Launch channel

William "Buck" Rogers's perspective of Draconia's launch channel (BR25: Film, "Awakening").

A launch channel is a launch accelerator channel for smaller craft installed on a larger base or within a capital ship, allowing the ship to launch at rapid speeds over a shorter distance without using its own engines.

Draconia's launch channels are irregular pentagon shaped tubes, with the angular point on the underside of the ship.

A drugged William "Buck" Rogers is wowed by the light show as Ranger 3 launches from Draconia.

Notes

• Ideally, a launch channel allows these smaller craft to launch safely from spaceships, without risk of engine backwash running amok through the craft bays from whence they came.
• The launch channel doubtless shares inspiration between the launch tubes from the Battlestar Galactica television series.

Gallery

• 
  A Hatchet fighter emerges from Draconia's launch channel aperture (BR25: Film, "Awakening").
• 
  A pair of Draconia's launch channel apertures (BR25: Film, "Awakening").
• 
  The electronic "hooks" rapidly approach Ranger 3 (BR25: Film, "Awakening").
• 
  From Ranger 3's cockpit, William "Buck" Rogers is amazed by the sudden acceleration and light show of the launch channel (BR25: Film, "Awakening").