From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Nacelle refers to a covered housing separated from the main structure on a airplane that usally holds engines, fuel, or equipment. The covering is shaped in a curved manner, in order maximize aerodynamics.
In the fictional Star Trek universe, nacelles are the part of a ship that produces a warp field, therefore enabling warp drive. On Constitution and Galaxy class ships like the Enterprise-A and Enterprise-D, the nacelles are positioned at a distance from the saucer section and the engineering section. The USS Voyager, of Star Trek: Voyager, has folding wing and nacelle warp drive. The nacelles rest in the down position for sublight travel and are raised up before jumping to warp. The reason for this has not been explained in the show, but the startrek.com website gives as an explanation that the arrangement "allows the starship to exceed the warp 5 "speed limit" without polluting the space continuum." (The warp 5 speed limit was set in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Force of Nature".
A nacelle is the basket suspended from a balloon. It is the framework forming the body of a dirigible balloon, and containing the machinery, passengers, etc.
Nacelle is an American motorcycling magazine.
The word nacele refers to the Old French equivalent to a small boat, or dinghy.
