Andrew Probert has stated that Gene Roddenberry originally only wanted the Ops, and Helm stations manned permanently. The tactical station was only to be manned during a red alert, the science, and engineering stations at the back only when they are needed for specific situations. With that in mind the layout of the Enterprise-D makes sense. Obviously someone changed the original idea, probably because it was deemed to be to steril, and the following Star Trek shows then copied that idea.
Thoughts on the USS Shenzhou (Trailer Edition)
- Thread starter Mark_Nguyen
- Start date
Andrew Probert has stated that Gene Roddenberry originally only wanted the Ops, and Helm stations manned permanently. The tactical station was only to be manned during a red alert, the science, and engineering stations at the back only when they are needed for specific situations. With that in mind the layout of the Enterprise-D makes sense. Obviously someone changed the original idea, probably because it was deemed to be to steril, and the following Star Trek shows then copied that idea.
A big important element is visual interest. A room full of people sitting in chairs is less visually dynamic than one with a mix.
And there's also the budgetary thing. Unmanned panels mean less extras to pay!
And there's also the budgetary thing. Unmanned panels mean less extras to pay!
That's just stupid as fuck.
Earlier E-D bridge configs had a whole conference table where the three main chairs ended up. Prior to that, it had a couple of long benches effectively wrapping around the front and inner sides of the CON/OPS consoles where people could lounge, argue about stuff, and drink coffee. Thank goodness they didn't go THAT far out.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426786502162808616/
I've sketched the Shenzhou bridge layout, but I'd want to re-do it before posting anything. Sort of a faux pas on which classified documents I may have sketched the original. :P Still, I'm finding it very interesting how they've spent this much time thinking about how the interior matches the windows and rest of the exterior. bulge. As a ship where they won't be spending too much time, I do wonder if the ship will live on past whatever point Burnham and Saru head to the Discovery... Or if this class of ship (and maybe the Shenzhou herself) will appear later on as a recurring vessel.
Mark
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/426786502162808616/
I've sketched the Shenzhou bridge layout, but I'd want to re-do it before posting anything. Sort of a faux pas on which classified documents I may have sketched the original. :P Still, I'm finding it very interesting how they've spent this much time thinking about how the interior matches the windows and rest of the exterior. bulge. As a ship where they won't be spending too much time, I do wonder if the ship will live on past whatever point Burnham and Saru head to the Discovery... Or if this class of ship (and maybe the Shenzhou herself) will appear later on as a recurring vessel.
Mark
I look forward to seeing it - remember your fan Bridge designs from the old sci-fi flare forums.
FYI, the name Shenzhou of course comes from the Chinese manned spaceflight program. However, America has an awful time rendering Chinese phonetics based on pinyin spellings, so to wit:
The name is not “shen-zow”, “shen-zo”, or “shen-zoo”. It is “shen-joe”.
For the correct tonalities, visit here; press the >> link & hit the speaker icon & it’ll play the characters in proper form: https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=神舟
The name is not “shen-zow”, “shen-zo”, or “shen-zoo”. It is “shen-joe”.
For the correct tonalities, visit here; press the >> link & hit the speaker icon & it’ll play the characters in proper form: https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=神舟
I have also been saying shen zoo
I remember TrekYards doing an episode about the Shenzhou being a humongous ship twice as long as a Constitution-class based on insider dimensional information. Turns out that the ship seems quite small considering the size of the bridge compared to the saucer.
Reference: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/new-unnamed-discovery-ship-analysis.286381/
Reference: https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/new-unnamed-discovery-ship-analysis.286381/
Based off these two images, I would agree, shes not anywhere near the size that thread claims
It's either because they changed the size of the Shenzhou late in the production or because the Trekyards guys are actually just bullshitting their way through these videos without any actual insider knowledge. Both possibilities seem likely at this point.
...So, what ill-advised guesses can we make at this point about the capabilities and features of the ship?
We know she's about to fire torpedoes in the trailer. So where are the launchers? Since there's no bulge to the ventral side of the saucer, exact NX-01 type holes are out of the question. The structure between the pylons has nothing but portholes on the forward wall. But the juncture of the actual pylons and the connecting structure has these "strakes" that might have holes in front. And then there are two fancy rounded-corner vents or whatnot above the bridge windows... Beyond those, total invisibility behind well-concealed hatches in supposed TOS style is always a possibility.
Are those paired ball turrets for phasers I see on the undersides of the pylon stems? Are there further paired, exposed turrets around the saucer lower rim as perhaps seen on the spacewalk shots?
Pop-up peashooters of Kelvin style are an unlikely feature here, I guess. Although pop-up is visually interesting, and the ship thus might have something come up at a key moment.
Beyond that, we have all the classics: the sensor/deflector dish, the stern shuttlebay, the warp nacelles with ramscoops. Although it seems Starfleet here progressed beyond Phoenix style cylinders-with-domes into the TMP-and-beyond nacelle type before it progressed to the TOS-and-TMP frisbee saucer shape, this is as good a timeline point as any to do the engine transition - remember that the design and launch of Kirk's ship still predates the appearance of the Shenzhou, although we know nothing about the design and launch dates of the Shenzhou yet.
Transporters we have seen. Are we going to get a shuttlecraft design "specific to the era" so that the CGI and the potential prop remain in use after the likely ship swap? Or two designs specific to the two vessels? Or a range of craft for a change, a first in timeline terms?
Any juicy speculation on what all the dorsal features are for?
Timo Saloniemi
We know she's about to fire torpedoes in the trailer. So where are the launchers? Since there's no bulge to the ventral side of the saucer, exact NX-01 type holes are out of the question. The structure between the pylons has nothing but portholes on the forward wall. But the juncture of the actual pylons and the connecting structure has these "strakes" that might have holes in front. And then there are two fancy rounded-corner vents or whatnot above the bridge windows... Beyond those, total invisibility behind well-concealed hatches in supposed TOS style is always a possibility.
Are those paired ball turrets for phasers I see on the undersides of the pylon stems? Are there further paired, exposed turrets around the saucer lower rim as perhaps seen on the spacewalk shots?
Pop-up peashooters of Kelvin style are an unlikely feature here, I guess. Although pop-up is visually interesting, and the ship thus might have something come up at a key moment.
Beyond that, we have all the classics: the sensor/deflector dish, the stern shuttlebay, the warp nacelles with ramscoops. Although it seems Starfleet here progressed beyond Phoenix style cylinders-with-domes into the TMP-and-beyond nacelle type before it progressed to the TOS-and-TMP frisbee saucer shape, this is as good a timeline point as any to do the engine transition - remember that the design and launch of Kirk's ship still predates the appearance of the Shenzhou, although we know nothing about the design and launch dates of the Shenzhou yet.
Transporters we have seen. Are we going to get a shuttlecraft design "specific to the era" so that the CGI and the potential prop remain in use after the likely ship swap? Or two designs specific to the two vessels? Or a range of craft for a change, a first in timeline terms?
Any juicy speculation on what all the dorsal features are for?
Timo Saloniemi
Considering that John Eaves who designed the Shenzhou appears on their show several times it is conceivable that they have some inside info. Also, since they have all of the digital assets created for Star Trek, I would assume that at minimum they have an informal contact with CBS. There is no way in hell they would be given the digital models without an understanding of what they may do with them.
I was thinking "-zhoo" (soft "J" ) myself.
Thats one of the reasons I really dislike the TMP-TVH Refit bridges there are so many standing consoles, during the wormhole sequence you see crew members falling between their stations and the handrail. Seems like a serious risk of injury in comparison to say the Captain who's chair had built in restraints!
For me the TOS and later the bridges from TFF, TUC and ships like Prometheus and Equinox (both based on the Enterprise/Excelsior bridge) were best as almost every officer had a chair other than ones occasionally using one of the few smaller consoles.
Ops and Tactical actually had chairs, they were tall stool like chairs so while some of the time they would be standing there would also be times where they were sat. I actually like the Intrepid bridge, in alot of ways much more than that of the Galaxy. There is really only one standing console on the Intrepid which is the one Seven used often behind the command chairs.
That's all Greek to me. I'm just gonna go with "Saint Joe".
Yeah...given that CBS has very rigidly controlled all information about Discovery down to the release of cast images and announcements, I'm pretty sure that they'd be cool with some fans blabbing about the scale, details etc of one of the hero ships from the show.
