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Faster-than-light travel was one method of travelling interstellar distances without resorting to relativistic travel or generation starships. One way to do so was by harnessing a quantum tunnel with an FTL factor of 36.7 recurring. Other, less common methods included travelling via Time Vortex, which TARDISes used, and transmat systems.
Most advanced civilisations seemed to have developed faster-than-light travel at some time during their history. Humans had developed hyperspace technology by the 30th century. (PROSE: Original Sin)
The Monarch wanted to discover the secret to faster-than-light travel to travel back to the creation of the universe and meet God, whom he believed would be himself. (TV: Four to Doomsday)
Examples
Common means of faster-than-light travel involve passing a spacecraft through hyperspace, which was located outside of spacetime as humans knew it (TV: The Stones of Blood). Other technologies included warp drive. (TV: The Girl in the Fireplace, Earthshock)
- The Nestene Consciousness used warp shunt technology to travel between planets. The Ninth Doctor told the Nestene to use the technology and "Shunt off!" (TV: Rose)
- The people of the Arcateen system used superluminal technology, specifically communications and travel technology, to transport themselves to other planets and communicate over great distances. (TV: Greeks Bearing Gifts, TV: Invasion of the Bane)
- Mary arrived on Earth via a transportation device. Sarah Jane Smith's star poet friend of the same species arrived on Earth through unspecified means, though we can assume they used much the same kind of technology. It may also be that since Mary arrived in 1812 and the poet left in 2008 that the species' technology had advanced.
- Raxacoricofallapatorians had slipstream engine technology. (TV: Aliens of London / World War Three)
- The ships of the Uvodni and the Adipose could travel at faster than light speeds. (TV: Warriors of Kudlak, TV: Partners in Crime)
- The Daleks achieved faster-than-light travel early on in their history in space. While their prototype spacecraft Proto 4 was destroyed when it attempted faster-than-light travel and Proto 9 succeeded but was destroyed when it came out of hyperspace, Proto 13 was the first fully successful attempt by the Daleks in their efforts to achieve space travel. It was successful in take off, space flight, and entering/exiting hyperspace. It had a flying saucer design, and became the standard Dalek ship. (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge)
