Hyperdrives are devices which can propel spaceships to hyperspace, by opening a subspace window and travelling within a hyperspace field. Hyperdrives vary from culture to culture.
Hyperdrives by culture
Ancient
The Ancients possessed two types of hyperdrives: intergalactic hyperdrives and interstellar hyperdrives. The former was capable of allowing Ancient vessels to make trips between Galaxies, but they appear to have been confined to certain vessels, such as city ships. They also appear to take several days travel. The rest, such as Aurora class warships, used the interstellar hyperdrives. The interstellar hyperdrives were able to traverse a galaxy at a slower pace, but were still very fast, and were also faster than Wraith vessels. (SGA: "Rising", "Aurora")
Asgard
Asgard hyperdrives are among the fastest encountered, being able to traverse galaxies within minutes. While in hyperspace, they cannot use their weapons or defensive shields, and can be destroyed if a vessel in hyperspace near them self destructs. If the ship is towing a vessel in their hyperspace field, the trip is lengthed to several hours. (SG1: "Small Victories", "Unnatural Selection")
Goa'uld
Goa'uld hyperdrives on the standard ha'tak are capable of reaching speeds of 32,000 times the speed of light. However, because of the far-flung nature of the Goa'uld Empire, Goa'uld homeworlds had to be within less than a years reach of a planet designated for conquest. Goa'uld hyperdrives cannot achieve hyperspace without the proper control crystals. (SG1: "Within the Serpent's Grasp", "Demons", "Exodus", "Enemies")
Ori
Ori hyperdrives appear to be both galactic and intergalactic hyperdrives. However, the distance between the Ori home galaxy and the Milky Way was so great that they required a Supergate to reach the Milky Way. The hyperdrives appear to be fast enough to traverse the galaxy in short periods. (SG1: "Camelot", "Flesh and Blood", "Dominion")
Tau'ri
Tau'ri spacecraft initially used naquadria to power their hyperdrives, but they proved unstable, requiring controlled amounts of energy, which seriously limited their effectiveness. SG-1 later acquirred an al'kesh from Baal, which was incorporated. This increased the hyperdrive's effectiveness, but forced vessels to make short stops to prevent overload. The Asgard later granted the Tau'ri their hyperdrives, in thanks for SG-1's assistance in battling the Replicators. This allowed Tau'ri vessels to make intergalactic trips, but because of power requirements, a trip between the Milky Way and Pegasus takes up to three weeks. A ZPM powering the engines would limit it to four days. (SG1: "Prometheus", "Memento", "Prometheus Unbound") (SGA: "The Siege")
Wraith
Wraith hyperdrives are believed to have been stolen from the Ancients, as Ancient hyperdrives are compatible with Wraith hyperdrives. Because of the techno-organic nature of Wraith hive ships, they must go in and out of hyperspace to prevent damage from radiation acquired from hyperspace travel. (SGA: "No Man's Land")
External links
- Hyperdrive at Wikipedia