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Shields (Star Trek)
Encyclopedia
In the Star Trek
fictional universe
, shields refer to a 23rd and 24th century technology that protects starships, space station
s, and planets from damage by natural hazard or enemy attack. They are sometimes called deflectors, deflector shields, and screens (the last of which is used only during the original series) as synonyms for shields.
A frequently-used plot device holds that ships with shields raised may not use their transporters. This often prevents the protagonists from simply pulling endangered colleagues out of danger and running away, for to do so would require lowering shields, resulting in the possible destruction of the ship.
episode "Balance of Terror
". They were used by a Federation outpost under attack by a Romulan
bird of prey but proved ineffective. The first shown use by a starship appeared in the Star Trek episode "Arena
", in which the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
raises its shields after being attacked by an alien warship of unknown origin. Shields are not used by Starfleet
at the time of Star Trek: Enterprise
. Starfleet ships of that time period use "polarized hull plating", in effect an energy charge applied to a ship's hull to make it more resistant to weapons fire. However, some alien powers were known to use primitive shielding systems.
fictional universe
, the exact nature of how shields work is never directly cited. Characters discuss the existence and manipulation of these technologies while only superficially explaining the exact physics behind them. Essentially, some form of energy is projected from a ship or other body so as to deflect or disperse incoming projectiles. Energy based weaponry such as phasers, lasers and disruptors as well as solid ballistic weapons (i.e., torpedoes) and solid objects can be blocked. Shields are invisible until struck by an attacking force, and are then often shown briefly for dramatic effect as a translucent "field" of energy.
Visuals in LCARS
displays and various accounts by characters imply that shields operate by emitting a layer of energy distortion containing a high concentration of gravitons around the object (such as a ship or city) to be protected. Shield energies can be emitted from a localized antenna or "dish" (such as a ship's navigational deflector) or from a network of "grid" emitters laid out on the object's surface (such as a ship's hull).
Shields can be lessened by repeated attacks, and can go offline completely. Prolonged exposure to hazards weakens the shields and may eventually cause them to collapse. Shields may not be effective against certain types of weapons. For example, until upgrades to Starfleet shield technology, shields were completely ineffective against the phased polaron weapons of Dominion
ships.
The Making of Star Trek stated that shields are force fields similar in nature to the navigational deflector. The force shield totally envelops the ship.
Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise
stated that shields on post-refit Constitution-class vessels were generated by the subatomic scan and replication of an alloy known as diburnium-osmium, and then projected as a force field beyond a ship's hull along the shield grid. In "That Which Survives", the alloy of diburnium and osmium was discovered by Kirk to be the hardest alloy known to the Federation.
The USS Defiant
introduced in the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
was said to use ablative armor
in addition to shields; this technology also appeared in the alternate time line of the early 25th century shown in the Star Trek: Voyager
series finale "Endgame", where it was capable of withstanding repeated assaults by Borg weaponry and tractor beams.
around a spacecraft to protect astronauts from dangerous cosmic rays. British and Portuguese scientists used a mathematical simulation to prove that it would be possible to create a "mini-magnetosphere" bubble several hundred meters wide, possibly generated by a small unmanned vessel that could accompany a future NASA mission to Mars.
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, shields refer to a 23rd and 24th century technology that protects starships, space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
s, and planets from damage by natural hazard or enemy attack. They are sometimes called deflectors, deflector shields, and screens (the last of which is used only during the original series) as synonyms for shields.
A frequently-used plot device holds that ships with shields raised may not use their transporters. This often prevents the protagonists from simply pulling endangered colleagues out of danger and running away, for to do so would require lowering shields, resulting in the possible destruction of the ship.
History
The term shields first appears in the Star TrekStar Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
episode "Balance of Terror
Balance of Terror (TOS episode)
"Balance of Terror", written by Paul Schneider and directed by Vincent McEveety, is a first-season episode of the original Star Trek series that first aired on December 15, 1966. It was repeated on August 3, 1967...
". They were used by a Federation outpost under attack by a Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
bird of prey but proved ineffective. The first shown use by a starship appeared in the Star Trek episode "Arena
Arena (TOS episode)
"Arena" is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It is a first season episode, #18, production #19, first broadcast January 19, 1967 and repeated on July 6, 1967. It was written by Gene L. Coon, based on a short story of the same name by Fredric Brown, and directed by Joseph Pevney. The...
", in which the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, is a fictional starship in the Star Trek media franchise. The original Star Trek series depicts her crew's mission "to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before" under the command of Captain James...
raises its shields after being attacked by an alien warship of unknown origin. Shields are not used by Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
at the time of Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
. Starfleet ships of that time period use "polarized hull plating", in effect an energy charge applied to a ship's hull to make it more resistant to weapons fire. However, some alien powers were known to use primitive shielding systems.
The technology
Like most technologies in the Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, the exact nature of how shields work is never directly cited. Characters discuss the existence and manipulation of these technologies while only superficially explaining the exact physics behind them. Essentially, some form of energy is projected from a ship or other body so as to deflect or disperse incoming projectiles. Energy based weaponry such as phasers, lasers and disruptors as well as solid ballistic weapons (i.e., torpedoes) and solid objects can be blocked. Shields are invisible until struck by an attacking force, and are then often shown briefly for dramatic effect as a translucent "field" of energy.
Visuals in LCARS
LCARS
In the Star Trek fictional universe, LCARS is a fictional computer operating system depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures. Within Star Trek chronology, the term was first used in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in subsequent shows...
displays and various accounts by characters imply that shields operate by emitting a layer of energy distortion containing a high concentration of gravitons around the object (such as a ship or city) to be protected. Shield energies can be emitted from a localized antenna or "dish" (such as a ship's navigational deflector) or from a network of "grid" emitters laid out on the object's surface (such as a ship's hull).
Shields can be lessened by repeated attacks, and can go offline completely. Prolonged exposure to hazards weakens the shields and may eventually cause them to collapse. Shields may not be effective against certain types of weapons. For example, until upgrades to Starfleet shield technology, shields were completely ineffective against the phased polaron weapons of Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
ships.
The Making of Star Trek stated that shields are force fields similar in nature to the navigational deflector. The force shield totally envelops the ship.
Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise
Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise
Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise, written and illustrated by Shane Johnson and published by Pocket Books, is a book describing the post-refit USS Enterprise from the Star Trek fictional universe. It is written from the viewpoint of the ship's chief engineer, Montgomery Scott...
stated that shields on post-refit Constitution-class vessels were generated by the subatomic scan and replication of an alloy known as diburnium-osmium, and then projected as a force field beyond a ship's hull along the shield grid. In "That Which Survives", the alloy of diburnium and osmium was discovered by Kirk to be the hardest alloy known to the Federation.
The USS Defiant
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
introduced in the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
was said to use ablative armor
Ablative armor
Ablative armor is armor designed to negate damage or destruction to itself from the process of ablation. In contemporary spacecraft, ablative plating is most frequently seen as an ablative heat shield for a vehicle that must enter atmosphere from orbit, such as on nuclear warheads, or space...
in addition to shields; this technology also appeared in the alternate time line of the early 25th century shown in the Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
series finale "Endgame", where it was capable of withstanding repeated assaults by Borg weaponry and tractor beams.
Real shields
The idea for a starship shield may not be completely beyond the realm of reality. In 2008, Cosmos Magazine reported research into creating an artificial replica of Earth’s magnetic fieldMagnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
around a spacecraft to protect astronauts from dangerous cosmic rays. British and Portuguese scientists used a mathematical simulation to prove that it would be possible to create a "mini-magnetosphere" bubble several hundred meters wide, possibly generated by a small unmanned vessel that could accompany a future NASA mission to Mars.