Daedalus-Class Ship

Earth's Daedalus-Class Ship

Summary

The Daedalus-class Deep Space Carrier (Hull code 304) is Earth's second-generation of capital starship. While larger than the previous Earth design, they are much smaller than Asgard, Goa'uld, or Wraith capital ships. The majority of the advanced technology aboard is Asgard in origin, separating it from the original Prometheus-class, which was mostly Goa'uld technology. With the only Prometheus-class vessel destroyed, it is the only currently used capital starship in Earth's fleet. It was first seen in 8.19 "Moebius Part 1", and at its highest point, three were commissioned, the Daedalus, Odyssey, and Korolev. The Korolev was later destroyed in the battle at P3Y-229, leaving only two remaining.

Daedalus Design Overview

Prometheus, Daedalus-Class predecessor

The Daedalus-class was actually never planned. The Prometheus proved itself as a capable warship, and several more of this class were planned. However, the Asgard gave a retrofit to the Prometheus, in thanks for their help in the Asgard's war with the Replicators. (Whether this retrofit was a direct removal of old equipment and new equipment installed, or the Asgard left the equipment and/or plans for them is unknown). With the Asgard upgrades plus whatever knowledge and fine-tuning that the Prometheus went through during her shakedown, the current Prometheus-class was obsolete, and a new starship, intended to be built from the ground up with these upgrades, was designed. (6.17 "Disclosure", 8.19 "Moebius Part 1")

The full extent of the Asgard upgrades that the Daedalus-class incorporates is unknown. However, it is known that the Daedalus-class uses Asgard beaming technology, defensive shields, sensors, and hyperdrive, but no Asgard weaponry. Currently, seventy percent of the SGC operating budget has been transferred for the building of Daedalus-class vessels. With the timelines of them being built, it is presumed that it takes around eighteen months to two years to build a Daedalus, with at least two being built at any given time. It is unknown if any more Daedalus-class vessels are under construction at Earth. The Prometheus drydock in Nevada could have been used to build one of them, if enlarged to suit the increased size of the ship. The second construction site is unknown.

As ships built by the United States, the Daedalus-class ships have been attached with the prefix of U.S.S. (Which stands for United States Ship.) Daedalus-class vessels have been designated as 304, with possible prefixes as BC (as in battlecruiser, for its predecessor the Prometheus) or DSC (for Deep Space Carrier, which is present on the Odyssey's seal). Neither have been explicitly confirmed nor denied in dialogue, although the ship does operate in combat like a carrier, not a battlecruiser, which makes the BC designation somewhat silly. As such, it is considered conjecture either way. (9.04 "The Ties That Bind", 9.16 "Off The Grid", 9.19 "Crusade Part 1")

Daedalus plans in 8.19 "Moebius Part 1"

The Daedalus must at some point been heavily retrofitted, as the design of the Daedalus just previous to SG-1's trip to Egypt 5000 years in the past, was nothing like her appearance when she showed up to defend Atlantis. Her earlier schematics show an almost identical appearance to the Prometheus, and the computer panels (specifically sensors and weapons of screens on the bridge) still show this initial design. Carter did make comments that the ship was fully spaceworthy, with just the hyperdrive remaining to be tested before it was finished. The Odyssey and Korolev show an identical appearance to the second iteration of the Daedalus-class.

Due to the limited number of starships in Earth's fleet, it is understandable that they all have a somewhat 'jack-of-all-trades' design, being capable of acting as a warship and a courier in one vessel. The Daedalus-class is no exception to this. It seems balanced between these the designs of carrier and cargo hauler and performs its duties well. It has retrieved personnel from behind enemy lines, gone head-to-head with Goa'uld, Wraith, and Ori starships, and has ferried equipment and people across galaxies. Presumably, as more ships are built and more alien technology is deciphered, the designs of subsequent ships will diseminate from the jack-of-all-trades design.

Technical Details

Spaceframe

Daedalus-class vessels are built with similarities to the Prometheus design, but they have specific differences. Being designed as a carrier makes it operate differently in combat than the Prometheus, a battle cruiser design. (Battle cruisers typically had the heavy weapons of battleships, but the armor of the cruisers, which made them faster but easily damaged. Carriers typically swarm with their fighters.) The Daedalus-class is much larger in length and width to the Prometheus, perhaps ten to twenty percent increased, but the dimensions are not as apparent, as the design is much sleeker than the Prometheus. The height of the main section is not noticibly different, but the rear tower extremely prominent in the Prometheus is gone in the Daedalus. While the Daedalus still has a structure on it's rear that could be considered a rear tower (visually similar to the superstructure aboard naval battleships), it is much smaller and much less boxy. This tower sits upon a plate that extends over the rear of the ship, curling at the edges to almost touch the hangar bays. The bridge is moved from the rear tower to the top rear of a boxy structure on the front of the ship, just forward of this plate. For thrust, the Daedalus has two large cylindrical engines, flanked by four additional smaller ones which sit on the rear of the hangar bays. And for hyperspace, there are four engines spaced on both sides of both main engines, that light briefly when entering hyperspace, but are not lit any other time, including in hyperspace.

Powerplant and Hyperdrive

The Daedalus-class presumably has the same Asgard designed reactor and hyperdrive as was installed on the Prometheus. These systems were supplied by the Asgard and were not built by human hands. However, there is also a possibility of minor upgrades from the original Asgard design with Goa'uld or human engineering. The only qualitative that we have of its power is compared to the ZPM, which it is vastly inferior of. A ZPM demonstrates that it can "supercharge" a Daedalus-class system, allowing it to make the journey from Earth to Atlantis in four days, rather than the usual twenty days. Because a ZPM is successfully intergrated with the Daedalus, it suggests that a permanent interface is installed aboard vessels of this class for ZPMs. However, it also could be the interface that was used to connect the ZPM to the Earth Gate to successfully dial Atlantis.

Other technology (Only the shields are specifically mentioned by Hermiod as being less effective without the ZPM, but the hyperdrive is known as well. There could be other examples. Sensors would be a likely conjecture.), is also known to be more effective with more power. This suggests that the Daedalus reactor is inferior compared to the technology installed. This could be due to that the Daedalus reactor is the most powerful in the line that the Asgard would give to humans, or is the most powerful that can be utilized onboard a craft the size of a Daedalus-class, whereas the shielding and other forms of technology are much more recent or powerful.

For sublight thrust, the ship uses two large cylindrical shaped engines (called subspace engines by Caldwell), each flanked by four smaller engines, situated on the stern ends of the hangar bays. The engines appear to glow with an orange-yellow light, with grillwork restraining them. The subspace portion of these engines and how they generate thrust is unknown, but these devices are likely Asgard or Goa'uld in technology base. Maximum engine power is referred to onboard as max thrust or military thrust.

The hyperdrive is also of Asgard design, and therefore superior to almost every other spacefaring race. However, the Daedalus-class hyperdrives are not as powerful as hyperdrives on board Asgard ships by a significant factor. Whereas the Asgard could travel between the Ida and Milky Way galaxies in minutes (even towing the Prometheus only took one hour to travel), the Daedalus-class vessels take approximately three weeks to travel between galaxies. (Dialog is rather ambiguious, with suggestions of eighteen or twenty days.) The hyperdrive of the Daedalus has been mentioned to be provided by the Asgard, so it was not constructed by human hands. The origins of the Odyssey and Korolev hyperdrives is unknown, but likely the same. It is an intergalactic design for hyperdrive, however it was not designed for frequent traveling back and forth between Earth and Atlantis. Hermiod has expressed his concern in these issues, and the crew of the Daedalus has conducted several experiments in flight to determine how the hyperdrive is weathering.

In terms of speed, Daedalus-class vessels are still blisteringly fast compared to other species. A Goa'uld ha'tak could travel approximately 32,000 times the speed of light in hyperspace. The Asgard hyperdrives aboard Daedalus-class vessels take twenty days to reach the Pegasus galaxy (Comments within Stargate Atlantis make Atlantis 3 million light years from Earth.) This is nearly 1,800 times faster than Goa'uld hyperdrives (Or approximately 54,750,000 times faster than light). By comparison, the Daedalus when "supercharged" by Ra's ZPM only took four days to travel the distance. This is 273,750,000 times faster than light. And lastly, Thor's O'Neill-class vessel took one hour to travel between Earth and Hala, while towing the Prometheus. At four million light years, this is 35,040,000,000 times the speed of light, or nearly seven hundred times as fast as Daedalus under normal conditions, nevermind that Thor's vessel was hauling a Earth battlecruiser. Without being weighed down, the ships could be faster by an order of magnitude at the very least. (Please note that all calculations were made with the stated figures for distance and time, which are likely rounded. Until explictly stated, such calculations are entirely conjecture.)

Offensive Technology

As a warship, Daedalus-class vessels are armed to the teeth. Her primary weaponry consists of railguns situated all around the ship. There appear to be around thirty-two emplacements visible, suitable for both point defense and primary weapons. The railguns are installed in groups of four, and are mounted on turrets to pivot around in battle. They are known to be placed along both sides of the forward section on both the top,the sides and at the lower junction where the forward section meets the rear, behind the bridge, along the edges of the rear panel, and underneath all four hangar inlets. Caldwell mentions in battle about primary railguns, which appear to be the four railguns situated along the top of the ship along the forward edge of the plate. Railgun point defense represents a step forward from the Prometheus, which initially used CIWS Phalanx systems for point defense, combined with one or two primary railguns. Unfortunately, except against snub fighters, they have not demonstrated a particular effectiveness against capital ships of the Ori or Goa'uld. They have successfully damaged (albeit not heavily enough to render the ship inoperable) Wraith hive ships by concentrating fire on the hangar bays to cause secondary explosions.

The other shipborne armament is the nuclear weapons aboard. They are contained in the forward section, stored in VLS cells similar to missile submarines. Mark Eight and Mark Three nuclear warheads are the designation for the warheads. They are presumably naquadah-enhanced and possess shield modulators, similar to the upgraded AIM-120A weapons of the F-302. The weapons rocket motors fire during the cell, marking this as a hot launch system. The exact number of cells is unknown, however, Daedalus-ships have sustained bombardment for several minutes, so presumably there are at least fifty to two hundred warheads onboard. The warheads are accessable to the crew inside. In addition to launching, the crew of the Daedalus has used the Asgard beaming technology to beam warheads directly into enemy ships, however this tactic has not been used in the Milky Way galaxy, due to the fact that the Asgard beaming technology installed onboard has failsafes that prevent its use as a weapons delivery platform. (The exact method used is unstated, but presumably preventing any concussive or nuclear ordinance beaming through.) The failsafes can be overridden, as Hermiod has done on at least three occasions. The crew of the Korolev attempted to use Ring Transporters to transport nuclear weapons onboard Ori Warships, however they were unsuccessful in this endeavor. (The use of the Ring Transporter did succeed, however, in transporting a person while the Ori warship's shields were weakened during the firing of its own weapons.) (10.01 "Flesh and Blood")

As a carrier vessel, Daedalus-class vessels also carry F-302s for defensive and offensive purposes.

The fact that the Daedalus-class does not have energy weaponry is a curious fact. Despite failing to negotiate for weapons several times, the SGC has had examples of Goa'uld staff weapons since nearly the time of the creation of the SGC, as well as full scale models onboard Death Gliders and Ha'tak vessels. Not to mention Thor specifically mentioned giving the Prometheus a Asgard designed weapon. However, the Asgard weapon in question was never demonstrated, therefore does not have to be an energy weapon. Still, the mystery of human energy weapons is strange indeed.

Defensive Technology

Daedalus-class vessels have two hulls, one for battle armor and one for maintaining environmental seals. The hulls are forged of trinium, a particularly strong metal that is over one hundred times stronger and lighter than steel. Daedalus-class hulls are particularly resistant to attack, surviving an assault made on the vessel by Wraith capital ships without sustaining serious hull failure. Even Ori capital ship weapons required several direct and simultaneous strikes to successfully penetrate the hull.

In addition to the hull, Daedalus-class vessels are protected by Asgard defensive shielding. While not as powerful as the shielding onboard Asgard ships, they are leaps away from other races, and from its predecessor the Prometheus. They have been demonstrated and have survived a sustained bombardment against ten Wraith hive-ships and the associated Wraith Cruisers, three Ha'taks, and the small weapons fire of Ori warships without losing shield integrity. Prometheus shields were penetrated in one strike by an Ori weapons satellite, whereas the Daedalus-class shields have survived strikes against the Ori warship's primary weapon, a weapon that would destroy a Ha'tak vessel in one strike. The shields are shaped to wrap closely around the hull, going no more than perhaps ten meters away from the contours of the hull.

Fighter Hangar and Cargo Bays

The greatest offensive arm of the Daedalus-class vessel includes the hangar bays which can carry F-302 space interceptors. Images of the hangar bays support each hangar's capacity to be around eight or ten, making sixteen to twenty F-302s into combat. While never stated, logic would support a shuttle of some design for planetfall and so forth. The Daedalus could carry, as well as launch and receive puddlejumpers, which suggests the rest of the fleet could have that property as well.

There are two hangar bays on a Daedalus-class, situated to the left and right of the rear of the vessel. The bays face forward, with forward slopes around the hatch. The hatch is two parted, opening towards the top and bottom. An energy field, visually similar to Asgard defensive shields, can be deployed around the hatch to prevent the decompression of the hangar bays. At the very throat of the bay's exit, twin lines of lights, similar to runway lights on airports, are visible, sharing the same purpose as their Earthborn counterparts.

While there are only two hangar bays, Daedalus-class vessels have four forward hatches, the two outer being the hangar bays, and the two inner of a smaller, unstated design. These are perhaps cargo bays, or bays for receiving F-302s more rapidly. Cargo bays would be more likely, as they are perhaps half as small as the hangar bays, and F-302s are shown to be spanned nearly as big as the hangar entrances. If they are cargo bays, then they would have enormous capacity. The Odyssey was capable of storing several dozen Stargates and associated DHDs onboard, with no reference to it's capacities being strained.

Other Technology Aboard

The Daedalus combines reverse-engineered alien technology with the latest Earth technology. Flat screen computer monitors link subspace communications across galactic distances. The helm and weapons stations use touchscreens to control the ship. Daedalus-class ships appear to use similar computer programs as the Prometheus. (The ship overlays for helm, sensors, and weapons control are those of the initial Daedalus design, and not of its current configuration, which includes the necking of the forward section and the curved hangar bays.) The ship "operating system" is likely custom made and not likely to share elements from any computer operating system of Earth. The computers for critical sections of the ship, such as life support, are kept separate from others in case of any corruption or virus threats. However, certain mutually compatable systems, such as propulsion and navigation, require a certain amount of connectivity to be effective. These are susceptible to virus attacks. There are also computers onboard for scientific research, as well as the possibility of desktop machines for the crew to use on off hours. Colonel Caldwell of the Daedalus has made mention that the crew keep adding solitaire to the computers, despite efforts to keep it removed from the systems. In addition to standard microprocessor systems, Daedalus-class vessels also use crystal technology lifted from Goa'uld ships; it is unknown if these crystals were lifted from other Goa'uld vessels or were home-grown.

Communication across galaxies and between ships is accomplished through subspace communicators. This technology was likely copied from Goa'uld ha'taks or from the Tollan communicator given by the Tok'ra. The devices allow for instantaneous communication at least across the breadth of our galaxy, but cannot reach the Pegasus galaxy or the outer fringes of the Milky Way. The Asgard are capable of sending the Daedalus packets of data, but we cannot send information back to them. The devices on board Daedalus-class ships are also capable of communicating with communication devices of Ancient, Asgard, Goa'uld, Ori, and Wraith origin, so presumably they all share subspace communications or effort has been done to accommodate alien technology with communications arrays.

As a spaceship, Daedalus-class vessels have Earth spacesuits and airlocks for EVAs. There appear to be two types of suits stored on board. One is a standard NASA spacesuit with the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit) for basic EVAs, as well as a slimmer pressure suit in an orange tone. This suit is designed for a freedom of movement not capable in the NASA suit. These suits are known to be stored in certain areas of the ships away from the airlocks. These EVAs can also be performed with the use of Asgard beaming technology or Ring Transporters. These Ring Transporters are compatible with Goa'uld and Ancient/Ori Ring Transporters, but it is unknown if they are human-built or were originally in the hands of the Goa'uld or Tok'ra.

Crewing a Daedalus-Class Vessel

The Daedalus and the Odyssey are under the authority of the United States and are crewed with United States Air Force personnel. (The Korolev was likely under the Russian Air Force, and crewed by Russian Air Force and Russian Army personnel. As this was Russia's first starship, there were likely American engineers who are familiar with the design of the Daedalus-class onboard as well.) All are likely subject to the command of Homeworld Security with the President of the United States as Commander-in-Chief. Crew members wear SGC patches, above a insignia marked "1st SFW". This has never been explained. The ship is likely commanded similar to the command structures of sea-going naval vessels, with a captain, a first officer, and bridge officers. However, of this command structure we have only seen the captain, and none of the rest. Until we do so, the command structure is strictly conjecture.

The crew requirements of the Daedalus-class have never been stated, however the ship seems jam packed at places, and the mess halls are quite roomy. A nominal estimate, considering the crews required for multiple shifts, as well as the pilots and support crews for the F-302s, is given at a number between 150 and 250. When preparing to make repairs on the Daedalus after her engagement with the Wraith, the phrase "in and around the two hundred mark" was used to quantify the amount of crew members aboard at the time. For a maximum capacity, the ship could carry at least 2,000 people, filling the hangar bays and cargo spaces. The maximum factor for troop or refugee carrying capacity is the life support systems, which have never been quantified. The estimate is higher than the Prometheus was known to carry (115 personnel), but given the doubling of the F-302s and the ship being larger and more sophisticated, the ship warrants an increased crew.

We have never seen what the living compartments are onboard the Daedalus-class, however they are likely similar to modern naval vessels. The captain and senior officers, as well as VIPs, get their own staterooms. Enlisted men, depending on the size of the ship devoted to the living spaces, may share staterooms, or there may be large bunkrooms holding upwards of ten to twenty men in bunk beds. Until stated or seen, all explanations for the living spaces are considered conjecture.

Ship Compartments

Bridge

The Bridge is located on the top of the forward section of the Daedalus, just aft of the VLS cells. The front of the bridge is dominated by a large viewport, broken down into panes with angled spars. For at least the very central pane, a holographic computer screen can be projected on the pane, as demonstrated by the Daedalus. To the immediate left and right of the viewport are two standing computer stations with several sets of computer monitors. Facing the forward viewport, there are three primary bridge officer stations. In the center is the captain, with a command chair of his own. To his immediate left is the helm officer, and to his immediate right is the weapons officer. Both officers have large computer stations before their chairs, with touchscreens and hand controls. On the walls alongside the weapon and helm stations are large flat screen monitors that tie into the ship's systems. They appear to display the immediate sensors around the ship, unless superceded by a video communications link. Around two meters directly behind the captain's chair there is a large glass assembly consisting of two panels of glass arranged perpendicular. The glass color depends on the ship, with the Korolev's being light purple; the Odyssey's, a red-orange; and the Daedalus's, green. Numerous etchings in a grid pattern, arranged around a central circle are etched in the center on both panels. Text and numbers are written in the spacings of the grid. This device is perhaps for a galactic map similar to the SGC map. There appear to be consoles and stations behind this glass, but it is unknown what they are for.

Briefing Room

Daedalus-class vessels share design elements with seagoing naval vessels, and are designed with a briefing room/captain's ready room. It is in this room that the captain can meet with senior officers for briefing before difficult/complex or strategic operations. The Daedalus-class briefing room is spacious room with a high ceiling, paneled in gray tones and equipped with large florescent lighting fixtures on the ceiling. It is dominated with a large black meeting table, and lined with several black leather chairs along the sides. The captain's seat appears to be equipped with instrumentation of some kind. Behind the captain's chair is a large flatscreen monitor built into the wall. As a screensaver, it displays the seal of the ship with the ship name at the top and the registry number of the ship along the bottom.

Engineering

Continuing with naval traditions, Daedalus-class vessels have engineering sections. Damage control and basic ship operations are conducted here. There are several long control panels and this section is manned by as many as ten to fifteen personnel. Onboard the Daedalus, Hermiod of the Asgard takes his station here, and there are Asgard computer panels installed here as well. The Asgard-designed hyperdrive and powerplant are likely here, but have never been specifically pointed out. The engineering spaces of the Odyssey and Korolev are identical to the Daedalus, minus the Asgard technology that Hermiod has customized the Daedalus with.

Infirmary

The Infirmary of Daedalus-class vessels is nearly identical to the one onboard the Prometheus. However, a room of hospital beds would likely be only one small part of a spacecraft infirmary. A storage room would likely be part of it, stocked with all manner of medications for the crew members, as well as equipment to support the crew during injuries that would be likely to be sustained onboard ship. Contingencies for alien viruses would likely be prepared as well. A surgical bay would also be likely onboard. The infirmary would be stocked in amounts to not need resupply for several months at a time.

Officer's Mess

Keeping with naval traditions, mess halls onboard the Daedalus are likely segregated in officer and enlisted mess. Civilians or VIP onboard likely use the officers mess as well. In case of the officers mess, it is a large room that is detailed similar to the rest of the ship, except with high ceilings (~12 feet). It is located on the port side of the ship, and is dominated by a very large viewport. The mess hall is very similar to the cafeteria at the SGC, with vinyl tablecloths and condiments on the tables. There also appear to be coffee pots running all day, even at odd hours.

Commissioned Daedalus-Class Carriers

USS Daedalus

Daedalus

The Daedalus is assigned to ferry personnel between the Milky Way and Pegasus galaxies and defend the Atlantis base. That doesn't preclude the ship from performing missions within the Milky Way Galaxy, however. The ship is currently under the command of Col. Steven Caldwell. (Introduced in 8.19 "Moebius Part 1"; Stargate Atlantis)

USS Odyssey

U.S.S. Odyssey

The Odyssey is Earth's first line of defense, replacing the destroyed Prometheus. It was most likely not originally meant to be Prometheus's replacement, but has stepped into that role. Because it was Earth's only operational spaceship in the Milky Way Galaxy at the time of the loss of the Prometheus, the Odyssey not only had to defend Earth but also trek into deep space to rescue stranded personnel or to engage in battle. The U.S.S. Odyssey's first commander was the late Col. Paul Emerson (10.09 "Company of Thieves"). (Introduced in 9.16 "Off The Grid")

Korolev

Korolev

The third Daedalus-Class ship on the assembly line was given to the Russians as a "trade agreement" for the United States to continue running the SGC with the Stargate which is leased from Russia. (Given the exchange between General Landry and Colonel Chekov, bribery might be more fitting to the situation.) The Russians named the ship, which had to be hurried through the last stages of production, cutting months of normal construction work, the Korolev. The commander of the Korolev was Col. Chekov of the Russian Army who also served as the Russian IOA representative. During the Battle of P3Y-229, the Korolev was destroyed by Ori Warship fire. Only eight people survived the ship's destruction: six crewmembers beamed to safety to the Odyssey; Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell was onboard one of the ship's F-302s; and Daniel Jackson used the ring transporter to escape to the nearest set of rings, which just happened to be onboard one of the Ori Warships. (Introduced in 9.20 "Camelot Part 2")

Episodes

• 8.19 "Moebius Part 1"
• 9.04 "The Ties That Bind"
• 9.15 "Ethon"
• 9.16 "Off The Grid"
• 9.17 "The Scourge"
• 9.19 "Crusade Part 1"
• 9.20 "Camelot Part 2"
• 10.01 "Flesh And Blood Part 3"
• 10.03 "The Pegasus Project"
• 10.09 "Company Of Thieves"

Gallery

Front view while in hyperspace	Rear view while in hyperspace	Daedalus does a "fly by"
Daedalus lands on Atlantis	Bridge of the Korolev	Nose of the Odyssey

Related Characters

• Dr. Daniel Jackson
• Lt. Col. Samantha Carter
• Teal'c
• Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell
• Col. Steven Caldwell
• Col. Chekov
• Col. Paul Emerson
• Hermiod

Related Articles

Keywords

• Asgard
• Asgard Beaming Technology
• Atlantis Expedition
• Beliskner-Class Ship
• Daedalus
• F-302
• Goa'uld
• Homeworld Security
• International Oversight Advisory (IOA)
• Korolev
• Naquadah
• Odyssey
• Ori Warship
• P3Y-229
• Prometheus
• Ring Transporter
• Senate Appropriations Committee
• Stargate
• Stargate Command (SGC)
• Tok'ra
• Tollan
• Trinium
• Wraith
• Zero Point Module (ZPM)

Other

• Stargate Atlantis

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Article update written by Jordan Kreiger, edited by DeeKayP. (August 6, 2006)
--DeeKayP 13:07, 12 March 2006 (PST)