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Explorers (DS9 episode)
Encyclopedia
"Explorers" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, the 22nd episode of the third season. It is rated 4.3/5 on the official Star Trek Website.
has been studying the ancient Bajoran culture, and determines that those old legends hold a grain of truth: ancient Bajorans may have travelled outside their own solar system using solar wind
to power small sublight craft.
Sisko has obtained diagrams of the construction of a lightship, and his son, Jake Sisko
, agrees to accompany him as he retraces the original route of the ancient Bajorans, in hopes of validating an even older theory—that the solar vessels not only made it out of the solar system, but somehow got as far as the Cardassian
homeworld.
Meanwhile, Jake reveals that he's been accepted to the Pennington Institute, a prominent writing school in Wellington
, New Zealand
. Jake struggles with the idea of leaving Deep Space Nine
, his father and the friends he's made at the station, but his deliberations during the voyage are cut short when the ship flies into a 'tachyon eddy', which accelerates the ship to warp speeds, but damages the vessel in the process.
Upon falling out of the eddy, Sisko charts the ship's position, and is startled to find that the phenomenon has taken their sub-light vessel far off course, and he's not certain where, exactly, they are. As he and Jake consider their options—abandon the voyage and call for help from Deep Space Nine, or continue on in a crippled vessel with little chance of ever finding anything—the ship is hailed by none other than Gul Dukat, who announces that they have reached Cardassian space, and their arrival coincides with the discovery of a second solar vessel—wrecked centuries ago on a Cardassian moon.
As the travellers soak this information in and celebrate, the Cardassians let off colorful photon charges, a form of fireworks to celebrate the achievement of Sisko and his son.
s normally seen on Star Trek
and in its design. At one point Benjamin closes his eyes and says, "Listen," to which Jake responds, "I don't hear anything." "Exactly," says Ben. "Not even the hum of an engine. It's almost like being on the deck of an old sailing ship." Sisko does, however, equip the vessel with gravity plating
to make it easier for him and Jake to pilot the craft.
Many of these similarities were intentional on the part of production designer Herman Zimmerman and illustrator Jim 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 count this episode among their favorites to work on.
The interior of the ship was designed by Scott Herbertson. John Knoll
created the CGI model
at Industrial Light and Magic
.
According to Zimmerman, after the episode's initial airing, the Space Frontier Foundation
at its convention recognized it for exemplifying "the most imaginitive use of a vehicle to travel in space".
When the Star Trek Customizable Card Game
released its "Energize" set in 2003, special pairs of starships and their matching commanders were released as a promotion to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the game's launch. One such pair was "Benjamin Sisko, Shipwright" (whose alignment was Bajoran, rather than Federation
) and the ship seen in this episode, named Baraka for the purposes of the game.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, the 22nd episode of the third season. It is rated 4.3/5 on the official Star Trek Website.
Plot
Benjamin SiskoBenjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
has been studying the ancient Bajoran culture, and determines that those old legends hold a grain of truth: ancient Bajorans may have travelled outside their own solar system using solar wind
Solar wind
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. It mostly consists of electrons and protons with energies usually between 1.5 and 10 keV. The stream of particles varies in temperature and speed over time...
to power small sublight craft.
Sisko has obtained diagrams of the construction of a lightship, and his son, Jake Sisko
Jake Sisko
Jacob "Jake" Sisko, played by Cirroc Lofton, is a character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is the son of Deep Space Nine's commanding officer, Benjamin Sisko.-Overview:...
, agrees to accompany him as he retraces the original route of the ancient Bajorans, in hopes of validating an even older theory—that the solar vessels not only made it out of the solar system, but somehow got as far as the Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
homeworld.
Meanwhile, Jake reveals that he's been accepted to the Pennington Institute, a prominent writing school in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Jake struggles with the idea of leaving Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
, his father and the friends he's made at the station, but his deliberations during the voyage are cut short when the ship flies into a 'tachyon eddy', which accelerates the ship to warp speeds, but damages the vessel in the process.
Upon falling out of the eddy, Sisko charts the ship's position, and is startled to find that the phenomenon has taken their sub-light vessel far off course, and he's not certain where, exactly, they are. As he and Jake consider their options—abandon the voyage and call for help from Deep Space Nine, or continue on in a crippled vessel with little chance of ever finding anything—the ship is hailed by none other than Gul Dukat, who announces that they have reached Cardassian space, and their arrival coincides with the discovery of a second solar vessel—wrecked centuries ago on a Cardassian moon.
As the travellers soak this information in and celebrate, the Cardassians let off colorful photon charges, a form of fireworks to celebrate the achievement of Sisko and his son.
Arc significance
- This is the first appearance of Leeta.
- Jake tries to fix Sisko up with Kasidy Yates, who would appear in the following episode.
Background information
The "light ship" 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 starshipStarship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
s normally seen on Star Trek
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...
and in its design. At one point Benjamin closes his eyes and says, "Listen," to which Jake responds, "I don't hear anything." "Exactly," says Ben. "Not even the hum of an engine. It's almost like being on the deck of an old sailing ship." Sisko does, however, equip the vessel with gravity plating
Artificial gravity
Artificial gravity is the varying of apparent gravity via artificial means, particularly in space, but also on the Earth...
to make it easier for him and Jake to pilot the craft.
Many of these similarities were intentional on the part of production designer Herman Zimmerman and illustrator Jim 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 count this episode among their favorites to work on.
The interior of the ship was designed by Scott Herbertson. John Knoll
John Knoll
John Knoll is a visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic . One of the original creators of Adobe Photoshop , he is recently best known for his work as Visual Effects Supervisor on the Star Wars prequels and the 1997 special editions of the original trilogy...
created the CGI model
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
at Industrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light & Magic is an Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas and is owned by Lucasfilm. Lucas created the company when he discovered that the special effects department at 20th Century Fox was shut down after he was given...
.
According to Zimmerman, after the episode's initial airing, the Space Frontier Foundation
Space Frontier Foundation
The Space Frontier Foundation is a space advocacy nonprofit corporation organized to promote the interests of increased involvement of the private sector, in collaboration with government, in the exploration and development of space...
at its convention recognized it for exemplifying "the most imaginitive use of a vehicle to travel in space".
When the Star Trek Customizable Card Game
Star Trek Customizable Card Game
The Star Trek Customizable Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Star Trek universe. The name is commonly abbreviated as STCCG or ST:CCG. It was first introduced in 1994 by Decipher, Inc., under the name Star Trek: The Next Generation Customizable Card Game...
released its "Energize" set in 2003, special pairs of starships and their matching commanders were released as a promotion to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the game's launch. One such pair was "Benjamin Sisko, Shipwright" (whose alignment was Bajoran, rather than Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
) and the ship seen in this episode, named Baraka for the purposes of the game.
Trivia
- Dubbed IKAROSIKAROSIKAROS is a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency experimental spacecraft. The spacecraft was launched on 21 May, 2010, aboard an H-IIA rocket, together with the Akatsuki probe and four other small spacecraft...
, on May 18, 2010, Japan launched a real-life space craft propelled by solar sails.
- Dax appears to be wearing a ring on her left hand.