MovieChat Forums > Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Discussion > Navigational Deflector Dish Question?

Navigational Deflector Dish Question?

posted 8 years ago by TheSolarSailor
5 replies | jump to latest

From what I understand, the navigational deflector dish...

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/6/67/Refit_Constitution_class_navigational_deflector.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111216220535&path-prefix=en

...appears on the front of starships to basically clear any space debris from the path of the starships as they travel either at impulse or warp speeds.

Why does the U.S.S. Reliant not have a navigational deflector array?

http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kg_ncc-1864_fwd.jpg

The U.S.S. Grissom doesn't seem to have one either...

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/images/1/1b/USS_Grissom_(fore).jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110113210621&path-prefix=en

Any Star Trek techies care to explain?? 

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] ErgonomicSpliff 8 years ago

The U.S.S. Reliant's (Miranda Class) aux navigational deflector array is pointed out in the following schematic:

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints/miranda-class-starship-uss-reliant-ncc-1864/miranda-class-starship-uss-reliant-ncc-1864-sheet-4.jpg

Although, the main array is not shown in that graphic. The aux deflector is integrated into the main sensor array assembly. The main array is shown in the slightly modified U.S.S. Avenger (Avenger Class):

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints/general-plans-uss-avenger-class-sheet-4.jpg

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/general-plans-uss-avenger-class.php

U.S.S. Grisson (Glenn Class) has no online schematic detail available to link. I would think that the deflector would be in the saucer section, at the bow. There is a trapezoidal compartment there that could house it.

http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/blueprints/uss-grissom-sheet-5.jpg

[–] TheSolarSailor 8 years ago

It seems like an afterthought to try and give Reliant a navigational deflector when someone noticed that the designers forgot to include one. I mean, the sensor array is exactly the same on the bottom of the Reliant's saucer as it is on the Enterprise, both roughly the same sized starship. Now, the Grissom is a lot smaller than the Reliant or Enterprise, so it would be easier to assume that it carries a much different type of navigational deflector that would differ in appearance. I guess I just don't understand why the big glowing dish is necessary at all in any starship if it can be housed in a much smaller compartment like it is in Reliant.

Anyhow, thank you for your response and the links! 

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] ErgonomicSpliff 8 years ago

Maybe it's speed-related? The faster the craft, the bigger the deflector array. Enterprise was always touted as being speedy. Maybe the other Constellation Class vessels were also built for speed. The NX-01 Excelsior Class certainly was, and it's array is also a large dish.

[–] TheSolarSailor 8 years ago

I don't think I would agree with the idea that it is about speed, simply because the navigational deflector is needed even during impulse power, at least to my understanding. As seen in The Motion Picture, impulse power is very fast and takes the Enterprise very far out into the solar system before they engage in warp speed, all in a matter of minutes. All of these starships are warp capable, although to varying degrees I am sure, so they should all need a navigational deflector.

Of all the many years that I have been a Star Trek fan, it is only recently that I even bothered to notice the starship designs which seem to lack an actual deflector dish. Reliant has always been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I wonder...when was the idea of a navigational deflector array defined? Was it a concept from the 1960s when the original Enterprise was designed, or was the dish just there to look cool? Did this idea of what purpose the navigational deflector serves come along at a later time, perhaps after Treks II and III?

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I am not a fan. I just happen to enjoy movies. Fans are embarrassing.

[–] ErgonomicSpliff 8 years ago

I'm pretty sure that the deflector was based on theoretical info that was already out there. Knowing that the smallest piece of space debris could potentially rip a spacecraft apart, a theoretical system to deflect all that particulate matter had to be designed. I'd guess it was Matt Jeffries that came up with the deflector design for Enterprise.

There is a discussion about this exact topic on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromInstitute/comments/274ak8/given_the_importance_of_the_main_deflector_array/