Maneuvering thruster

Maneuvering thrusters (often referred to as simply thrusters) were used by starships and other spacecraft to make precise movements in lieu of primary impulse or warp engine use. The thrusters were low-power reaction control jets that could be used for fine positional and attitudinal control, including station-keeping. They were most typically used in docking or similar maneuvers. 

In spacedock, all vessels were required to stay at maneuvering thrusters until they had cleared the outer space doors. 

All reaction-based technologies operated on the Newtonian principle of the "Law of Inertia": that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This was similar in some ways to impulse engine technologies and thrusters were sometimes called impulse thrusters or impulse jets. 

On a refit, the maneuvering thrusters were placed along the outer edges of the hull. In Starfleet during the 24th century, maneuvering thrusters were part of the reaction control system and were also placed in similar positions. These were typically placed in groups of four or "quads" on starships. 

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