Hypersleep

Hypersleep, also known as cryosleep, is the term used for cryogenic hibernation in cold-storage hibernation chambers designed to preserve the crew of a sleeper ship for very long interstellar journeys, such as pre-relativistic colonization efforts.

Cryogenic suspension involves the suspending of organic functions by the use of low temperatures to halt metabolic decay. It employs cryoprotective chemicals to protect the body, chemicals that bond the cellular components in place, etc.

The practice is considered archaic and is rarely, if ever seen in modern starships. Some escape modules, however, may include Emergency Hypersleep machinery to preserve their inhabitants in case they are left stranded in space.