Quantum Drive

A quantum drive is a type of engine that generates a Chan-Eisen field, enabling spacecraft to travel at approximately 20% of the speed of light. Because it takes a great deal of energy for a quantum drive to work, larger ships with more room for specialized power and cooling devices can remain in quantum travel longer than smaller ships. Quantum drives can be altered with a jump module to become a jump drive capable of [traversing interspace](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/bBp6Bx33wm-jump-tunnel).

The first [Xi'an](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/ReJwN9KJEj-xian) quantum drive was created in MXY 0.5171 (SEY 25343 BCE) by House Yaing. Having recently developed [terraforming](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/R6dWOrLEM4-xian-terraforming), the Xi'an used their new technology to expand beyond their home planet of RyiXy'an (Hyoton III), eventually colonizing Ka'ua (Hyoton IV) and Tethle'a (Hyoton II). The first [Human](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0Nwpnr6wa2-humans) quantum drive prototype was created by Dr. Scott Childress and his team in SEY 2075 and was capable of achieving 1/100th the speed of light. The debut of the quantum drive led to a sharp increase in exploration of the Sol system, conducted by institutions and private individuals. Historians are unsure exactly how long the [Banu](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0NwpYPpNZ4-banu) have had quantum engine technology due to their lack of historical data.