SnapSpace Travel

SnapSpace Travel is humanity's primary method of faster-than-light (FTL) transportation, enabling near-instantaneous movement between distant points in real-space. Since its discovery in the mid-21st century, SnapSpace has become the foundation of interstellar civilisation, facilitating everything from commercial shipping to the SnapMesh communication network that connects human colonies across the galaxy.

Overview

SnapSpace technology allows vessels to traverse vast interstellar distances in mere moments by briefly transitioning through a higher dimensional space.

The technology is ubiquitous aboard all large vessels, both civilian and military, though smaller craft such as shuttles typically lack the space and power requirements for SnapSpace drives. Notable exceptions include specialised military vessels and purpose-built courier ships designed for rapid interstellar transit.

Technical Requirements

Core Components

SnapSpace-capable vessels require two essential systems:

• SnapSpace Drive: The primary propulsion system that enables dimensional transition
• SNAP Scanner (SnapSpace Navigation Anchor Point Scanner): A sophisticated detection system that locates safe destination coordinates in real time

Operational Procedure

Before initiating SnapSpace transit, a vessel must achieve a stationary position relative to the nearest massive gravitational body. The pilot plots a destination using dynamic stellar cartography that accounts for the constant motion of galactic objects.

The SNAP scanner then projects millions of intangible probe strands through SnapSpace to the target region. These probes, invisible to conventional sensors, appear to emanate from the vessel before coalescing into a funnel-like configuration. Upon reaching the destination, the strands survey the target area to locate a space large enough to accommodate the vessel plus an appropriate safety margin.

Once a suitable anchor point is identified, the vessel has only seconds to complete the transition. The ship appears to shrink to a vanishing point whilst simultaneously materialising at the destination anchor point. The entire process takes mere moments to complete.

Operational Limitations

Range and Navigation

SnapSpace jumps are limited by individual vessel capabilities. Even relatively short interstellar journeys, such as the route from Sol to Alpha Centauri, typically require approximately twelve separate jumps, with SNAP scanner recalibration typically required between each transition.

Safety Considerations

The SNAP scanner serves as the primary safety system for SnapSpace operations. Whilst "blind jumps" without proper scanning are theoretically possible, they pose extreme risks of materialisation within solid objects such as planets, stars, or other vessels.

Vessels equipped with multiple SnapSpace drives – common on larger ships – require careful calibration between drives, resulting in significantly longer preparation times compared to smaller, single-drive vessels.

Physical Effects

The comfort level experienced by passengers and crew during SnapSpace transit is inversely proportional to vessel mass. Larger ships provide smoother transitions, whilst smaller vessels may cause discomfort. Precise timing is critical; properly executed jumps are comfortable even in smaller craft, but mistimed transitions can cause severe nausea and the sensation of being "turned inside-out." Failed timing may result in either jump abortion or highly unpleasant physical effects for occupants.

Emergency Systems

SnapSpace drives that fail to complete their jump sequence within the designated timeframe can be emergency-vented to prevent system damage. This process creates considerable noise and, whilst safe, often results in significant embarrassment for the crew involved.

Energy Requirements

SnapSpace operations demand massive energy expenditure, making power generation a critical consideration in vessel design. This substantial energy requirement contributed to the early dominance of corporations that could afford to implement the technology, many of which evolved into the megacorporations that currently govern most of human civilisation.

Historical Context

SnapSpace technology was developed sometime around 2060, likely by a research and development organisation, possibly affiliated with a university. However, all original records regarding the technology's creation and early development were irretrievably lost during the historical period known as "The Purge."

Since its implementation, SnapSpace has remained remarkably stable and reliable. Incidents related to SnapSpace travel are rare and invariably attributed to operator error or inadequate maintenance rather than technological failure. The only significant advancement since the technology's discovery has been the successful integration of multiple drives to propel larger vessels.

Cultural Impact

SnapSpace travel has become so thoroughly integrated into human civilisation that it is regarded with the same casual acceptance as terrestrial motorway systems were in earlier centuries. The technology has even influenced language, with "snap" becoming a common substitute for minor profanity in phrases such as "not snapping likely" and "for snap's sake."

SnapSpace technology underpins the SnapMesh communication system, which allows interstellar data communication between distant human colonies and installations.

Current Status

In the early to mid 23rd century, SnapSpace remains humanity's sole method of FTL travel and shows no signs of obsolescence. The technology continues to serve as the backbone of interstellar commerce, communication, and exploration, with no competing FTL systems having emerged despite nearly two centuries of research.