Interstellar Space

Stars are the primary energy source of life and civilization. Their natural state provides an endless supply of heat and harnessable energy, and their gravity collects objects which form stable orbits of resources.

Interstellar space is the distance between these star systems, endless lightyears of cold, dark, void, where there is little matter and the ambient temperature rests barely above absolute zero. The actual extent of any given star’s influence varies depending on the star; a red dwarf’s influence may extend for only several AU, while blue giants may significantly affect lightyears of space. There are also various types of influence to consider, such as hill sphere or magnetic field.

Interstellar space is hostile to life in numerous ways; the extremely low temperatures and deadly levels of cosmic radiation (normally blocked by the magnetic fields of stars) make sustaining life a challenging undertaking. Nevertheless, it provides unique conditions for a variety of operations. The cold temperature permits extremely efficient electrical conductivity, allowing a wide range of materials to act as ambient-temperature superconductors. At such ranges from stellar hill spheres, warp drives can engage or disengage at any point in space, rather than remain tied to particular points like they are within star systems. This permits a free range of movement for space-based operations.