Spacecraft in Terra Expanse obey Newtonian mechanics. They accelerate, coast, rotate, brake, and match velocity with their destination. Engines are used to change velocity or attitude; a ship continues moving when thrust ends.
Space has no atmosphere to create conventional aerodynamic trails, sound, or resistance effects. Visible engine exhaust or other effects should result from actual propulsion, maneuvering, venting, damage, or another physical process rather than atmospheric behavior.
Most journeys consist of distinct flight phases rather than continuous atmospheric-style travel. A vessel may depart under thrust, coast for extended periods, perform course-correction burns, rotate to prepare for braking, and then decelerate to match the velocity of its destination.
During sustained acceleration, the crew experiences apparent gravity opposite the direction of thrust. Decks, seats, bunks, cargo restraints, and internal layouts are often arranged with this in mind. When thrust stops, that apparent gravity disappears unless the vessel has a rotating habitation section or is close enough to a large body for natural gravity to matter.
Small ships and ordinary freighters usually do not possess full-size rotating gravity habitats. During coast phases they therefore operate in microgravity. Handholds, straps, foot loops, restraints, secured storage, and covered containers are common throughout their interiors. Loose objects can drift and must be secured before maneuvers.
Some larger ships may include rotating habitation modules for long voyages, but these are substantial mechanical structures rather than invisible gravity systems. Rotation provides gravity only within the rotating section.
Course corrections are normally short burns or attitude changes rather than continuous steering. Ships do not bank or turn like aircraft in open space. Before a major braking burn, a vessel may rotate so its main engines face the direction required to reduce its relative velocity.
Space between settlements is not a uniform hazard field. Micrometeoroids, debris, dust, radiation, solar activity, and traffic risks exist, but their severity varies by location and circumstance. They are navigation and engineering concerns rather than constant “weather.”
Navigation relies primarily on sensors, orbital data, tracking systems, and calculated trajectories. Stars remain distant points of light, and ordinary acceleration does not stretch them into lines.
Spacecraft may keep reactors, pumps, cooling systems, power electronics, life support, and engine support systems running during coast phases even when the main engines are producing no thrust.