7.4 Reaction control system,/b>

In its normal docked configuration, the USS Camelot achieves low-velocity attitude and translational control through the use of 12 main and 8 auxiliary reaction control engines for fine adjustments. The reaction control system is designed primarily for sublight operations involving station keeping, drift-mode three-axis stabilization and space dock maneuvering.

The RCS is divided into four parts corresponding to the four sections of the total starship. The Saucer Module RCS consists of six main and three auxiliary engines located on the hull edge; the other 6 main and 5 auxiliary are divided between the stardrive and bridge component hulls. In the docked condition, all three systems are cross-commanded by the main computer propulsion controller (MCPC) to provide the required guidance and navigation inputs.

Each main RCS engine consists of a Meta reaction chamber, a magnetohydrodynamic energy field trap, and upper and lower vectored-thrust exhaust nozzles. Meta fuel for each fusion chamber is stored in six immediate-use supply tanks and tied to replenish lines from a main Meta tank in the Upper Section. Fuel transfer is managed by three redundant sets of magnetic-peristaltic pumps, pressure regulators and distribution nodes. Ignition energy for the reaction chamber is provided by a step-up plasma compression generator, and supplied through a standard capacitance tap by the ship's power distribution net. The reaction chamber measures 3.1 meters in diameter and is constructed of hafnium carbide .4 meters thick, with a .15 cm replaceable inner wall of cortanium tritanide. It can withstand a total of 500,000 firings and 5,200hrs operating time before requiring inner wall servicing.

A two-stage MHD field trap lies downstream from the fusion chamber. The first stage acts as an energy recovery device and returns some of the undifferentiated plasma to the power net. The second stage performs partial throttle operations, in concert with fuel flow regulators, to control exhaust products as they enter the thrust nozzle. Both stages are manufactured as a single unit 3 x 1.5 x 2 meters and are constructed of tungsten-vanadium boronide. The plasma return channels are rated at 7,000hrs before the inlets must be replaced.

The vectored nozzles direct the exhaust products at the proper angle for the desired force on the ship's spaceframe. Each nozzle assembly produces a maximum of 3.2 million newtons of thrust with one nozzle active, and 6.4 million newtons with both nozzles active. Kreigerium plate valves regulate the relative proportions of exhaust products flowing through the upper and lower nozzle components.

Each aux engine consists of a microfusion chamber and vectored-thrust nozzle, but without the MHD trap. The microfusion chamber measures 1.5 meters in diameter and is constructed of hafnium carbotanide 8.5cm thick. Each aux. engine channels its exhaust products through the main RCS nozzle and can generate a total thrust of 850,000 newtons. The aux engines are rated for 5000hrs cumulative firing time before servicing.

Also incorporated into the RCS quads are precision mooring beam tractor emitters used for close-quarters and docking maneuvers when starbase-equivalent mooring beams are not available.