What fuel does the Millennium Falcon run on?
The Millennium Falcon runs on coaxium, a volatile hyperfuel used to power its hyperdrive. In daily operation, the ship’s power primarily comes from a hypermatter reactor that fuels life support, sensors, and sublight propulsion, while coaxium specifically enables hyperspace jumps.
Context and details
The question of what fuels the Falcon hinges on two power domains: the hyperdrive and the ship’s everyday systems. Coaxium is the liquid hyperfuel most closely associated with the Falcon’s ability to jump to hyperspace, a fact highlighted in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The ship’s core energy for regular operations—life support, navigation, and sublight engines—is tied to a hypermatter reactor and supporting power systems. In-universe lore, coaxium is described as a volatile hyperfuel used to power hyperspace travel across compatible ships.
Fuel specifics and implications
Before listing the key points, here is a concise explanation of how the Falcon’s fuel works in-universe:
- Hyperdrive fuel: Coaxium, the volatile hyperfuel used to power hyperspace jumps. Its handling is a major plot element in Solo, where it’s transported and used to power the Falcon’s jumps.
- Primary power core: A hypermatter reactor that supplies energy to life support, navigation, weapons, and the ship’s sublight propulsion.
- Sublight propulsion: Powered by the ship’s standard energy systems, separate from the coaxium-driven hyperdrive.
- Risk and maintenance: Coaxium’s volatility makes its transport and storage hazardous, influencing how the Falcon travels and how its crew manages that risk.
In practical terms, coaxium is not a universal fuel for every function on the Falcon; it is the hyperdrive’s fuel. The ship’s day-to-day operations rely on the hypermatter reactor and related systems to keep the crew moving and the ship functioning.
Canon vs. Legends and notable references
Current canonical materials (films and official guides) identify coaxium as the hyperdrive fuel used for hyperspace jumps. Legends-era sources describe broader energy architectures, but in the latest canon, the Falcon’s everyday power comes from a hypermatter reactor, with coaxium reserved for the hyperdrive itself.
Summary
Short answer: The Millennium Falcon uses coaxium as the fuel for its hyperspace hyperdrive, while its daily operations draw power from a hypermatter reactor and supporting systems. Coaxium’s volatility and central role in Solo have made it a defining element of the Falcon’s legendary speed and perilous journeys across the galaxy.
