Impulse Engines

A closeup of an NX class impulse engine.

The impulse engines (also called impulse drive) are a type of propulsion system aboard Federation starships that uses conventional Newtonian reaction to generate thrust.

The impulse drive is essentially an augmented fusion rocket, powered by a fusion reactor, and consisting of an accelerator-generator, a space-time driver coil assembly, and a vectored thrust nozzle to direct the plasma exhaust. The accelerated plasma is passed through the driver coils and generates a subspace field that improves the propulsion effect.

Impulse engines are limited to sublight speeds.