Hyperspace Mechanics
Hyperspace is another dimension that mirrors our own, with
the exception that distances between any two points are much smaller. It is an eerie
blood-red and featureless realm. There is a drift or "tidal system" in
Hyperspace that seems to be the result of gravity generated by objects in realspace. Ships
in Hyperspace tend to follow the gravitational incline of a corresponding realspace.
object. While space is distorted in Hyperspace, time appears to be largely the same as it
is in realspace without the problems associated with time dialtion at high velocities. It
still takes a while to get anywhere in the galaxy. For example, the time it takes to
travel the 10.67 light years from Epsilon Eridani to Sol takes approximately 39 days at
100 c (c= the speed of light) or 9.4 hours at 10,000 c. Navigation in Hyperspace is
extremely confusing at current technology levels, necessitating the use of nav beacons and
transfer points.
Some scientists theorize that there are waves traveling through Hyperspace in addition to the normal gravitational pulls from realspace. Hundreds of ripples and waves pass through Hyperspace at differing velocities. Careful study of travel records reveals that while there are slight variations over a long period of time, it takes eons for a major change in flight time to occur.
Hyperspace exploration is very problematic and slow. Since there are no landmarks in Hyperspace or a set distance or direction correlation with realspace, navigation is, at best, a shot in the dark. Hence, exploration is usually accomplished through small jumps and the placement of a nav beacon. Exploration past the Galactic Rim is impossible with current standards of technology. There are no reference points in the Transgalactic void.
On Earth, Hyperspace was theorized to exist as early as the 20th century, but at that time it was only thought that small particles could pass through it. Long distance Hyperspace communications, like StellarCom, can transmit from realspace to Hyperspace and vice versa. Even with more advanced Hyperspace theories, such transmissions are still problematic due to the differing physics involved between the two dimensions. Despite this, Earth has managed to create a Hyperspace Relay System (HRS), connecting Earth to the outer colonies and to some alien worlds. This network of broadcast repeaters, hyperspace carrier wave generators (making the broadcast "real-time"), and orbital satellites is extremely expensive to maintain. Network broadcasts using the HRS are usually limited to a few systems because of cost. The one exception to this is InterStellar Network News (ISN), which is the only network to be relayed along the entire stretch of Earth's HRS through partial support by the Terran Federation Government.
Comments, criticisms, suggestions, and additions welcome! E-mail me at [email protected]. Babylon 5, characters, names, and all related indicia are trademarks of Time Warner Entertainment Co., LP. ©1994-1998 Time Warner Entertainment Co. All original text, artwork and page design ©1998 Fournel Computer Services Inc.