Gravity Control Technology

Gravity Control Technology is one of the major technological breakthroughs (...the others are Nuclear Dampers and Jump Drives).

• It is also know as: Grav Tech, Gravitics, Anti-grav, and Contragrav Technology.
• It is available in limited prototype forms at TL:7-9, but really comes of age at TL:10-12 or higher.
• Please see Gravcraft for examples of vehicle that use Gravity control technology.

Description (Specifications)

The gravity control produces both weight neutralization (Contragrav), gravity creation (artificial gravity plates, Tractor Beam Projector), gravity reversal (Repulsors, Inertial Compensator), and thrust (Reactionless Thruster, Thruster Plates). This control of the force of gravity allows construction of vehicles, like the Air/Raft and G-Carrier, mapping of object mass through Densitometers, and safety equipment like the Grav Parachute.

While not often correlated by most people, historians have noted that the advent of practical fusion power plants is the result of applied gravitic compression of the fissionable fuels. Some mass-thrusters also rely on the gravitic compression of hydrogen to a near-fusion energy level. Material science uses gravitic compression to strengthen metals; Superdense. The ability to warp space-time and induce a jump is directly related to the control and understanding of gravitics. The Terran system failed to comprehend and use gravitics for many years, which delayed the Solomani expansion.

History & Background (Dossier)

The first gravcraft, or vehicles employing gravity control technology, appear around (TL–9). However, the TL-9 prototypes, even the ones that go into mainline production, have severe limitations, and the technology doesn't truly go mainstream until the TL:10-12 technological epoch.

The significance of gravitic technology is that it made space travel practical. Before its advent, space travel was possible only by using reaction drives which meant the trip from ground to orbit was the most difficult, most expensive, and by far the most dangerous part of space flight. With gravitic technology, boosting payloads into orbit became easy, economical, and the least risky portion of space travel. The multistage rockets of the past culminating in SSTO lifters make way for the Z-Drive or Lifters of today's TL-15 Charted Space.

Specific Examples

Shortly before the rise of the Third Imperium, anti-gravity modules were brought to the market on the Asym homeworld by the industrial concern, Kat-mun-tu. They immediately captured the imagination of the public, drawing large amounts of new business. The executives in charge were given stipends and estates by the local government, and those responsible for the design achieved celebrity status.

See also

Technologies

§ == ( Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information: ) == §

• Biotechnology
• Communications
• Computer Technology
• Cybertechnology
• Genetic Engineering
• Gravity Control
• Information Technology
• Makertech
• Manufacturing
• Medical
• Nanotechnology
• Neurotechnology
• Pharmaceuticals
• Power Plants
• Robots
• Transportation

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Frank Chadwick. Striker (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), B3-5,8,22.
• Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. Fire, Fusion, & Steel (Game Designers Workshop, 1994), 75.
• SS&V #4 in Article: Gravitics vs. Fusion Rockets
• Don Perrin. Starships (Imperium Games, 1996), 71.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Master Scout and Former Naval Architect CRHensley of the Ministry of Science
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science