All Questions
Tagged with star-trek-tng star-trek-tos
101
questions
69
votes
6
answers
13k
views
Has the autodestruct sequence ever not been aborted on a Starfleet vessel?
I remember the autodestruct being initiated many times, but always being aborted at almost the last possible second. Obviously, Captains Kirk, Picard, Janeway never went all the way to destruct, but ...
user48960
65
votes
4
answers
67k
views
When did the red shirt careers change to yellow shirts in Star Trek and why?
In the original Star Trek engineers and security officers wore red shirts but in ST:TNG engineers and security officers wore yellow shirts and command officers wore red shirts. Was it ever explained ...
- 2,285
54
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Starship Enterprise: Always flying left-to-right?
I am watching Star Trek together with my wife. We just finished the three seasons of The Original Series1, and are now mid-way into Star Trek Next Generation.
I don't think I have seen the Enterprise ...
- 1,235
43
votes
14
answers
17k
views
Is Starfleet a military or civilian organization?
If they are civilian in the common sense, why then do they wear military style uniforms, have a military hierarchical command and military rank structures; have a Starfleet Command and a Starfleet ...
- 26.6k
42
votes
3
answers
7k
views
What was the first 3D CGI used in Star Trek?
This means I'm seeking the first three-dimensionally computer-modeled and rendered imagery used in Star Trek.
We know there was extensive 3D CGI used in DS9 (Odo) and Voyager (USS Voyager). But ...
- 59.8k
41
votes
2
answers
27k
views
Why is Worf in The Undiscovered Country?
After watching The Undiscovered Country I noticed that the advocate for Kirk and Bones during their trial is none other than Michael Dorn, a.k.a. Worf. During the trial I believe they even call the ...
user36770
38
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Have Star Trek actors commented on why they didn't work more after Star Trek?
Among the few dozen main characters in the Star Trek series, very few take any successful main roles in subsequent series.
Exceptions:
Patrick Stewart in the X-Men movies
William Shatner in Boston ...
- 59.8k
38
votes
5
answers
71k
views
Is the "Space, The Final Frontier" quote "in universe"?
Probably everyone reading this recognises the most famous split-infinitive in (science) fiction:
From Star Trek TOS:
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. ...
34
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why (out-of-universe) was this central Star Trek character killed?
This central character died in Star Trek: Generations in 1994:
(spoilers below are not hidden)
When and why was it decided that the character would die?
As of 1994, the characters of McCoy, Spock, ...
- 1,241
33
votes
4
answers
97k
views
Was Dr. Noonian Soong's name inspired by Khan Noonien Singh?
I just recently realized that "Dr. Noonian Soong" and "Khan Noonien Singh" sound familiar. Is there documented confirmation that the TNG writers were inspired by Star Trek II? Or is this purely a ...
- 3,456
32
votes
6
answers
22k
views
What political system does Star Trek's Federation operate under?
I've watched all of the Original Series and The Next Generation, and bits of Deep Space 9 and Voyager, all of the movies, but none of the more recent series, or the books. In all of the material I've ...
- 4,222
30
votes
8
answers
10k
views
Does same-species racism exist in Star Trek?
Like it or not, racism has been a major part of Earth's history. It still plagues the planet today. However, in the future that Star Trek presents, same-species racism has been practically eliminated, ...
- 19.8k
29
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Why Did Scotty Not Go Insane?
On the question about the transporters in Star Trek on whether the original person dies in the transporter, I provided this answer based on the text of the Writer's Guide for the series Star Trek: The ...
- 108k
29
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Do they still use days of the week or months in the era of Stardates?
I understand how the stardate system works in Star Trek and it doesn't really lend itself to casual conversation ("see you on star date 41645", as opposed to "see you on Monday") or recurring events ...
- 7,167
27
votes
7
answers
12k
views
Why was Enterprise on a five-year mission in TOS?
There is a small difference between intro texts in TOS:
Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek ...
- 11.7k
27
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Is there a canon reason why Klingon and Romulan vessels are so similar in shape?
Not counting shuttles, transport vessels or bases, Klingon and Romulan ships have a very similar basis in their shapes. They also share the same colors. Is there any canon reason as to why so many ...
- 1,043
27
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Has Starfleet ever sent ships on extra-galactic missions?
There have been incidents in both TOS and TNG where their respective Enterprises have been flung outside the galaxy against their will, due to alien intervention. For example, "By Any Other Name", "...
- 111k
24
votes
8
answers
6k
views
Are any regular bridge crew on TNG actually members of the next generation?
So, the sequel (if we ignore TAS) to the original Star Trek is Star Trek: The Next Generation. My question simply is: are any of the regular bridge crew actually from the generation following that of ...
- 69.3k
24
votes
5
answers
3k
views
When did our universe and the Star Trek universe diverge?
Note that my question assumes as a given that Star Trek is in an alternate universe which diverged from ours at some point in history.
That seems really, really obvious and undeniable to me.
So the ...
- 42.2k
24
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What are the chase lights under Star Trek viewscreens for?
Under the viewscreen on many Federation starships, there are a series of lights that constantly run through a chase or 'marching ants' pattern. What's the reason for these lights? Are they status ...
- 4,626
24
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Did Christopher Lloyd invent the Klingon warrior?
One of the lasting contributions of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is the now standard appearance of the Klingons, which changed dramatically from The Original Series:
However, those Klingons only ...
- 111k
23
votes
7
answers
10k
views
Why was there a 20-year gap between Enterprises C and D?
As can be confirmed via Memory Alpha, the service years of the ships named "USS Enterprise" in the original timeline beginning at 2245 are:
NCC-1701 (Captains April, Pike, Kirk, Decker, Kirk, Spock), ...
- 111k
22
votes
7
answers
6k
views
In Star Trek, what are all the low-ranking Command Division officers doing?
There are three division in Starfleet as evidenced by the three uniform colors:
Command Red (Gold in TOS era): Command decides what to do
Operations Gold (Red in TOS era): includes security, ...
- 59.8k
22
votes
2
answers
14k
views
What are all the types of colored alerts in Star Trek and what do they do?
What technically happens on a ship when a colored alert is called? For example, I recall hearing/seeing long ago (TNG Tech Manual?) that shields are automatically raised under both red and yellow ...
- 11.8k
18
votes
2
answers
951
views
Which TNG actors were TOS fans?
Were any of the The Next Generation actors self-professed fans of The Original Series before being cast as characters in TNG?
(Or did they all think it was just fairy tale rubbish?)
I'm only ...
- 111k
17
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Could Captain Kirk have lived long enough to meet Picard?
I guess I should say SPOILER ALERT if you haven't seen Star Trek Generations or the reboot films.
In the movie Star Trek Generations, Captain Kirk and Captain Picard meet to defeat Soran. According ...
- 535
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
In the Star Trek universe is Christmas still celebrated in the 23rd and 24th centuries?
Considering we're in the Festive Season at the moment, it got me thinking about Christmas. I don't recall any 'Christmas specials' in any Star Trek series, so my question is: is Christmas referenced ...
- 69.3k
16
votes
9
answers
63k
views
What year is ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ set in?
Wikipedia notes that ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ was set in 2364 (and beyond), and that that’s “about 100 years after the original series timeframe”.
However, the Wikipedia article on The ...
- 32.5k
16
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What genuine references are there in Voltaire’s "U.S.S. Make Shit Up" song?
Since Voltaire claims the quotes were mostly based on fan input and his own recollection of the series, I was wondering if it would be possible to get all the episodes together that contain the scenes ...
- 179
16
votes
1
answer
3k
views
At what point and why does it become (almost) impossible to transport through shields in the Star Trek Universe?
In all of the other series besides "Enterprise" the transporter only works with the shields down. I'm not going to quote the multitudes of episodes but it's a given to any Star Trek fan that shields ...
- 14.9k
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Star Trek: TNG novels that continue episodes? [closed]
In the original series episode, "All Our Yesterdays", Spock goes back in time 4000 years into a particular planet's history.
Two sequels to this episode were written as novels. "Yesterday's Son" and "...
- 4,317
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the penalty for violating the "Prime Directive" without Federation sanctioned justification?
I previously asked about the circumstances that allowed forgoing the "Prime Directive". The answer stated "All these people have violated the Prime Directive more than once: Kirk, Picard, Riker, Worf, ...
- 63.6k
15
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Do Klingons not bathe or not like to take baths?
In TNG episode "Conspiracy":
TROI: Data, it's just not the same. Have you ever been for a real
moonlight swim?
DATA: One can swim in moonlight?
TROI: How about you, Mister Worf?
...
- 14.9k
15
votes
1
answer
10k
views
How does a sonic shower work?
What is the mechanism behind a sonic shower in the STU?
A shower with water does various things, namely; get rid of odors, raise body temperature, acts as a disinfectant, has a soothing massage ...
- 14.9k
14
votes
3
answers
31k
views
What is the canonicity of the appearance of USS Enterprise NCC-1701-B?
This question arises from the answer to In which ways did scanning Nero's ship enhance/change Starfleet technology?
which shows this image
I believe all the USS Enterprises appeared on-screen ...
- 59.8k
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does "The Naked Now" refer to any particular TOS episode?
In the TNG episode The Naked Now, the crew of the Enterprise come across a strange contagion which they discover is almost identical to one found by the Enterprise under Captain Kirk:
RIKER: ...
- 135k
12
votes
1
answer
18k
views
What did it cost to make an episode of Star Trek?
I am curious about the cost to make an episode of Star Trek and the comparative cost between the various series.
What did it cost on average to do a single episode of Star Trek TOS, TNG, VOY, DS9, ...
- 14.9k
12
votes
2
answers
697
views
Do we know any of the details about Worf's fights with the Kelvans?
DS9 "Time's Orphan":
WORF: No. I am a Klingon warrior and a Starfleet officer. I have
piloted starships through Dominion minefields. I have stood in battle
against Kelvans twice my size. I ...
- 14.9k
11
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Are Starfleet officers allowed to drink on duty?
In Voyager In the Flesh, Chakotay is in a Starfleet Headquarters bar getting hit on by Valerie Archer while she is drinks a "Klingon Martini". It doesn't take long for her to ask him out.
...
- 2,456
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which ship has made the most first contacts?
From what we see in Star Trek, first contacts are very important dealings. So, my question is which ship 1 has made the most number of first contacts?
Allow me to define 'first contacts'. For the ...
- 69.3k
11
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Are Galaxy or Constitution class ships capable of landing?
I saw the question about the landing gear on the Enterprise from TOS (Did the Original Enterprise Have Landing Gear?) and it made me wonder: are all (or any) of the Constitution/Galaxy class starships ...
- 1,182
11
votes
2
answers
805
views
Helm vs. Engineering (changing of speed)
The vast majority of the time, the helm officer plots the new course and speed (Warp 7 at heading 141 mark 11).
Sometimes, though, Engineering is asked to change speed/put the ship into warp. Such a ...
- 13.7k
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How is longer life span explained in Star Trek?
Characters in the star trek future live a lot longer than people live today. For example, Jonathan Archer is still working at age 140 in the 2250s when Star Trek 2009 was set.
How is the increase ...
- 10.8k
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What do the three controls on the Transporter operate?
I recently noticed that in TNG, there are the three 'buttons' which need to be pulled all the way up/down to transport something/someone, just like in TOS. My question is, what do these three things ...
- 69.3k
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does Shatner disapprove of TNG?
I remember a discussion with at least Shatner and Stewart, I believe it was The Captain's Summit, where Shatner admitted to Stewart that he had never watched a single TNG episode. They seemed to know ...
- 30.8k
10
votes
1
answer
812
views
First contact with Vulcans
In Star Trek: First Contact, we find out that the first aliens that humans encountered were Vulcans.
Was this fact invented for First Contact, or had it been part of the Star Trek mythos previously?...
- 111
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why does the USS Enterprise always have the same registry number?
Is there any in universe explanation as to why the Enterprise always gets to keep its 1701 registry number?
Also I don't recall any other starships from the TNG, DS9, Voyager time period that had ...
- 3,023
9
votes
3
answers
570
views
Star Trek TOS-TNG crossover novel
I have been searching for the title of a TOS-TNG crossover novel for some time. I believe it was published in the early 1990s, as I do not remember Voyager or DS9 being on TV. It was also before ST:...
- 91
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Star Trek Shield Shape, inconsistencies?
According to the answer on Why do shields in Star Trek "wear out"? the TNG technical manual says the Defense Shields are basically form fitting. And this aligns with what I remember of TOS, ...
user16696
9
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What do Vulcans do to counter the smell of humans?
In ENT "The Andorian Incident" T'Pol says that she uses a nasal numbing agent to help her cope with the odor of humans. Later that episode she only reluctantly agrees to share a blanket with Archer ...
- 7,964