As far as I know it's a weak force field of some description that deflects small debris objects and asteroids etc when travelling through space.
It was later upgrade to deflect radiation, energy beams etc. and I think sensors were added in there.

EDIT: The reason I say this is that in one episode the Enterprise (D) ran into some hostil aliens who used lasers and missiles and Riker said the lasers wouldn't even penetrate the deflector shields let alone the main shields.

If it wasn't for the inky blackness of the night you wouldn't appreciate the brilliance of the stars...



Edited by - Lutz on 23-07-2003 09:05:17

I agree with lutz, the deflector dish just moves particles and such out the way. Without it your warp trip would be rather short due to the amount of holes created when hitting said particles. Kinda like hitting a stone on your windscreen when doing 80+ mph, your either going to get a hole, crack or chip. Enough of them and your prize machine looks rather shabby.

Skymouse

It's usually one or two things: navigational deflector: a large, long-range, low-power forward shield emitter intended to sweep dust, debris, and metorite particles out of the path of the starship as it moves through space.

Secondary role: it's the main forward shield generator used in battle.

"Best start believing in devils, love-- because you're dancing with one."

it is also used for navigation through warp-trajectory and deflect the particles that are on the warp-trajectory. and the astrometrics-lab uses it to chrt str-lanes

the deflector dish is the single most used item in the resolution of voyager episodes. wghenever they have a problem, i'm supprised jayneway didnt just go "ok, before we go any further, would tinkering with the deflector dish solve this one? cause to tell you the truth neelix, no one cares anymore about replecator rations cause REPLECATORS MAKE FOOD OUT OF MATTER, SO WE DONT NEED TO RATION IT YOU MUPPET!"

-arcon
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3 posts in 6 Min. wow!

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I may have A-D-D, but I.... Oh look at the kitty...

Arcon, erm.. Replicators make food out of energy, they convert it into matter...

I thought replicators made food out of the crew's feces and trash like on Enterprise....

EB: They'd still have to convert it first. You can't make Spag Bol from the "remains" of last nights curry can you? Unless you really hungry...

Ain't recycle grand? this cup of coffee of mine could be made of Archimedes' tubwater!

Did you know that a scientist once theorised that in every breath you take you are infact breathing two atoms of air unique to each person who's ever lived. Now THAT'S recycling!

If you are on the air thing.......
Next time you let a particularly potent odour off, (you know the type that strips paint at a hundred yards) just think, those molecules you are smelling last resided up where the sun don't shine

Skymouse

Thanks for that Skymouse... No really...
I feel great about that...

holy wandering thread batman!

-arcon
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