Difference between revisions of "Deflector dish"
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The '''deflector dish''' is a feature usually seen on [[Federation]] [[starship]]s, facing foreward. The dish projects a [[force field]] ahead of the ship that deflects small debris out of the ship's path while it is travelling at [[warp drive|warp speed]]. This field protects the ship from warp-speed collisions with micro-meteoroids and other small objects, since even interstellar dust could be harmful to the ship at such high speeds. | The '''deflector dish''' is a feature usually seen on [[Federation]] [[starship]]s, facing foreward. The dish projects a [[force field]] ahead of the ship that deflects small debris out of the ship's path while it is travelling at [[warp drive|warp speed]]. This field protects the ship from warp-speed collisions with micro-meteoroids and other small objects, since even interstellar dust could be harmful to the ship at such high speeds. | ||
The defector dish can also function as a weapon. In TNG "Best of Both Worlds", the crew of the [[USS Enterprise-D|''Enterprise'']] modified the ship's dish to project a blast of high-frequency energy, and similar feats have been seen on other occasions since then. | The defector dish can also function as a weapon. In [[TNG]] "Best of Both Worlds", the crew of the [[USS Enterprise-D|''Enterprise'']] modified the ship's dish to project a blast of high-frequency energy, and similar feats have been seen on other occasions since then. | ||
The starships of other major Star Trek civilizations usually do not have highly-visible deflector dishes, but they presumably have a less obvious mechanism that performs this function. | The starships of other major Star Trek civilizations usually do not have highly-visible deflector dishes, but they presumably have a less obvious mechanism that performs this function. | ||
Revision as of 13:55, 2 June 2009
The deflector dish is a feature usually seen on Federation starships, facing foreward. The dish projects a force field ahead of the ship that deflects small debris out of the ship's path while it is travelling at warp speed. This field protects the ship from warp-speed collisions with micro-meteoroids and other small objects, since even interstellar dust could be harmful to the ship at such high speeds.
The defector dish can also function as a weapon. In TNG "Best of Both Worlds", the crew of the Enterprise modified the ship's dish to project a blast of high-frequency energy, and similar feats have been seen on other occasions since then.
The starships of other major Star Trek civilizations usually do not have highly-visible deflector dishes, but they presumably have a less obvious mechanism that performs this function.