Technology of the Asgard

Asgard Technology

Summary

The Asgard were an alien race from another galaxy, who influenced the Milky Way galaxy in the fights against the Goa'uld, Replicators, and Ori. They were extremely technologically advanced, and gifted their knowledge and technologies to the Tau'ri, who have used them to defend Earth and her interests. Upon receipt of the Asgard Legacy, the Tau'ri are the only race which has sole access to all of the knowledge and technology of the now extinct Asgard race.

Asgard Technology

Devices

Communications Stone	Asgard Communications Stone - An Asgard communications stone is a device that is used for communication across great distances. It is a clear stone with Asgard writing around the edges, sized small enough to fit in the palm of a human hand. It is shaped roughly in a smoothed and polished triangular shape. Five small white lights glow within it at the points and along the edges. A person using it needs to only hold it and speak for it to be used. Thor told O'Neill that it would only work as long as Thor's ship was in orbit around Earth. The device given by Thor is most likely at Area 51 after being used at the Asgard-Goa'uld summit, if not given back to the Asgard. (3.03 "Fair Game")
Hand Device	Asgard Hand Device - This small device was used by an Asgard to remove the knowlege of the Ancients which had been downloaded into Jack O'Neill's mind after he looked into a Repository of Knowledge on P3R-272. The Ancients' technology was not meant to be interfaced with a modern-day human (the brain's physiology was considered "primitive") and was quickly overwhelming O'Neill's mind. O'Neill was restored, but the knowledge was removed completely. (2.16 "The Fifth Race")
Stargate Dialer	Asgard Stargate Dialer - The Asgard Stargate Dialer is used to redial a Stargate for an outgoing wormhole without using a dialing system, or waiting for the gate to dial. It is a small stone similar to an Asgard Communications Stone. It glows with a yellow light when it is activated, which seemingly can be done with just a thought. The Stargate on which the device is used will fill with an event horizon similar to a glass being filled, bottom to top, and all seven chevrons will instantly light. Likely, similar rules to Stargate dialing are in effect, as this device is just to dial faster. Thor possessed one, and used it when he called upon the SGC for help against the Replicators. Other races are known to possess a device of similar operation, including Lya of the Nox, and Cassandra of the future, but it is unknown if they are an Asgard invention or not. (1.17 "Enigma", 2.21 "1969", 4.01 "Small Victories Part 2")
Personal Cloaking Device	Asgard Personal Cloaking Device - The Asgard have gifted advanced technology to several human cultures, including the Tau'ri, the Cimmerians, and a primitive culture known as Tirnoks. In the case of the Tirnoks, the Asgard provided at least one of these devices as a way of hiding from predators. The device is sized to fit comfortably in a human hand, is dull red in color, and is shaped like a stylized heart split down the middle. Upon activating the device, the holder simply vanishes, and can reappear at will. This technology has only been seen in handheld form and it is unknown why it is not adapted for Asgard ships, owing to the immense tactical advantage this technology would give. The SGC temporarily had access to one, stealing it from the Tirnoks hideout cave. The Asgard removed the device from their possession and it is likely back in the hands of the Tirnok. (3.18 "Shades of Grey")
Time Dilation Device	Asgard Time Dilation Device - The Asgard have mastered technology for the alteration of time. Their devices are quite sophisticated, capable of slowing time down to a factor of 10,000 at a radius of 0.16 light years. (Approx. 938,511,360,000 miles. In total surface area of the distortion it would be 2,767,126,034,079,528,074,241,638.4 square miles.) Replicators made modifications to the Asgard device, intended to contain the Replicator species for several years, to speed up time by a factor of 100. The device consisted of a large boxy shaped object, composed of neutronium. Another time dialation device (Unknown if Asgard or not, it's design was radically different that the first.) was gifted by the Tau'ri by Kvasir in order to seal off a distortion that was sending alternate members of SG-1 to an alternate reality. This device consisted of a silver sphere around one foot in diameter, supported by four silver spindly legs at right angles around it. It was never used as intended, and was most likely returned to the Asgard. (6.12 "Unnatural Selection", 9.13 "Ripple Effect")
Thor's Hammer	Thor's Hammer - Thor's Hammer is an Asgard device found on Cimmeria which was intended to prevent a Goa'uld incursion upon that world. The device, actually a pair of devices working in concert, act to screen incoming travelers to the world, separating the Goa'uld carrying ones (Jaffa or hosts are affected equally) and sending the Goa'uld to the second device, a stone arch housed in a maze. There only the human host can leave, the Goa'uld is killed in an energy field created by the stone arch, freeing the human host. Cimmeria is the only known world that contained a Thor's Hammer, although other known Asgard protected worlds may house them as well, depending on if Thor only guarded Cimmeria (as Freyr guarded K'Tau), or if there were other worlds in his charge. (1.10 "Thor's Hammer", 2.06 "Thor's Chariot")

Non-Specific Asgard Technology

Beaming Technology	Asgard Beaming Technology - Asgard beaming technology functions as a teleportation device, designed mostly for ship to planet and vice-versa applications. Point to point beaming within a ship is considered a much trickier application, although still possible. The beaming technology is installed onboard Asgard ships. In addition, the Asgard donated their beaming technology to the Prometheus and to the Daedalus-class ships of the Tau'ri. After Anubis stole the plans for beaming technology from Thor's mind, ships of Anubis, Osiris, and Ba'al were known to use Asgard beaming technology. (3.03 "Fair Game", 3.22 "Nemesis", 6.17 "Disclosure", 7.15 "Chimera", 8.17 "Reckoning Part 2")
Cloning Technology	Asgard Cloning Technology - The Asgard have altered their physical bodies through genetic manipulation to the point where meiosis (sexual reproduction) is no longer possible. Instead, they are formed through a complex process of mitosis. The bodies are grown in vitro and are fully grown adults in four months. As the Asgard have perfected mind transferal via computers, this has given the Asgard a limited form of immortality, as an individual Asgard cannot die if their mind can be restored and a fresh body cloned for them. As the Asgard find it distasteful to destroy a life everytime they transfer minds, new Asgard bodies have almost no intellect. Humans have successfully taught a fresh Asgard clone to walk, but little else. (5.22 "Revelations", 8.08 "Covenant")
Computer Technology	Asgard Computer Technology - Asgard computers are radically advanced compared to their Tau'ri counterparts. Asgard computers are capable of calculating hyperspace journeys at billions of times the speed of light, as well as communications across the galaxies and creation of matter from stored data. Quantification in human terms, such as bytes and hertz, is likely impossible. Asgard computer terminals consist of a curved off-white panel, with several white markings arranged in a grid. These white markings are the same size and shape of a small pearl white device of similar size and shape of a Asgard Stargate Dialer. When a device is placed on a marking, the position and orientation of the device is used to access files and control the ship. In addition to Asgard ships, a Asgard computer is known to be installed onboard the Daedalus, where Hermiod keeps his engineer station. These consoles appear to be modular, as one was removed from the Daedalus and used on Atlantis without any appreciable setup. Later, the Asgard Core was installed on the Odyssey and integrated into all of the ship's systems as a gift. This Core contains all of the knowledge of the Asgard and is considered the race's Legacy. (3.22 "Nemesis Part 1"; Stargate Atlantis: 2.20 "Allies Part 1", 10.20 "Unending")
Defense Shielding	Asgard Defensive Shielding - Asgard starships used a projected field of energy to defend against weapon attacks, space debris, and other harms in space. Asgard shielding was regarded as the most powerful in the known galaxies, surpassed only by the Ori/Ancients. For Asgard starships, it resolves as a ellipsoid shaped field centered around the starship. For the Beliskner-class, the field is orange tinted. As for the O'Neill- and Jackson-class vessels, the field is white tinted. Given that at least the O'Neill-class (it can be conjectured that due to the name of the Jackson-class, it was also a recent addition to the Asgard fleet) was upgraded from other Asgard technology, the white field is more powerful than the orange. The Prometheus and Daedalus-class vessels were equipped with Asgard shielding, which resolves as white fields as well. (4.01 "Small Victories Part 2", 8.02 "New Order Part 2", 9.20 "Camelot")
Holographic Technology	Asgard Holographic Technology - For communicating across vast distances, the Asgard use holographic images. Shipboard technology appears to be more infantile than others, evidenced by the haze and flickering images. Planet-based holographic images appear perfectly like the person in the recording. Asgard vessels use holographic technology, as well; Asgard Protected Planets possess a means of communicating with the Asgard homeworld. The Asgard have not gifted the technology to the Tau'ri, but it does appear that Ba'al and Anubis were in possession of the technology, and used it to appear through Stargates and from orbit. (3.22 "Nemesis", 5.05 "Red Sky", 6.01 "Redemption Part 1", 8.04 "Zero Hour")
Hyperspace Technology	Asgard Hyperspace Technology - Asgards were quite possibly the greatest in the universe with hyperdrive technology. Even compared to Ancient hyperdrives, the Asgard technologies are much speedier than their counterparts. (Although, Asgard use exclusively intergalactic drives and Ancient hyperdrives are mostly interstellar, with a smattering of intergalactic in their larger ships.) Traveling between the Ida and Milky Way galaxies takes minutes, and even towing a inert Earth warship only took an hour. Asgard ships are equipped with these hyperdrives (Replicator ships likely used versions of these, updated with scavenged technology of other races), and the Asgard have bestowed hyperdrive technology upon the Tau'ri, used in the Prometheus and the Daedalus-class. At one time the Lucian Alliance coveted Asgard hyperdrive technology; it was one of their motivations for stealing the Odyssey. (3.06 "Point of View", 6.17 "Disclosure", 10.09 "Company of Thieves")
Matter Conversion Technology	Asgard Matter Conversion Technology - Asgard starships had the technology to convert matter using stored forms of information. This technology is a modification of the Asgard beaming technology and is capable of creating about anything, from a stored set of values, from an amount of matter likely stored on the ship. The technology was observed to create Replicator blocks (along with simulated Replicator behavior), as well as Asgard food (apparently unpalatable to humans, based on Carter's reaction), and weapons designed by the Ancient knowledge contained in O'Neill. This technology was gifted to the Tau'ri when the Asgard left their Legacy and was used to sustain SG-1 and General Landry in a fifty-year time dilation field onboard the Odyssey (it created food, oxygen, clothing, Tretonin, a cello, eyeglasses, Christmas gifts and tree decorations, etc.). (4.01 "Small Victories Part 1", 8.01 "New Order Part 1", 10.20 "Unending")
Sensors	Asgard Sensors - Asgard sensors, like most Asgard technology, are among the best in the galaxy. They have been demonstrated to work from several light years, resolving even to single lifesigns at these distances, and penetrating Goa'uld and Ancient shielding systems. They work via the emission of white light shaped into a thin arc-shaped plane that is swept around. Objects, ranging from humans to starships and their contents take around ten seconds before being fully scanned. Beliskner-class vessels, Replicator warships, the Prometheus and Daedalus-class ships, and Thor's Hammer are known to be equipped with Asgard sensors. (1.10 "Thor's Hammer", 6.12 "Unnatural Selection")
Ship-to-Ship Weaponry	Asgard Ship-to-Ship Weaponry - Asgard weaponry is apparently energy based. The Beliskner-class and O'Neill-class both fire a bluish-white pulse of energy (visually similar to Tollan Ion Cannon fire, suggesting a similarity in technology) that is highly destructive towards starships. Goa'uld ha'taks could not withstand a single volley before destruction. Anubis gave Ancient technology upgrades to his ha'taks which made them resistant to Asgard weaponry, but the O'Neill-class had weaponry that could still destroy Anubis's warships. However, even the mighty O'Neill-class could not damage the Ori warships sent to the Milky Way. While the devices used aboard the ships mentioned have never been seen, Kvasir did loan the SGC an Asgard energy weapon at one point, and this device was seen. It was a semi-spherical black device that was about as tall as a man or slightly smaller. The device would emit a pulse of energy visually similar to Asgard weapons from the flat plane. As Kvasir strictly pointed out, the device was only on loan to the SGC, so it was back in the hands of the Asgard once again, but the knowledge on how to build such a weapon is most likely contained in the Asgard Core, their Legacy. Also as part of their Legacy, the Asgard equipped the Odyssey with a concentrated energy weapon (that emits a fine, blue energy beam) that successfully penetrated the shields of the Ori warships. (5.22 "Revelations", 8.02 "New Order Part 2", 9.13 "Ripple Effect", 9.20 "Camelot", 10.20 "Unending")
Stasis Technology	Asgard Stasis Technology - The Asgard used stasis technology similar to Ancient versions. It is unstated however, if the stasis is a extremely slow aging process as in Ancient methods, although the existance of the 30,000 year old perfectly preserved Asgard specimen is likely a strike against this. Beliskner-class vessels were equipped with stasis technologies in the event of a medical crisis, as well as Jackson-class vessels, albeit in a larger, more human scale device. In devices onboard a Jackson-class Asgard vessel, the mind inside was capable of being interfaced with the computers of the ship. It is unknown if this was possible with other models. Only Asgard vessels were known to be equipped with this form of technology. (3.22 "Nemesis Part 1", 5.22 "Revelations", 7.22 "Lost City Part 2", 8.02 "New Order Part 2")
Asgard Transporter Obelisk	Asgard Transporter Obelisk - Three Asgard Transporter Obelisk configurations were visited by SG-1 on two different planets. Two of them were on Cimmeria: The scanner and transporter obelisk was at the Stargate to determine if new arrivals were Jaffa or Goa'uld hosts. If so, they were transported inside a mountain that contained a device called "Thor's Hammer" that would kill the Goa'uld, but allow the host to pass through. The second obelisk was in the woods and associated with Thor's Hall of Might. The transporter was activated when the large red "stone" was pressed. Transportation from the surface to the Hall of Might was two-way, whereas the trip from the Stargate to the Hammer labyrinth was strictly one-way. The second planet that had an Asgard Transporter Obelisk was K'Tau. On this planet, the obelisk was inside a temple and connected to its partner in the Hall of Wisdom. In each of these three locations, the Asgard left holographic messages, but in the case of the Hall of Might and the Hall of Wisdom, direct communications with an Asgard was made possible using their highly-advanced holographic technology. (1.10 "Thor's Hammer", 2.06 "Thor's Chariot", 5.05 "Red Sky")

Starships

Beliskner-Class Ship	Beliskner-Class Ship - The Beliskner-Class Ship was the name for the most commonly seen type of Asgard ship. It was named after the first ship of its type seen, the Beliskner, commanded by Thor, Supreme Commander of the Asgard Fleet. (The first appearance of the Beliskner-Class, 3.22 "Nemesis"; indirectly seen, 2.06 "Thor's Chariot".)
O'Neill-Class Ship	O'Neill-Class Ship - The O'Neill-Class ship was the name for the Asgard ship that was the first to be designed to fight the Replicators, and was the most advanced ship of its time. It is named for Jack O'Neill of the SGC, for his actions in assisting the Asgard war against the Replicators. (3.22 "Nemesis Part 1", 4.01 "Small Victories Part 2")
Jackson-Class Ship	Jackson-Class Ship - The Daniel Jackson Mothership was the last starship design of the Asgard. It has been shown to be similar to the Beliskner-Class ship in its role for the Asgard fleet, as an exploratory/science vessel, as opposed to the O'Neill-Class Warship. (Introduced, 7.03 "Fragile Balance")

Articles on the Asgard

This series of articles covers the history, science, and technology of the Asgard, as well as the biographies of their key personalities.

• Asgard: History (Main Article)
• Technology of the Asgard
• Asgard Biographies

Episodes

• 1.10 "Thor's Hammer"
• 2.06 "Thor's Chariot"
• 2.16 "The Fifth Race"
• 3.03 "Fair Game" Episode Guide
• 3.06 "Point Of View"
• 3.18 "Shades Of Grey"
• 3.22 "Nemesis" Part 1"
• 4.01 "Small Victories Part 2"
• 5.05 "Red Sky"
• 5.22 "Revelations"
• 6.01 "Redemption Part 1"
• 6.12 "Unnatural Selection"
• 6.17 "Disclosure"
• 7.03 "Fragile Balance"
• 7.15 "Chimera"
• 7.22 "Lost City Part 2"
• 8.01 "New Order Part 1"
• 8.02 "New Order Part 2"
• 8.04 "Zero Hour"
• 8.08 "Covenant"
• 8.16 "Reckoning Part 1"
• 8.17 "Reckoning Part 2"
• 9.13 "Ripple Effect"
• 9.20 "Camelot Part 2"
• 10.09 "Company Of Thieves"
• 10.20 "Unending"

Related Characters

• Col./Gen. Jack O'Neill
• Dr. Daniel Jackson
• Capt./Maj. Samantha Carter
• Teal'c
• Gen. George Hammond
• Gen. Hank Landry
• Aegir
• Anubis
• Ba'al
• Freyr
• Heimdall
• Hermiod
• Kvasir
• Loki
• Osiris
• Penegal
• Thor

Related Articles

Keywords

• Ancients
• Asgard
• Asgard Beaming Technology
• Asgard Holographic Technology
• Asgard Hyperspace Technology
• Asgard Time Dilation Device
• Beliskner-Class Ship
• Cimmeria
• Cloning
• Daedalus-Class Ship
• Goa'uld
• Jackson-Class Ship
• Jaffa
• K'Tau
• Nox
• Odyssey
• O'Neill-Class Ship
• Ori
• Ori Warships
• Othala
• P3R-272
• Prometheus
• Protected Planets Treaty
• Replicators
• Repository of Knowledge
• SG-1
• Stasis Technology
• Tau'ri
• Thor's Hammer
• Tretonin

Other

• Stargate Atlantis: 2.20 "Allies Part 1"

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Original article written for Solutions by Jordan Kreiger. Edited and updated by DeeKayP.
--DeeKayP 19:36, 12 October 2006 (PDT)