Inertial compensator

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Inertial compensators, or inertial dampers (as they are more often called) are fictional devices aboard starships in some science fiction series, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Futuristic space travel generally involves accelerating to superluminal velocity in short time. However the enormous G-forces so generated would be sufficient to crush many things on board—bulkheads, equipment, and, of course, human bodies. Inertial compensators provide a mechanism to counteract such G-forces and protect all on board. They also act as a form of universal seat belt, protecting crews from the inertial forces caused by the ships's regular manoeuvring. Without inertial compensators, space travel would be rendered extremely slow, as a ship would only be permitted to accelerate at a pace tolerable to human beings. They therefore are a critical component of any science fiction which involves rapid space transit.

Like faster-than-light "warp" drives they are supposed to work with, inertial compensators exist outside the realm of current science. The explanation of this type of technology is rather more obscure than is usual in science fiction—most of the time described as employing some kind of field which encases the ship and suspends Newton's laws from the outside universe. The inertial dampers as used in Star Trek are not allowed by the current laws of physics, but as one Star Trek writer put it, without the technology, crews would risk being turned into "chunky salsa" from the force of being thrown inside the ship.^[1]

As usually depicted, the inertial damping system may be overwhelmed by sudden jarring effects to the vessel, such as from weapons fire or space collisions. The system may also fail completely. Such a breakdown, usually during battle, is a frequently employed drama device—the crew is shown to be violently tossed around as the ship maneuvers and is hit. At the same time the vessel is prevented from escaping by "going to warp", as the crew would not be protected from the fatal acceleration.

1 Star Trek
2 Star Wars
3 Stargate
4 References

[edit] Star Trek

As portrayed in Star Trek, the inertial damping field (IDF) of a starship is not fast enough to compensate for very spontaneous and unexpected movements, as evidenced by crew members being flung from their posts when a ship is attacked. Seat belts are not widely used, but in a scene cut from the movie Star Trek: Nemesis, seat belts are installed on the Enterprise-E (this is regarded as a nod to fans, who have questioned the absence of seat belts for decades).

Actors playing the roles in Star Trek, particularly of late, have mispronounced the name as 'inertial dampeners', as if water was involved.

[edit] Star Wars

The inertial compensator in the Star Wars series is used in spaceships especially fighters and fighter simulators. This technology allows pilots to fly in space where there is no gravity. This could also be used in simulators, because it can create artificial gravity that makes the simulators more realistic.

[edit] Stargate

The inertial dampers aboard the F-302 fighter in the Stargate universe are only capable of compensating for 90% of the g-forces experienced by a pilot.

In addition, the Puddle Jumpers have compensators, which may be used to make the ship heavier (The Eye).