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This article is not to be confused with the Solar Ray (character).

The Solar Ray, also known as the Solar Ray System, was a massive laser cannon constructed by the Principality of Zeon near the end of the One Year War.[1] It appeared as the Principality of Zeon's final weapon to intercept the incoming Federation fleet during the Earth Federation Forces' Operation Star One, though despite its immense power it was unable to win the war in Zeon's favor.

Overview[]

The Solar Ray was converted from one of the space colonies of Side 3, 3rd Banchi Mahal. It was modified into a laser cannon with a diameter of 6.5 km. The interior of the modified colony was mirrored in aluminum (shipped from Zeon's European bases), and equipped with an electric field generator based on the artificial sun system. A critical semi-permeable membrane with a diameter of 6.5 km was set on both sides, and powerful cooling systems were installed in various places, as well as rocket motors for aiming the weapon. It was filled with an atmosphere of 80% helium, 15% nitrogen, and 5% carbon dioxide for laser oscillation, and almost all of the Principality of Zeon's power sets were used for firing, resulting in a power output of 85 million gigawatts per second.

Since the critical semi-permeable membrane and polarizing mirror were only in the practical prototype stage, they could only be used once, and even if that problem was overcome, each launch would consume Zeon's total power for several hours, and cooling after irradiation would take at least a week.[2][3]

History[]

On December 22nd, U.C. 0079, under the order of Gihren Zabi, the Principality of Zeon began forcefully evicting the residents of Mahal, the third colony of Side 3. Solar panels from other colonies were sent to Mahal, and countless worker ships and mobile suits began converting the colony into a superweapon capable of annihilating half of the Earth Federation space fleet attacking A Baoa Qu.[1]

Several days before the Battle of A Baoa Qu on December 31st, the Principality government placed an order to limit the use of electricity in order to power the Solar Ray. However, during this time, Sovereign Degwin Sodo Zabi secretly contacted General Revil of the Earth Federation Forces to arrange for peace talks. On December 30th, 20:20, Degwin rendezvoused with the Revil Fleet aboard his flagship, the Great Degwin. Considering his father's actions to be a threat to Zeon, Gihren ordered the Solar Ray to be fired at Gel Dorva, one of three preset launch axes.[1]

At 21:05, all non-military colonies in Side 3 began transmitting power to the Solar Ray through microwaves. Under the command of technical officer Asakura, the Solar Ray was fired. The resulting laser, which only lasted three seconds, completely vaporized the Great Degwin, Revil's flagship Phoebe, and a third of the entire Federation attack force.[1][4] The transport carrying the Solar System, which was planned to be used during the attack on A Baoa Qu, was also destroyed.[4] The laser beam was said to be bright enough to be visible from Earth's equator.[1]

Due to technical limitations, the Solar Ray was unable to be fired again for at least a week.[4] As the war came to an end soon after, it was never fired again. Furthermore, had Gihren fired the Solar Ray at a more efficient launch axes, he could have wiped out more than half of the Federation fleet instead of only one third.[4] The Solar Ray's fate after the end of the war is unknown, but the technology behind it was acquired by the Earth Federation Forces and used by the Titans to construct the Gryps 2 colony laser.[5]

Gallery[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • In the TV series, the Solar Ray was referred to as the "Solar System" several times. All later sources, such as the compilation movie, used the name "Solar Ray" to differentiate it from the Federation's Solar System.
  • The power output of the Solar Ray was stated to be "8,500 gigawatts per hour" in episode 41 of the TV series. This was changed to "85 million gigawatts per second" in Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space and the same output was later stated in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory CD Cinema 2 - The Mayfly of Space.

Appearances[]

Television Series

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 MS Encyclopedia No.15 - Strategy Encyclopedia, p.118-122
  2. Gundam Century
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Encyclopedia No.15 - Strategy Encyclopedia, p.123-125
  5. Gundam Sentinel - The Battle of Real Gundam (1989), p.293
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