TOS-Enterprise nacelles

Enola Straight · Post by **Enola Straight** » 2003-01-31 12:03pm

I've noticed that in deep space, Kirk's Enterprise's nacelles had their aft vents(?) a simple dark grille.

However, in orbit, they are lit up like headlights.

Now, the ship isn't at warp, so the nacelles shouldn't be energized, and the aft vents aren't impulse thrusters; they are at the junction of the saucer and neck.

What is the purpose of the "headlights" in orbit?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-01-31 02:03pm

Are you refering to the section on the very back of the nacelle?

Raoul Duke, Jr. · Post by **Raoul Duke, Jr.** » 2003-01-31 02:05pm

There really is no plausible way (in-universe, that is) to explain this. The real-life explanation is "tiny, tiny budget". Originally, the E-Nil had vents on the nacelles, and footage was filmed of the model with the vents. After NBC turned down the first pilot, Desilu made noises of interest, the model was tweaked a little -- getting the "headlights" as you call them, and the second pilot was filmed. But the budget was so pitiful that they had to use some of the old stock footage from the first pilot, where the nacelles had the vents. Incidentally, the Bussard Collectors (the nacelles' front caps) originally had what looked like lightning rods on them.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-01-31 02:17pm

All in all, still a beautiful ship.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-01-31 02:25pm

Stravo wrote:All in all, still a beautiful ship.

speaking about beautiful ships, when do we get to read more about beautiful federation ships being immoliated by star destroyers?

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-01-31 02:32pm

IIRC they reused scenes with the "vents" as stock footage throughout the series.

Interesting, I had always wondered about that.

Jason von Evil · Post by **Jason von Evil** » 2003-01-31 02:38pm

Stravo wrote:All in all, still a beautiful ship.

Amen to that. She was the queen of the starships.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-02-02 08:00pm

On theory I have heard about, is that in the TOS era they had thrusters and/or secondary impule engines in the nacelles. I think it was a cutaway or maybe one of the models I have.

Any way, when lit up, you are looking at the functioning thrusters and then the plain grill would be when they are not on. Just a theory but one that works for me.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-02-02 08:06pm

Knife wrote:On theory I have heard about, is that in the TOS era they had thrusters and/or secondary impule engines in the nacelles. I think it was a cutaway or maybe one of the models I have.

Any way, when lit up, you are looking at the functioning thrusters and then the plain grill would be when they are not on. Just a theory but one that works for me.

Except that the structural difference between the spherical ends and the vent ends is far too great for them to be the same thing.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-02-02 08:21pm

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:
Knife wrote:On theory I have heard about, is that in the TOS era they had thrusters and/or secondary impule engines in the nacelles. I think it was a cutaway or maybe one of the models I have.

Any way, when lit up, you are looking at the functioning thrusters and then the plain grill would be when they are not on. Just a theory but one that works for me.
Except that the structural difference between the spherical ends and the vent ends is far too great for them to be the same thing.

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/scans ... ion-t2.jpg
http://www.gilsostartrekschematics.co.u ... utaway.jpg

Can't find any with a grill, but perhaps the sphereical structure serves as a hatch something akin to the shuttlebay door. Just a theory and by no means suppost to be the end all of answers.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-02-03 01:30am

Minor refit?