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In Star Trek into Darkness Kahn uses Scotty's formula for transwarp beaming (provided by Spock in the 2009 film) to transport from Earth to Qo'noS. However according to Memory Alpha Qo'noS is 90 light years away.

However even in the the TNG/Voy/DS9 era transporters are generally only used to beam between ships or down to planets. Shuttles are generally used for longer trips (such as going from DS9 to Bajor which is very close!).

How could Harrison use technology Scotty would develop to beam 90 light years when the same technology isn't available after Scotty's death in the prime universe?

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    The problem the writers created with the whole Trans-Warp beaming creation, is it negates the need for a ship.
    – Monty129
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 14:35
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    It's a completely different universe. Obviously the technology was available in the New Star Trek universe, whereas it wasn't yet in the prime universe.
    – user30592
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 14:52
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    @Monty129: This seems appropriate: youtu.be/4N15J4ibej8
    – Ellesedil
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 16:20
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    @Himarm, why do they need ships? They can beam from planet to planet. Scotty's invention has essentially made Starfleet obselete. (It would be cool if the next movie explores this, but I bet it won't.)
    – Greenstone Walker
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 0:03
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    The Federation essentially have Iconian technology now, and that's kinda bonkers.
    – user1027
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 2:32

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However even in the the TNG/Voy/DS9 era transporters are generally only used to beam between ships or down to planets.

The issue is that we didn't see Scotty invent this during TNG/VOY/DS9. Future-Spock came back from later in the 24th Century than any of the previous shows/movies depicted. Future-Spock hails from 2387, whereas Voyager ended in 2378, and Nemesis occurred in 2379.

Scotty was rescued on a Dyson Sphere by the Enterprise-D in 2369, and sometime in the decades between that and 2387, he invented transwarp beaming. We just never saw this. It either occurred off-camera while one of the other Star Trek series/films was happening, or it occurred in the ~decade afterwards before Spock was sent back in time to the alternate timeline.

How could Harrison use technology Scotty would develop to beam 90 light years when the same technology isn't available after Scotty's death in the prime universe?

Scotty's not dead. He invented it off-screen, or after Nemesis, which is the latest film in the prime timeline (excepting the flashbacks in Star Trek (2009)). Future Spock brought this technology back in time, and gave it to young Scotty, who in turn gave it to Starfleet. Starfleet/Section 31 then built a transwarp transporter, which Harrison stole and used.

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    Good point, I'd forgotten about the Dyson Sphere!
    – Liath
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 16:03
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    Pretty much exactly the answer I was going to give, Keen. Good job!
    – Omegacron
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 17:24
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    Maybe in the future they were somehow able to reverse engineer and duplicate the tech that voyager picked got in the Prime Factors episode. Which had a 40,000 light year transport range. Scotty certainly seems like a good person to put in a R&D section to try and figure out alien tech.
    – Zoredache
    Commented Oct 14, 2014 at 20:17
  • I.e. Scotty just completely undermined the Starship and linear interstellar travel.
    – MissouriSpartan
    Commented Apr 8, 2021 at 3:13
  • Kinda makes you wonder why Admiral Picard still uses a shuttle to get to the new Stargazer in Picard 2x01...
    – BMWurm
    Commented Mar 26, 2022 at 18:32

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