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{{Sidebar starship class|
[[Image:BajoranLightshipAft.jpg|thumb|Aft view of a lightship]]
 
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|Name= Bajoran lightship
[[Image:Laansolarsailwormhole.jpg|thumb|A lightship emerges from the [[Bajoran wormhole]]]]
 
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| image= Bajoran lightship (aft).jpg
A '''Bajoran lightship''' was the type of early spacegoing vessel that utilized [[solar sail]] powered space flight. The vessels were used by ancient [[Bajoran]]s as early as the [[16th century]], and would continue to be used by the Bajorans as late as the [[21st century]]. ([[DS9]]: "[[Explorers]]", "[[Accession]]")
 
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|imagecap= Aft view
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|Affiliation= [[Bajor]]
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|Type= Lightship
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|Active= [[16th century]] - [[22nd century]]
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|Decks= 1
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|Crew= Could be operated by a single individual
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|Speed= [[Warp capable]] via [[tachyon eddy|tachyon eddies]]
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}}
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A '''Bajoran lightship''' was a type of early [[Bajoran]] spacegoing vessel that utilized [[solar sail]]-powered space flight.
   
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==History==
Prior to the Fall of the First Republic, Bajorans first travelled from [[Bajor]] to [[Cardassia]], and established [[first contact]] between the two worlds. For many years the [[Cardassian]]s disputed this claim because they refused to admit that the Bajorans had achieved interstellar flight before they had.
 
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Lightships were used by the Bajorans as early as the [[16th century]], at a time prior to the Fall of their [[Bajoran First Republic|First Republic]]. ({{DS9|Explorers}})
   
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Bajorans first traveled from [[Bajor]] to [[Cardassia]], and established [[ancient contact]] between the two worlds. For many years the [[Cardassian]]s disputed this claim, referring to it as a "Bajoran [[fairy tale]]," because they refused to admit that the Bajorans had achieved interstellar flight before they had. However, [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] and his son, [[Jake Sisko|Jake]], inadvertently proved that the voyage was possible when they arrived in Cardassian space in a similar lightship. By a proclaimed remarkable coincidence, which Captain Sisko strongly doubted, the Cardassians announced that they found the remains of an ancient Bajoran lightship on Cardassia, thereby proving such an interstellar voyage was made. ({{DS9|Explorers}})
After studying the ancient Bajoran texts, [[Benjamin Sisko|Commander Sisko]], was intrigued to build his own lightship in [[2371]]. He and his son, [[Jake Sisko|Jake]], would later successfully emulate the journey from [[Deep Space 9]] to [[Cardassia]], making use of the natural [[tachyon eddy]]s and confirming the ancient texts. Upon their arrival, they encountered three [[Galor class|''Galor''-class]] warships, lead by [[Dukat|Gul Dukat]], who revealed the discovery of the ancient crash site of the original ship, and would celebrate Sisko's arrival with a light display. ([[DS9]]: "[[Explorers]]")
 
   
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These vessels continued to be used by the Bajorans as late as the [[22nd century]]. ({{DS9|Accession}})
In the Bajoran year 9174, nearly five-hundred years after the first lightships sailed, [[Akorem Laan]], a noted Bajoran poet, disappeared in the [[Denorios Belt]] aboard a lightship following an [[ion storm]]. He would reemerge from the [[Bajoran wormhole]] in [[2372]]. ([[DS9]]: "[[Accession]]")
 
   
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Although lightships weren't capable of achieving warp speeds by design, a semi-controlled warp jump was possible if particles that were moving faster than light, for example [[tachyon]]s, were to collide with the sails. However because the ship wasn't designed to endure the stress of warp speeds, it could be severely damaged as a result. It was thanks to such an uncontrolled warp jump that the ancient Bajorans were able to bypass the [[Denorios belt]] and reach the Cardassian system before they [[Crash landing|crashed]] on Cardassia Prime. ({{DS9|Explorers}})
:''The computer graphics for the sails seen in "[[Explorers]]" are very similar to the [[Son'a collector]]'s sails seen in [[Star Trek: Insurrection]], but their use is quite different.''<br clear="all">
 
   
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==Ships of the class==
==Background==
 
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* [[Akorem's lightship]]
[[Image:Bajoran lightship set.jpg|thumb|225px|The set of the Bajoran lightship]]
 
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* [[Sisko's lightship]] (replica)
Illustrator [[Jim Martin]] describes the idea behind the lightship's design as a "Bajoran turtle with gossimer wings".
 
   
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==Appendices==
The lightship the Siskos build and use to make their voyage is similar in many ways to a wind-powered vessel, both in how it compares to [[starship]]s normally seen on ''[[Star Trek]]'' and in its design. The idea as described in the episode is that the ship's sails absorb solar rays and "ride" the current, much as sailing vessels once rode trade winds.
 
 
===Background information===
 
Illustrator [[Jim Martin]] described the idea behind the lightship's design as a "''Bajoran turtle with gossamer wings''." (''Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at {{e|Explorers}}'', [[DS9 Season 3 DVD]], Special Features)
   
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Production designer [[Herman Zimmerman]], illustrator Jim Martin and set designer [[Scott Herbertson]] envisioned the Siskos as "''sailors in space''" and intentionally made the set of the lightship similar to a sailing boat. Writer [[René Echevarria]] even told Zimmerman and Martin that he wanted the ship to have a "''{{w|Jules Verne}} look, a wooden cabin outfitted with brass''." Indeed, some real sailing equipment can be seen in the background at various points. Both Martin and Zimmerman count the lightship among their favorites to work on from a design point of view, and Zimmerman mentions it in the {{film|5}} [[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Special Edition)|Special Edition]] [[DVD]] special feature "Herman Zimmerman: A Tribute". They also both discuss how much they enjoyed the project in "Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at {{e|Explorers}}", a featurette on the [[DS9 Season 3 DVD]].
Additionally, many of the design similarities were intentional on the part of production designer [[Herman Zimmerman]] and Martin. Both envisioned the Siskos on their voyage as, in Martin's words, "sailors in space". Zimmerman even brought in some real sailing equipment, which can be seen in the background at various points throughout the episode. He and Martin both count this episode among their favorites to work on.
 
   
 
<gallery>
According to Zimmerman, after the episode's initial airing, the [[Wikipedia:Space Frontier Foundation|Space Frontier Foundation]] at its convention recognized it for exemplifying "the most imaginitive use of a vehicle to travel in space".
 
 
File:Bajoran lightship concept.jpg|Concept art for the final design 1
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File:Bajoran_lightship_concept_art.jpg|Concept art for the final design 2
 
File:Bajoran lightship set.jpg|The set of the Bajoran lightship
 
File:Bajoran lightship blueprint.jpg|Blueprint design ideas
 
</gallery>
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The design of the lightship itself was inspired by the ''{{w|Kon-Tiki}}'', a deliberately primitive sailing craft that Norwegian explorer {{w|Thor Heyerdahl}} used to sail from Peru to Tahiti in [[1947]], substantiating his belief that it was possible that a {{w|Pre-Columbian}} [[South America]]n civilization could have settled {{w|Polynesia}} by making a trans-oceanic voyage.
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As Jim Martin explains, in reality, a solar sail would need to be several miles wide to propel a ship like this. As such, "''We needed to take it into the realm of fantasy. But that was a very whimsical idea, and we could be very whimsical with it, and do something that was kind of in a fun fantasy vein''." (''Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at {{e|Explorers}}'', [[DS9 Season 3 DVD]] special features)
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[[John Knoll]] at [[Industrial Light & Magic]] rendered the lightship as a [[CGI model]]. (''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' 2nd ed., p. 30) He later used the model for [[Akorem Laan]]'s ship in {{e|Accession}}.
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At its [[1995]] convention, the {{w|Space Frontier Foundation}} recognized this episode for exemplifying "''the most imaginative use of a vehicle to travel in space''," and awarded the episode the "Best Vision of the Future" award. The award was presented by Robert Staehle, the world's foremost expert on solar sails.
   
 
Most shots of the lightship are from the aft (rear) because, being powered by solar "currents", the ship always has its back to the [[Bajoran sun]].
 
Most shots of the lightship are from the aft (rear) because, being powered by solar "currents", the ship always has its back to the [[Bajoran sun]].
   
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Models of the lightship were released by [[Galoob]] as part of their ''[[Star Trek]]'' Micro Machines collection and in [[Eaglemoss Collections]]' ''[[Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection]]''. Another miniature of the ship will be released for the ''[[Star Trek: Attack Wing]]'' game in December 2015.
<gallery>
 
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Image:Bajoran lightship blueprint.jpg|Blueprint design ideas
 
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===Apocrypha===
Image:Bajoran lightship concept.jpg|Concept art for the final design
 
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The ''[[CCG: Tenth Anniversary Collection|Tenth Anniversary Collection]]'' of the ''[[Star Trek Customizable Card Game]]'' includes a card for the Bajoran lightship ''Baraka'', said to be of the ''Shabren''-class.
</gallery>
 
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[[Category:Bajoran starship classes]]
 
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In the [[Pocket DS9]] [[novels|novel]] ''[[Dark Passions, Book One]]'', the [[mirror universe]] version of [[Annika Hansen]] creates a [[hologram|holographic]] representation of a lightship for [[Intendant]] [[Kira Nerys]].
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The ''[[Star Trek: Mirror Universe]]'' novel ''[[The Worst of Both Worlds]]'', the [[Klingon-Cardassian Alliance]] routinely refers to the Bajoran lightships as evidence of the historic bond between the peoples of Bajor and Cardassia.
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===External links===
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*{{Ex Astris Scientia|schematics/bajoran_ships.htm||Bajoran lightship}}
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*{{mbeta}}
   
[[de:Bajoranischer Sonnensegler]]
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[[de:Leuchtschiff]]
 
[[Category:Bajoran starship classes|Lightship]]

Revision as of 14:44, 10 July 2015

A Bajoran lightship was a type of early Bajoran spacegoing vessel that utilized solar sail-powered space flight.

History

Lightships were used by the Bajorans as early as the 16th century, at a time prior to the Fall of their First Republic. (DS9: "Explorers")

Bajorans first traveled from Bajor to Cardassia, and established ancient contact between the two worlds. For many years the Cardassians disputed this claim, referring to it as a "Bajoran fairy tale," because they refused to admit that the Bajorans had achieved interstellar flight before they had. However, Captain Benjamin Sisko and his son, Jake, inadvertently proved that the voyage was possible when they arrived in Cardassian space in a similar lightship. By a proclaimed remarkable coincidence, which Captain Sisko strongly doubted, the Cardassians announced that they found the remains of an ancient Bajoran lightship on Cardassia, thereby proving such an interstellar voyage was made. (DS9: "Explorers")

These vessels continued to be used by the Bajorans as late as the 22nd century. (DS9: "Accession")

Although lightships weren't capable of achieving warp speeds by design, a semi-controlled warp jump was possible if particles that were moving faster than light, for example tachyons, were to collide with the sails. However because the ship wasn't designed to endure the stress of warp speeds, it could be severely damaged as a result. It was thanks to such an uncontrolled warp jump that the ancient Bajorans were able to bypass the Denorios belt and reach the Cardassian system before they crashed on Cardassia Prime. (DS9: "Explorers")

Ships of the class

Appendices

Background information

Illustrator Jim Martin described the idea behind the lightship's design as a "Bajoran turtle with gossamer wings." (Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at "Explorers", DS9 Season 3 DVD, Special Features)

Production designer Herman Zimmerman, illustrator Jim Martin and set designer Scott Herbertson envisioned the Siskos as "sailors in space" and intentionally made the set of the lightship similar to a sailing boat. Writer René Echevarria even told Zimmerman and Martin that he wanted the ship to have a "Jules Verne look, a wooden cabin outfitted with brass." Indeed, some real sailing equipment can be seen in the background at various points. Both Martin and Zimmerman count the lightship among their favorites to work on from a design point of view, and Zimmerman mentions it in the Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Special Edition DVD special feature "Herman Zimmerman: A Tribute". They also both discuss how much they enjoyed the project in "Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at "Explorers"", a featurette on the DS9 Season 3 DVD.

The design of the lightship itself was inspired by the Kon-Tiki, a deliberately primitive sailing craft that Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl used to sail from Peru to Tahiti in 1947, substantiating his belief that it was possible that a Pre-Columbian South American civilization could have settled Polynesia by making a trans-oceanic voyage.

As Jim Martin explains, in reality, a solar sail would need to be several miles wide to propel a ship like this. As such, "We needed to take it into the realm of fantasy. But that was a very whimsical idea, and we could be very whimsical with it, and do something that was kind of in a fun fantasy vein." (Sailing Through the Stars: A Special Look at "Explorers", DS9 Season 3 DVD special features)

John Knoll at Industrial Light & Magic rendered the lightship as a CGI model. (Star Trek Encyclopedia 2nd ed., p. 30) He later used the model for Akorem Laan's ship in "Accession".

At its 1995 convention, the Space Frontier Foundation recognized this episode for exemplifying "the most imaginative use of a vehicle to travel in space," and awarded the episode the "Best Vision of the Future" award. The award was presented by Robert Staehle, the world's foremost expert on solar sails.

Most shots of the lightship are from the aft (rear) because, being powered by solar "currents", the ship always has its back to the Bajoran sun.

Models of the lightship were released by Galoob as part of their Star Trek Micro Machines collection and in Eaglemoss Collections' Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection. Another miniature of the ship will be released for the Star Trek: Attack Wing game in December 2015.

Apocrypha

The Tenth Anniversary Collection of the Star Trek Customizable Card Game includes a card for the Bajoran lightship Baraka, said to be of the Shabren-class.

In the Pocket DS9 novel Dark Passions, Book One, the mirror universe version of Annika Hansen creates a holographic representation of a lightship for Intendant Kira Nerys.

The Star Trek: Mirror Universe novel The Worst of Both Worlds, the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance routinely refers to the Bajoran lightships as evidence of the historic bond between the peoples of Bajor and Cardassia.

External links