# Who invented hyperdrives that only work outside gravity wells?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-hyperdrives-that-only-work-outside-gravity-wells/290548>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 17, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-hyperdrives-that-only-work-outside-gravity-wells/290548 "2005-02-17T15:24:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-hyperdrives-that-only-work-outside-gravity-wells/290548/21 "2005-02-22T02:55:10Z")

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> [@Rillian](#):
>
> resulting in dozens of pages of ship-to-ship combat action.

AKA, dramatic handwaving.

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**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-hyperdrives-that-only-work-outside-gravity-wells/290548/22 "2005-02-22T03:13:24Z")

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As a general rule, any FTL system that works within a gravity well  
A: as has been said, can position an assault ship right past any defences you care to name, rendering any interstellar combat a question of who shoots first.

B: Provides a very nifty, very easy way to shoot said planet. Even if all you’re doing is jumping into an alternate dimension, that’s not something you want happening to your planet’s crust.

In short, yes, handwaving. But necessary handwaving.

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