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A nanoassembler, also known as a von Neumann machine or molecular assembler, was a class of device used in nanotechnology engineering.

History and specifics[]

This device dematerialized existing matter at the atomic level and rematerialized new objects based on a set of pre-programmed molecular patterns. Nanoassemblers were capable of self-replication.

In the 20th century, the idea of outfitting a probe spacecraft with molecular assemblers was explored by John von Neumann on Earth. (TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Shinsei Shinsei comic: "Anything But Alone", TOS novel: Ex Machina)

In the 21st century, a race of sentient von Neumann machines augmented Earth's Voyager 6 probe into the V'Ger entity. (TOS novel: Ex Machina, TNG - Cold Equations novel: The Body Electric)

By the 23rd century, von Neumann machines had been invented on Ximega I. Scientist Prekraft scanned a community of Ximegans before their sun Ximega went supernova and sent the data aboard a probe to another star system, where the people and their city were recreated with molecular assemblers. But solar flares destroyed the recreation and electromagnetic radiation erased the probe's backups of the peoples' consciousnesses. Prekraft recreated the community a second time, this time using his memories as the template. (TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Shinsei Shinsei comic: "Anything But Alone")

In 2280, a Kauld battleship approaching Belle Terre contained hundreds of billions of nanoassemblers. The starship USS Enterprise destroyed the vessel, but inadvertently allowed the nanotech to spread across the planet's atmosphere and form silicon gels in its soil. A built-in failsafe could deactivate their functions. (TOS - New Earth novel: Thin Air)

In 2374, nanoassemblers were used on Mars to fabricate components for a new starship. (DS9 - Millennium novel: The War of the Prophets)

Molecular assemblers[]

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