The K-NEL was a small spaceship assigned to K9 Mark I by the Time Lords of Gallifrey, to allow him to carry out missions on their behalf.

The vessel was powered by three ion motors. It had neither time travel capabilities nor armaments. It was designed (according to the Gallifrey Databank) to be an extension of K9's own computer systems. Its top speed was unrevealed. It was described as white, triangular and smooth.

There were in fact two K-NELs. The first was destroyed while battling the renegade Time Lord Omegon, after which the Time Lords gave K9 a replacement vessel, K-NEL Mark II, which was identical to the original bar the addition of red stripes along the sides. (PROSE: K9 and the Time Trap)

The vessel and its pilot were highly interconnected during operation. The controls for the craft were directly linked into K9's central computer, allowing him to operate the vehicle merely by thinking. This instantaneous communication between pilot and craft allowed for a manoeuvreability that "often save[d] K9 from destruction".

The craft was named by the Doctor. (PROSE: K9 and the Zeta Rescue ^[+]Dave Martin, The Adventures of K9 (Sparrow Books, 1980).)

Behind the scenes[]

As well as being alliterative with K9, the name K-NEL is a pun on "kennel", which is a small structure often used to house dogs.