Photon torpedo

The photon torpedo, (also known as a photorp and as photons) an imaginary weapon of science fiction, is a space torpedo armed with an antimatter bomb. The concept is frequently mentioned within the fictional Star Trek, where these weapons are often part of a starship's and space station's armaments.

Photon torpedoes are launched from specific launchers. The Galaxy class starship has three launchers, one forward, one rear, and one on the rear of the saucer that can only be used while separated. These launchers can fire more than one torpedo at once. A photon torpedo is a rounded rectangle about two meters long. These launchers are also used to launch similarly shaped science probes and can perform burials in space.

In Star Trek photon torpedoes are most useful for combat while ships are engaged in warp speed travel, as phasers, which are confined to the speed of light, are not usable.

The Photon torpedo was first introduced during . During the run of Deep Space Nine they began to be replaced by more powerful Quantum torpedoes, and these have also been used in the more recent Star Trek films. The Romulans have never used photon torpedoes, instead relying on plasma torpedoes. Federation vessels also carry Tri-Cobalt Devices which are a sub-space weapon more powerful than photon torpedoes, but one only useful against stationary targets.

had an ongoing story of a limited supply of photon torpedoes, as the necessary anti-matter was impossible to replicate.

There are a number of different versions of the photon torpedo with guided, un-guided, and high-speed versions. The Mark IV and Mark V torpedoes are micro torpedoes that are used aboard small ships like runabouts.

A standard photon torpedo is said to hold about 1.5 kilograms of small pellets of anti-matter and about 1.5 kilograms of similar matter suspended in a magnetic field. Yield is reduced by including fewer pellets. The torpedoes do not have their own warp drive, but they do have a warp sustainer that can keep them going at faster than light speeds, if launched by a ship at those velocities.

During their mission, the Enterprise, NX-01, encountered two species that used photon torpedoes, the Klingons and Vissians. When the Enterprise was reassigned to the Delphic Expanse, Starfleet technicians installed these new torpedoes, which were called photonic torpedoes.