cindy appel, star trek: picard season 3, episode 3.

With the reunion of the main cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard season 3 was a nostalgic tour-de-force and a resounding success all around. In "Seventeen Seconds," Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) takes over command of the USS Titan, continuing the battle with the Shrike until the Titan gets pulled into a gravitational anomaly. Commander Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) uncovers a Changeling infiltrator aboard the Titan who has been sabotaging the ship.

In one of the TNG duo's best scenes, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) discuss their son, Jack (Ed Speleers), and why Beverly kept him a secret from Jean-Luc. Meanwhile, Worf (Michael Dorn) and Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) realize the Changelings had something to do with the recent attack on Starfleet. Star Trek: Picard' s "Seventeen Seconds" never lets up, jumping from one action-packed scene to the next, but still allowing for emotional character moments.

Star Trek: Picard

5 "the drumhead" - written by jeri taylor, star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 21.

After an explosion occurs on the USS Enterprise-D, Admiral Norah Satie (Jean Simmons) visits the ship to conduct an investigation. Although Data and Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) determine the explosion was an accident, Satie continues to seek out traitors. She grows more paranoid, questioning Picard's actions as Locutus of Borg and whether he remains loyal to Starfleet.

Jonathan Frakes stars as Captain Will Riker in the Star Trek universe, but he has also become one of Trek's most beloved and prolific directors.

Captain Picard responds with words once spoken by Satie's father, saying: "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." Starfleet's chief of security, Admiral Thomas Henry (Earl Billings), eventually puts a stop to the trial, condemning Admiral Satie's fanaticism. With a powerful speech from Picard and a message that is even more relevant today, "The Drumhead" remains one of TNG's strongest hours.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

4 "duet" - written by peter allan fields, story by lisa rich & jeanne carrigan-fauci, star trek: deep space nine season 1, episode 19.

When Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) suspects visiting Cardassian Aamin Marritza (Harris Yulin) of being a war criminal, she interrogates him about his time at a brutal labor camp called Gallitep. Marritza then claims to actually be Gul Darhe'el, the so-called "Butcher of Gallitep," but he later admits to taking on Darhe'el's identity. A file clerk at Gallitep, Marritza was so traumatized by the horrors he witnessed, that he now wishes to be prosecuted as a Cardassian war criminal.

Although the teleplay for "Duet" was penned by Peter Allan Fields, the idea came from a pitch by Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci, two interns on DS9's writing staff.

Kira begins to realize she may have misjudged Marritza and agrees to let him go. On the way off the station, however, a Bajoran kills Marritza, claiming that he is guilty simply because he is a Cardassian. Despite her earlier sentiment, Kira insists that being Cardassian did not make Marritza responsible for all of Cardassia's crimes. "Duet" remains one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's finest hours and a standout moment for Major Kira.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

3 "ad astra per aspera" - written by dana horgan, star trek: strange new worlds season 2, episode 2.

In one of Star Trek's best courtroom episodes , Strange New Worlds ' Number One (Rebecca Romijn) faces a court martial for lying on her Starfleet Academy application about being a genetically enhanced Illyrian. Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) recruits Illyrian civil rights attorney Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki) to defend his First Officer, and she points out the unfairness of the law banning genetic manipulation. Una delivers a powerful speech about her childhood and why she chose to join Starfleet.

Neera points out to the judges that, in joining Starfleet, Una was effectively seeking asylum from the persecution she faced as an Illyrian . Although the judges do not alter the Federation ban on genetic engineering, they do accept Neera's interpretation of the law and acquit Number One. With strong performances and stirring speeches, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' "Ad Astra Per Aspera" celebrates everything great about Starfleet and Star Trek as a franchise.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

2 "journey to babel" - written by d.c. fontana, star trek: the original series season 2, episode 10.

In this classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode, the USS Enterprise transports several important Federation delegates to an important intergalactic conference. Among the VIPs are Spock's Vulcan father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), and his human wife, Amanda (Jane Wyatt). Because Spock chose to join Starfleet rather than attend the Vulcan Science Academy, he and his father have been estranged for many years.

Dorothy "D.C." Fontana served as a script editor on Star Trek: The Original Series and wrote or co-wrote 10 episodes. While some of her episodes were based on the stories of others, Fontana herself originated the story that became "Journey to Babel."

When one of the delegates is murdered suspicion falls on Sarek, which exacerbates his heart condition. Sarek then needs emergency surgery, which requires Spock to act as a blood donor. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) eventually unmasks the murderer, but not before he, too, is attacked. Not only does "Journey to Babel" introduce two new Star Trek species in the Andorians and the Tellarites, but it also establishes the history of Spock and his parents, which continues to influence the character even today.

As a writer and story editor, Dorothy C. Fontana helped shape many aspects of Star Trek: The Original Series and wrote several iconic episodes.

1 "The Measure Of A Man" - Written By Melinda M. Snodgrass

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 9.

In one of Star Trek's most celebrated episodes, Data's very right to exist is put on trial. When Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) arrives on the USS Enterprise-D requesting to have Data dismantled for further study, Captain Picard fights for Data's right to make his own choices. With a background as a lawyer, writer Melinda M. Snodgrass wrote "The Measure of a Man" as a spec script that was picked up for the TNG's second season. Snodgrass later went on to work on the TNG writing team as a story editor.

With captivating performances from everyone involved, Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Measure of a Man" offers a compelling commentary on what it means to be human. Data's trial continues to have repercussions even in modern Star Trek and Picard's passionate defense of his android officer remains one of his finest moments. Simply put, "The Measure of a Man" is a near-perfect episode of television that represents Star Trek at its very best.

Best Star Trek Books For Fans Of The Series

N avigating the vast universe of Star Trek literature can feel like being lost in the Delta Quadrant without a star map. With a franchise that has boldly gone where no one has gone before for over half a century, the sheer number of novels, reference books, and autobiographies can make even a Vulcan raise an eyebrow in perplexity.

Fear not, intrepid explorers of the written word! We've embarked on a mission to compile the ultimate guide to the best Star Trek books that are sure to engage your warp drive and take you on a journey through the final frontier. From the original series that started it all to the latest interstellar adventures, this article is your navigational beacon to the Star Trek books that deserve a spot on your bookshelf.

Star Trek Captains: The Autobiographies

Star trek: the next generation - the u.s.s. enterprise ncc-1701-d illustrated handbook, the romulan war: to brave the storm (star trek: enterprise), the romulan war: beneath the raptor's wing (star trek: enterprise), from sawdust to stardust: the biography of deforest kelley, star trek's dr. mccoy, rise of the federation: tower of babel (star trek: enterprise), lost federations: the unofficial unmade history of star trek.

Ultimate Journey Through Captains' Live

Dive into the personal logs of Starfleet's finest - Kirk, Picard, and Janeway, revealing their lives beyond the bridge.

• Rich, in-depth character exploration.
• Captures the essence of the Star Trek universe.
• Boxed set makes a great collector's item.
• May overlap with known series events.

If you're a Star Trek aficionado, Star Trek Captains - The Autobiographies is practically a treasure trove waiting to be explored. This boxed set isn't just a collection of books; it's a deep dive into the hearts and minds of the characters who've become more than just part of a series - they're legends in their own right.

From Kirk's early days to Picard's complex encounters and Janeway's unparalleled journey, these autobiographies offer a nuanced, behind-the-scenes look at their lives. While some of the content might tread over familiar ground, the personal insights and reflections add layers to the characters we thought we knew.

It's a compelling read that balances the fine line between the iconic Star Trek lore and the untold personal struggles and triumphs of its captains. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the universe, this set promises to enrich your understanding and appreciation of the Star Trek saga.

Ultimate Blueprint of the Iconic Starship

Explore the intricate details of the Enterprise-D, from bridge to engineering, in this comprehensive guide.

• Exceptionally detailed illustrations and diagrams.
• Updated with HD images from the remastered TNG series.
• Covers a wide range of technology and equipment.
• Lacks a deck-by-deck breakdown of the ship.

U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Illustrated Handbook is a comprehensive gateway into the Star Trek universe, making it a standout among Star Trek collectibles . Its pages are packed with stunning, high-definition imagery, breathing new life into the iconic starship. The attention to detail is remarkable, with each section of Enterprise-D meticulously illustrated and explained.

From the intricacies of the ship's defensive systems to the nuances of its everyday technologies like phasers and hyposprays , this handbook leaves no stone unturned.

It's the sort of detail that not only satisfies the curiosity of hardcore fans but also serves as a fantastic introduction to those new to the series. The book's layout and design are thoughtfully executed, providing a seamless and enjoyable reading experience. While it may not delve into a deck-by-deck analysis, the breadth and depth of content available make this handbook an essential addition to any Star Trek enthusiast's collection.

For anyone fascinated by the technological wonders of the Star Trek universe, this book offers hours of exploration and discovery.

An Epic Struggle for the Future of the Galaxy

Michael A. Martin's novel dives deep into the pivotal conflict that shaped the Star Trek universe.

• Expands on a crucial yet underexplored period in Star Trek history.
• Captures the essence of familiar characters in new, challenging circumstances.
• Fast-paced narrative that covers significant events and changes.
• Some may find the swift pacing skips over desired details.

To Brave the Storm masterfully fills a gap in the Star Trek lore that fans have longed to explore in detail. Michael A. Martin takes us on a gripping journey through the tumultuous period of the Romulan War, showcasing the resilience and ingenuity of Captain Archer and the Enterprise crew. The book's strength lies in its ability to maintain the core of what Star Trek stands for—hope, unity, and the relentless pursuit of peace amidst adversity.

The narrative, while brisk, ensures that readers are not just spectators but are emotionally invested in the unfolding drama. Martin's portrayal of characters like Archer, T'Pol, and the enigmatic Trip Tucker adds layers to their personalities, offering fresh perspectives on their roles and decisions during the war. The novel adeptly navigates the complexities of interstellar politics, the harsh realities of war, and the foundational ideals that lead to the formation of the United Federation of Planets.

For fans yearning to witness the untold stories of the Star Trek universe, To Brave the Storm is a compelling read that not only entertains but enriches the tapestry of this beloved saga.

The Prelude to an Interstellar Showdown

Michael A. Martin delves into the precursors of the Romulan War, setting the stage for an epic saga.

• Seamlessly bridges "Enterprise" with the broader Star Trek lore.
• Maintains character integrity, especially in the Trip-T'Pol dynamic.
• Incorporates social commentary, echoing the spirit of the original series.
• Complex plot with robust character development.
• Some subplots could benefit from further exploration.

Loved The Romulan War? Well, Beneath the Raptor's Wing serves as a meticulously crafted prelude to this masterpiece. Michael A. Martin skillfully sets the stage with a narrative that not only deepens our understanding of the "Enterprise" era but also seamlessly transitions into the harrowing events that define the subsequent novel.

The book excels in capturing the essence of beloved characters while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape that leads to the formation of the Federation. While the rapid pace of the story occasionally leaves readers yearning for more detailed explorations of certain subplots, the novel's ability to intertwine personal dilemmas with the broader tapestry of Star Trek's historical lore is commendable.

Together, these two books offer a compelling and comprehensive look at a pivotal time in the Star Trek universe, making them indispensable reads for fans seeking to bridge the gap between "Enterprise" and the legacy that follows.

The Humble Journey of a Beloved Star

Terry Lee Rioux's biography offers an intimate look at the life of DeForest Kelley, from his roots to his iconic role in Star Trek.

• Deeply researched, offering a comprehensive view of Kelley's life.
• Highlights Kelley's humility and the depth of his character.
• Engaging for both Star Trek fans and biography enthusiasts.
• The Kindle version has some sequencing issues with chapters on the Star Trek films.

From Sawdust to Stardust is a heartfelt tribute to one of the most endearing figures in the Star Trek universe. Terry Lee Rioux delves into DeForest Kelley's life with a level of detail and reverence that brings the man behind Dr. McCoy to vivid life. From his early years in Depression-era Georgia to his ascent into the pantheon of Star Trek legends, Kelley's journey is painted as one of perseverance, humility, and unwavering kindness.

Rioux's narrative is enriched by personal anecdotes and insights, painting a picture of Kelley not just as an actor but as a man who remained grounded despite his stardom. The book goes beyond the facade of Hollywood to reveal the genuine, compassionate individual Kelley was, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the human stories behind the larger-than-life characters of Star Trek.

Despite some minor hiccups in the digital version, this biography stands as a testament to Kelley's enduring legacy, both as an actor and a human being.

Expanding the Star Trek Universe

The 16th installment in the "Star Trek: Enterprise" series, this novel explores the fragile beginnings of the Federation and the challenges it faces.

• Richly explores the political and diplomatic challenges of the early Federation.
• Features beloved characters from the "Enterprise" series in new roles and challenges.
• Can be enjoyed as a standalone read or part of the series, offering flexibility to readers.
• The multitude of subplots can be overwhelming, making the primary narrative less focused.

Rise of the Federation: Tower of Babel offers a deep dive into the complex process of building the United Federation of Planets, highlighting the political, ideological, and external threats that come with such an ambitious endeavor. Christopher L. Bennett masterfully navigates the intricacies of the early Federation, bringing familiar characters like Archer, T’Pol, and Reed into new lights as they tackle challenges far different from what they faced aboard the Enterprise.

The novel stands out for its ability to be read out of sequence, inviting both dedicated fans and newcomers to explore its pages without feeling lost. One downside is that the book juggles multiple subplots, so some readers might find the narrative a bit scattered. Despite this, the novel's exploration of diplomacy, unity, and the struggle against the Orion Syndicate makes for a compelling read.

Exploring the Star Trek That Could Have Been

A.J. Black's book offers a captivating glimpse into the Star Trek episodes, movies, and series that never made it to our screens.

• Provides a comprehensive look at the "what ifs" of Star Trek history.
• Includes insights from Star Trek writers and new analysis.
• Engages both hardcore fans and those interested in television production.
• The speculative nature may not satisfy all readers looking for canonical content.

Lost Federations is a portal to an alternate universe where Star Trek took different paths. A.J. Black meticulously compiles and analyzes projects that were conceived but never realized, offering fans a rare peek behind the curtain of one of the most enduring franchises in science fiction. This book is chock-full of "what-could-have-beens," including early film concepts, abandoned TV spin-offs, and major story arcs that were drafted but never aired.

Beyond mere speculation, Black provides context, connecting these unmade projects to the cultural and production realities of their times, enriching our understanding of Star Trek's development. For enthusiasts of the series and scholars of media alike, "Lost Federations" serves as a compelling complement to the official Star Trek lore, inviting readers to imagine the series in a myriad of alternate configurations.

While some may long for the stories that align with the established universe, this exploration into the paths not taken is a fascinating journey in its own right, celebrating the creative spirit that has always been at the heart of Star Trek.

Do I need to be familiar with all Star Trek series to enjoy these books?

Not at all! While familiarity with the respective series might enhance your reading experience, many Star Trek books are crafted to be accessible and enjoyable even to newcomers, offering detailed backstories and context.

Are these books considered canon within the Star Trek universe?

Star Trek books occupy a unique space in the franchise. While they are not officially considered canon by the creators of the TV shows and movies, they are often written with careful attention to the established lore and contribute significantly to the broader Star Trek narrative tapestry.

Can these books be enjoyed in any order, or is there a recommended sequence?

Many Star Trek books are standalone stories or part of specific sub-series, allowing for flexibility in reading order. However, for series-specific books, following the publication or chronological order can provide a more cohesive and immersive experience.

Best Star Trek Funko Pop! Figures

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Study hints that we can see traces of alien travel from ‘warp drives’ in space.

It’s the next generation — of science.

A new study appears to have legitimized the popular science fiction belief that “warp drives” — known by nerds as super-powered space engines from “Star Trek” — may actually exist and be a way to discover aliens .

The research team, plucked from prestigious institutions like Oxford and the Max Planck Institute, hones in on the legitimacy of “faster-than-light travel” and its ties to “application to the search for extraterrestrial life.”

In other words, traces of warp travel could be indicators of non-human travel throughout the universe.

And there is potential for plausibility of their existence, the team stated.

“Despite originating in science fiction, warp drives have a concrete description in general relativity,” they wrote in the paper’s abstract .

“Our work highlights the importance of exploring strange new spacetimes, to (boldly) simulate what no one has seen before.”

This enterprise of thinkers is building on a concept from theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre.

In the 1990s, the Mexico City-based expert conceptualized the potential for a spaceship to zoom past light speed thanks to warp abilities, along with the existence of wormholes in space.

“It is possible to modify a spacetime in a way that allows a spaceship to travel with an arbitrarily large speed,” Alcubierre wrote at the time .

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Warp My Tardis - Season 7, Episode 01: Star Wars, Star Trek, FanExpo pre-show and Borderlands

Welcome to Season 7 of Warp My Tardis Podcast on the Geek Culturecast network. Welcome back to Season 7, Episode 01: KJ the Comic Guy and Security Dan catch up after the summer hiatus, and we talk SAG-AFTRA, Paramont, Star Trek and all the shows, D23 and the Star Wars announcements, and then along with the pre-FanExpo stuff, we reviewed Borderlands. This episode was recorded on August 18, 2024. This podcast is rated PG-13 and may contain topics or content not suitable to all audiences. Listener discression is advised. Thank you for downloading, subscribing, listening and supporting Warp My Tardis here on the Geek Culturecast network. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. For more information about the network go to www.geekculturecastnetwork.com, and look for Legends of the Panel on your podcast service for even more Mr. Chulak, The Lady Archer and KJ the Comic Guy, another show here on the Geek Culturecast network. Follow us: Threads @[email protected] Instagram @warpmytardis and @legendsofthepanel Email: [email protected] KJ the ComicGuy @kjweir1970 on instagram Discord Server: GCCN - https://discord.gg/6XtXkGy Music is provided by Pond5.com. Intro and Outro music is composed by Christian Schuster.

Information

• Show Warp My Tardis Podcast
• Frequency Updated Monthly
• Published August 19, 2024 at 12:41 AM UTC
• Length 58 min
• Rating Explicit

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