Reaction control thruster

The reaction control thrusters are the standard thrusters used by the Federation for low-velocity propulsion, station-keeping and maneuvering control in space.

Star Fleet regulations state that only thrusters are allowed for propulsion inside a space dock.

Starships have primary and auxiliary thrusters. The primary thrusters are powered by a gas-fusion reaction chamber. It uses deuterium fuel from fuel tanks that in turn are fed from the ship's main deuterium tank. Exhaust is delivered through a field trap into the vectored thrust nozzles visible from the outside. Auxiliary thrusters have no tanks or fieldtraps, and are powered by a microfusion chamber. The generated thrust is considerably lower.

In order to conduct an emergency shutdown of all RCS thrusters, all deuterium from the RCS system must be vented out.

Fun Facts:

• These thruster types have been in use since the early 2160s.

• In 2369, when Deep Space 9 was moved from Bajor orbit to the Bajoran wormhole, it was done with reaction control thrusters.