Puddle Jumpers (Stargate)

Puddle Jumpers are a type of spacecraft that features in Stargate.

History

Puddle Jumpers was the name given to a type of spacecraft that was created by the Ancients. These vessels were designed with the purpose of travelling through both space and by the Stargate.

Overview

The puddle jumper is a small cylindrical ship with an angled front and rear, allowing it to travel through a Stargate. Similar to the Tel'tak, the craft is split into two sections, the cockpit and cargo hold, with a bulkhead door to separate them. This door is quite strong, capable of retaining atmosphere against the vacuum of space or holding back the pressure of deep ocean water. Strangely, Rodney McKay once remarked that the door would "leak like a sieve" if exposed to space for a long period of time. However, as he was not yet quite familiar with Ancient technology at the time, he was probably mistaken because it was capable of holding back the crushing pressure of the Ocean when a jumper sank. It was also later used as an airlock by depressurizing the rear compartment giving credence to this suggestion.

Entry and exit to the puddle jumper is provided through the use of the cargo bay door on the rear. This door can be lowered and raised in normal operation, or can be jettisoned by use of the emergency release located in the rear section of the cargo bay. The cargo area also serves for additional seating within the jumper for more than the flight crew. Jumpers have a limited power supply, but it is presumably rechargeable.

Puddle jumpers are equipped with several Ancient technologies, and are among the most advanced craft in the Pegasus Galaxy. Their propulsion systems consist of two retractable thruster pods that power the craft to sublight speeds, allowing interplanetary travel. Limited thrust is apparently possible with retracted pods, as seen on several occasions in the Atlantis control room. While the thruster pods are responsible for propelling the craft, the pods must be closed to allow the ship to fit through the Stargate. Though it has not been confirmed, it has been suggested that the jumper operates on an auto-pilot for this maneuver, allowing people without the ATA Gene to pilot the jumper out of Atlantis. It is also possible to fly a puddle jumper with just one functioning thruster pod.

Alternately, it is possible that the pods don't house thrusters at all, but rather some type of gravimetric propulsion system. In essence, this very advanced method of propulsion creates a "gravitational wave" in any direction around the ship, which then essentially pulls the ship in, thus moving it in the given direction. Such a system doesn't require any thrusters, merely projection points. In some other shows (e.g. Babylon 5) such engines were placed on various protrusions from the main bulk of the ship and often glowed (but produced no air shimmering or matter stream like reactive thruster engines do). This would explain the puddle jumper's apparent ability to fly with retracted engine nacelles, as well as some other observed properties, and would fit very nicely into the concept of a very advanced race. However, as there is little to none canon technical data in the show, it is virtually impossible to decisively say either way, thrusters or gravimetric drive.

As many Stargates in the Pegasus Galaxy are located in space and therefore have no traditional Dial Home Device, the puddle jumper is equipped with its own DHD, enabling the passengers to activate the Stargate from within the craft. The jumper's DHD is very similar to the one in Atlantis, although without Atlantis' extra control-crystal. The jumper DHD seems to adapt itself to the galaxy it is in. Puddle jumpers from Atlantis normally have the Pegasus set of chevrons, although the time jumper found by SG-1 had the Milky Way set with the Earth point of origin. Also, a jumper from Atlantis can activate a Milky Way Stargate.

Puddle jumpers are equipped with a neural interface that essentially reads the pilot's thoughts and controls the ship based on those commands, assisted by two control joysticks built into the ship's main control console. Like a great deal of Ancient technology found in the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies, the puddle jumper requires the user to have the ATA gene to initialize. After that, many of the jumper's systems can be used by anyone. However, since piloting requires the mental interface, only one with the ATA gene can actually fly the craft. There are also two control panels at the rear of the jumper, one on each side that appear to be used by people that do not have the ATA gene. Some aspects of the craft can even be controlled by a Wraith, given that this wraith has the knowledge to figure out advanced technology.

The puddle jumper can also be used as an underwater submersible, although it should not be used to dive to great depths, as the front window will not be able to sustain high pressure. A damaged jumper dove to a little over twelve hundred feet (366 m) without a shield before the window cracked. Using the shield by inverting the cloaking generator, the jumper could dive deeper, although the high pressure on the shield would soon drain the power source. However, it has been assumed that if a jumper would be connected to a sufficient power source, the shield could be powered constantly.

Passengers inside are shielded from sudden accelerations and stops by an inertial dampening system, which can also alter the weight of the puddle jumper. Information regarding the craft's status, course and landing coordinates is projected on a holographic HUD. The craft also carries several small Life Signs Detectors, and is equipped with advanced sensors. Most of the technology on board is controlled by crystals throughout the jumper in places behind the benches and seats, in cubbies.

The jumper's weapon systems consist of at least 16 Ancient Drone Weapons, housed in two weapon pods located in front of the engine pods. These pods must be extended before the drones can be fired. It was theorised by Rodney McKay that these drones could also be used to pilot the jumper, although this was never tested. It is assumed that the craft would not be very maneuverable or fast, however, it would require very little power. Rodney McKay theorised the jumper could be controlled through an Ancient Control Chair in this way.

The jumpers can be used as bombers by attaching explosives to the bottom of the craft and later releasing them.

A puddle jumper has no true shields at all, suggesting that it is an exploration and trading ship. Its only defense consists of an advanced cloaking generator capable of masking the ship to both the naked eye and sensors, much like those on Goa'uld Cargo ships and Al'kesh bombers. The generator acts more like an advanced active camouflage because since a cloaking generator makes light bend around objects, there would be no light inside and as a result, the pilot would be blind. However, the cloaking generator can be "reversed" to act as a shield, but this drains the jumper's power far too rapidly, making it almost useless in a combat situation. This situation occurred in "The Defiant One", when a wraith prevented Major Sheppard from entering his jumper by the use of a shield which he activated with the jumper's remote cloaking device. The cloaking generator can only project either the cloak or the shield, as both are generated the same way, just at a different frequency. Therefore it is impossible to have both running at the same time. The shield, however, has enough power to deflect at least one drone, although such an impact would severely damage the craft, even through the shield.

Notes

• Puddle Jumpers were first introduced into the setting in Stargate: Atlantis.

Appearances

• Stargate: Atlantis:

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