Destiny’s Stargate (image by Joseph Mallozzi)
In the July 21 entry in his weblog, creative consultant Joseph Mallozzi published two video clips of the early testing of the Stargate for Stargate Universe’s Destiny! They are really great to watch and show how this Stargate differs from the ones in the Milky Way (Stargate SG-1) and Pegasus (Stargate Atlantis).
Mallozzi also published in an earlier entry a picture of the concept drawing for the Stargate, which details the Stargate’s operation.
Each symbol has a name rather than a constellation glyph, which makes sense since the Destiny is moving through several galaxies and constellations change. First impressions after seeing the Gate Symbols have ranged from Morse Code to the counting beads found on an abacus. Like the Stargate of Atlantis, Destiny’s Stargate has 36 symbols versus the original Stargates’ 39. And instead of having an inner ring that spins, the entire Stargate spins!
According to the design document, “The lights on the chevrons ALL power when the Gate is activated; the ‘star names’ light as each one ‘locks’ under the floor.” A flatscreen on the floor in front of the Stargate lights up with the symbol as it is locked. The symbols’ panels on the Stargate itself remain lit as well. Steam vents open as the Stargate “kawooshes”.
A second design document shows the stages of the Stargate’s dialing, leading up to activation. (Click on the image to the left to get a closer look.)
Close-up examination of the Stargate can be found at MGM’s new Stargate website where you can interactively tour the Gate Room aboard the Destiny, but seeing Mallozzi’s video clips brings the Stargate even more to life!
[Many thanks to Joseph Mallozzi for his images of Stargate Universe. You can see them all by visiting his weblog.]