A Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver.
A Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver is a complex and dangerous aerobatic in-flight maneuver usually performed by five small spacecraft. In most cases for a maneuver to be successful, All five craft must fly in a circular formation and crisscrossing withing ten meters of each other. when they cross each other, all crafts engaged in the maneuver must empty their plasma vents, when their paths cross all plasma that has been vented will then be ignited. If done successfully the plasma that is ignited will appears as a astonishing light show, usually appearing as a star.
However, the Kolvoord Starburst Maneuver is not without risks. If not performed exactly as planned, the end results can be fatal to all participants or at least catastrophic to the vehicles performing such a maneuver.
History[]
In the late 2260s the maneuver was banned from Starfleet Academy due to an attempt by five cadets to perform such a maneuver ended in a total loss of life. A similar incident occurred in 2368 when a elite group of cadets known as Nova Squadron attempted the very same maneuver. This incident ended with the loss of one Starfleet cadet, Joshua Albert.
Nicholas Locarno, the leader of this group, attempted to cover up their attempt of this maneuver. However at the insistence of Wesley Crusher, the truth was told and all members of Nova Squadron except for Locarno were reprimanded and held back one year. Locarno was expelled from the Academy. (TNG episode: "The First Duty", ST - Seven Deadly Sins novella: Revenant)
In 2378 Geordi La Forge attempted a similar maneuver to shake pursuit from "Dokaalan" security forces. The maneuver severely damaged the shuttlecraft that attempted to employ the maneuver. (TNG novel: A Time to Sow)
The Maneuver[]
- Five ships perform a spin and then enter a circular formation and pass each other at a range of 10 meters with a speed of about 80, 000 KM/h.
- All five ships open their coolant interlocks when they pass each other and head in separate directions.
- When the interlocks are opened, the plasma is then vented, resulting in trails left by each vessel involved in the maneuver.
- At the epicenter, the plasma is ignited, resulting in this fantastic visual of a starburst.
References and Appearances[]
External Link[]
- Kolvoord Starburst article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.