Earth starships in Stargate

After five or more years of researching alien technologies discovered on off-world missions, along with billions of dollars of work, several prototype models, and several failures, Earth was eventually able to construct its first glider vessel based on alien technology. That was the X-301, an Earth/Goa'uld hybrid. The craft ultimately failed, because of its alien components. After the failed flight tests, the Air Force decided to attempt to build an all human built craft, with components based upon what they learned from alien tech, rather than actually integrating alien technology into it. This was the F-302, a small 2-man space-faring ship much like a highly advanced MiG or F-22 Raptor. F-302s are now the standard dogfighting attacker used by the military in the Stargate Program.

It was not long before Earth too was able to create its first (and for a long time, only) interstellar battlecruiser, the "Prometheus". Whilst the F-302 is generally sufficient to successfully challenge its alien equivalent, the "Prometheus" was still far inferior to the highest class of battlecruiser owned by most other prominent races in the galaxy. The plans for the X-302 and X-303 are shared with the Russians as part of the deal to use their Stargate.sgcite|Redemption|show=ref] Later, with the assistance of the Asgard, Earth was able to create a more advanced class of ship, the "Daedalus"-class Deep Space Carrier.

X-301

The X-301 fighter-interceptorsgcite|Disclosure|show=ref] is Earth's first attempt at building a fighter capable of space travel, only appearing in the episode sgcite|Tangent. It is constructed from a combination of Earth components and parts salvaged from two Goa'uld death gliders. The X-301 is equipped with a Goa'uld inertial propulsion system, stealth technology that hides it from radar, and two naqahdah-enhanced AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles modified with a shield frequency modulator designed to penetrate the shields of a Goa'uld mothership. The first test flight is conducted by Jack O'Neill and Teal'c, with the callsign "Digger One". The test almost proves fatal when an undiscovered booby trap planted by Apophis activates and launches the ship towards open space. O'Neill and Teal'c are rescued just before their life support runs out by Jacob Carter in a Goa'uld cargo ship.sgcite|Tangent|show=ref] The X-301 is succeeded by the X-302, which contains entirely human-built technology.sgcite|Redemption|show=ref]

F-302

The F-302 fighter-interceptorsgcite|Fragile Balance|show=ref] is the production model of the X-302 experimental fighter, first seen in the season 6 premiere sgcite|Redemption. Based on the X-301 but entirely human-built, the X-302 is a multi-role two-person craft with four sets of engines: two traditional jet engines, two aerospike engines, one rocket motor, and a naqahdriah-based hyperspace window generator. Due to the instability of the naqahdriah, the ship's hyperspace generator is only capable of short, unguided jumps. The craft is fitted with an inertial dampening system that allows it to achieve orbit,sgcite|Redemption|SG-1|show=ref] although they are only 90% effective when pulling negative G's. The F-302's main armaments are modified naqahdah-enhanced AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. The missiles are equipped with a shield modulator that theoretically allows them to bypass force shields, though this has never been shown to be effective in any episode.sgcite|Ethon|show=ref] They are also armed with projectile cannons.sgcite|The Intruder|Atlantis|show=ref]

The X-302 prototype is used in sgcite|Redemption to carry the Stargate a safe distance away from Earth before it explodes. The first F-302 combat mission takes place in sgcite|Fallen, where one is flown by Colonel Jack O'Neill and Major Samantha Carter in a strike against Anubis' mothership. In the episode sgcite|Lost City, several squadrons F-302s commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell accompany the "Prometheus" in defending SG-1's cargo ship against Anubis' Al'kesh and death gliders. F-302s are based on Earth,sgcite|Lost City|SG-1|show=ref] Atlantis, the Alpha Site,sgcite|Covenant|SG-1|show=ref] and the Gamma Site (until "The Scourge").sgcite|The Scourge|SG-1|show=ref] Earth starships also carry eight F-302s each,sgcite|No Man's Land|Atlantis|show=ref] sgcite|Disclosure|SG-1|show=ref] which are seen in many episodes including sgcite|Ethon, sgcite|Allies|Atlantis, and sgcite|Search and Rescue|Atlantis. F-302s have had various call signs, including "Airstrike",sgcite|Fallen|show=ref] "Flight", "Blue leader",sgcite|Avalon|SG-1|show=ref] "Delta 1-4",sgcite|Allies|Atlantis|show=ref] and "Dagger 1-2". The 1st SFW "Snakeskinners" is a wing of F-302s in the Milky Way, and the 1st TFW "Wraithwaxers" is based on the "Daedalus",sgcite|The Siege|Atlantis|show=ref] The X-302s have had the callsigns 'Abydos One' and 'Starflight'.

In season 8, Martin Wood and Brad Wright accepted an invitation by the United States Air Force to go on a test ride in the trainer jets.cite video |people=DeLuise, Peter |year2=2005 |title="Reckoning (Part 1)" |medium= DVD |publisher=MGM] Set designer Peter Bodnarus based the design of the F-302 on the F-117A U.S. Air Force stealth fighter and the HL-10 aircraft from the 1970s, while still leaving the Goa'uld glider origins of the story recognizable. He and his team focused on creating a realistic-looking cockpit interior for the X-302 in terms of the headrest with overhead ejection handles and emergency systems.Cite journal |last=Eramo |first=Steven | title=SG-1 – The Production Design Team – Peter Bodnarus – Set Designer |newspaper=TV Zone |issue=Special 46 |pages=41–42 |date=July 2002 |year=2002]

"Prometheus"

The "Prometheus", also known as the BC-303sgcite|Enemy Mine|show=ref] or the X-303 early in development, is Earth's first capital starship, introduced in the season 6 episode sgcite|Prometheus.sgcite|Prometheus|show=ref] The original concept for the look of the "Prometheus" in season 6 was an aircraft carrier. The producers wanted to build something that was exactly the opposite of Goa'uld ships, which according to Paul Mullie are basically big empty rooms with nowhere to sit, no screens, and no buttons to press. Andy Mikita thought the "Prometheus" was a fun set to shoot in because "there's lots of layers and textures and flashing lights".cite video |people=Mikita, Andy, Mullie, Paul |year2=2006 |title="Full Alert" |medium= DVD |publisher=MGM] Much of the inspiration for the X-303's interior came from contemporary American aircraft carriers. Bridget McGuire developed the initial concept based on pictures. Bodnarus developed the blueprints of the X-303 that were shown in "Nightwalkers" before the X-303 made its first appearance in "Prometheus". Art director James Robbins developed the interior schematics and interior workings, while Bodnarus developed the actual set interiors including the bridge, corridors, engine room and air lock.

A hybrid of human and alien technologies, the "Prometheus" is the product of two years and several billion dollars' worth of development by the United States Air Force. The ship originally features reverse-engineered Goa'uld technologies, including ring transporters and crystal-based control systems. It is also equipped with artificial gravity generators and an inertial dampening system. The corridors are constructed of the fictional metal trinium. Substantial amounts of naqahdah are also used in its construction. In sgcite|Disclosure, the Asgard install advanced shields and weapons (though the latter are never seen or mentioned in later episodes) on the unfinished "Prometheus" as thanks for SG-1's help against the Replicators. In sgcite|Covenant, Jack O'Neill asks Thor for a new hyperdrive for the "Prometheus", which is installed by the Asgard in sgcite|Endgame along with beaming technology. However, since the "Prometheus" lacks advanced Asgard sensors, locator beacons are required to target the beams.

The sublight engines of the "Prometheus" have a top speed of 11,000 miles per hour (0.002% light speed) and can attain orbit from Earth's surface in under thirty seconds. Its original hyperdrive cost 2 billion dollars in research and development and uses naqahdriah as a power source. A buffer was installed to manage the unstable power stream from the naqahdria, but it is overloaded by an unexpected gravity wave on the "Prometheus"' shakedown cruise.sgcite|Memento|show=ref] The ship is then fitted with a hyperdrive salvaged from a Goa'uld Al'kesh, but as that engine is designed for a much smaller ship, the "Prometheus" can only make short jumps with time in between for the drive to cool down.sgcite|Grace|show=ref] With the new Asgard hyperdrive installed in sgcite|Endgame, the "Prometheus" is able to reach other galaxies.sgcite|Prometheus Unbound|show=ref] The "Prometheus" is armed with 4 railguns, a close-in weapons system, and 16 missile batteries.Fact|date=August 2008 It carries eight F-302s for fighter support.sgcite|Ethon|show=ref]

In its first appearance, the incomplete "Prometheus" is hijacked by rogue NID agents and subsequently called upon by the Asgard for a mission against the Replicators.sgcite|Unnatural Selection|show=ref] In sgcite|Memento, the "Prometheus", commanded of Colonel William Ronson, is temporarily stranded near Tagrea after its hyperdrive overloads. In sgcite|Grace, the "Prometheus" is attacked by an unknown enemy warship and almost becomes trapped after hiding in an unusual nebula. Under the command of General George Hammond, the "Prometheus" defends Earth against Anubis' armada in sgcite|Lost City. The ship is subsequently commanded by Colonel Lionel Pendergast, except in sgcite|Prometheus Unbound when Hammond briefly reassumes command. In that episode, Vala Mal Doran hijacks the "Prometheus", stranding the crew in a disabled Al'kesh. Under Pendergast, the "Prometheus" conducts missions against Ba'al and the Trust,sgcite|Endgame|show=ref] sgcite|Ex Deus Machina|show=ref] and against the Ori.sgcite|Beachhead|show=ref] In sgcite|Ethon, the "Prometheus" is destroyed by a satellite weapon of Ori design over Tegalus. The last appearance of the ship is in an alternate universe in sgcite|The Road Not Taken, where it serves as the equivalent of Air Force One for President Hank Landry.

"Daedalus" class

The "Daedalus"-class battlecruiser, also referred to as a Deep Space Carriersgcite|Off the Grid|SG-1|show=ref] and a 304,sgcite|Crusade|SG-1|show=ref] is the second generation of Earth battlecruisers, designed to fully integrate the various alien technologies that were "tacked on" to the "Prometheus" over its life.sgcite|Moebius|show=ref] The first ship of this class, the "Daedalus", appears in the episode sgcite|The Siege, Part 3|Atlantis. The construction of "Daedalus" class ships is a top priority for the United States; in the episode sgcite|The Ties That Bind, the Senate Appropriations Committee diverts 70% of the SGC's funding to 304 construction.

The "Daedalus" class contains technology reverse-engineered from the Goa'uld, such as ring transporters,sgcite|Flesh and Blood|show=ref] as well as beaming technology, shields, and intergalactic hyperdrives provided by the Asgard. The hyperdrive of the "Daedalus" class allows it to traverse the three million light-years between Earth and Atlantis in eighteen days;sgcite|The Intruder|Atlantis|show=ref] if powered by a ZPM, it can cover the same distance in four days. The ship carries multiple Mark III and Mark VIIIsgcite|The Siege, Part 3|Atlantis|show=ref] tactical nuclear warheads and a number of railguns. The "Daedalus" and the "Apollo" have only been depicted to launch missiles dorsally,sgcite|First Strike|Atlantis|show=ref] while the "Odyssey" is shown with vental emplacements in sgcite|Family Ties. In sgcite|The Siege, Part 3|Atlantis, Hermiod overrides the safeguards on the "Daedalus"' beaming technology, allowing it to be used as a weapons delivery system. The Asgard install powerful plasma beam weapons, along with an advanced self-powered computer core, on the "Odyssey" in sgcite|Unending. The beam weapons are soon installed on the other 304s as well.sgcite|Be All My Sins Remember'd|Atlantis|show=ref] The bridge of the "Daedalus" class is located at the rear of the ship along the top of the hull There are two hangar bays, each with space to accommodate eight F-302s. The hangars have force shields to prevent decompression when the doors are open.sgcite|The Intruder|Atlantis|show=ref]

Named ships

Earth-built ships are distinguishable by their distinctive interior lighting; notably the lighting of the bridge and the back-lighting for tactical map behind the commander's chair. The Prometheus and Korolev were white sgcite|Prometheus|SG-1|show=ref] and purplesgcite|Camelot|show=ref] respectively. The Odyssey is orange and the Apollo is blue.. While the Daedalus is green, its counterpart from "The Daedalus Variations"sgcite|The Daedalus Variations|Atlantis is also distinctive, with an orange map (a deliberate ploy according to Writer and Supervising Producer Alan MCullough.cite web |url=http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/august-8-2008-with-special-guest-blogger-writersupervising-producer-alan-mccullough/ |title=With Special Guest Blogger Writer/Supervising Producer Alan McCullough |work=JosephMallozzi.wordpress.com |first=Alan |last=McCullough |date=2008-08-08 |accessdate=2008-08-17] ). The Phoenix (currently only featuring in the alternative timeline "The Last Man") has no map and is replaced by an Asgard console.

*"Daedalus"Anchor|Daedalus The USS "Daedalus"sgcite|The Daedalus Variations|Atlantis|show=ref] is introduced in the "Stargate Atlantis" season 2 premiere sgcite|The Siege, Part 3|Atlantis. It is commanded by Colonel Steven Caldwell and initially carries an Asgard engineer, Hermiod. The "Daedalus" arrives at Atlantis carrying a ZPM recovered in sgcite|Moebius, and helps to fend off a Wraith attack. The "Daedalus" becomes a recurring element in "Stargate Atlantis", making regular trips between Atlantis and Earth such as in sgcite|The Intruder|Atlantis, sgcite|Trinity|Atlantis, and sgcite|Critical Mass|Atlantis. The "Daedalus" has battled the Wraith in sgcite|The Hive|Atlantis and sgcite|No Man's Land|Atlantis, the Asurans in sgcite|Be All My Sins Remember'd|Atlantis, and Michael in sgcite|The Kindred|Atlantis and sgcite|Search and Rescue|Atlantis. It has also been mentioned in several "Stargate SG-1" episodes, including sgcite|Avalon, where it is due to transport Daniel Jackson to Atlantis, and sgcite|The Shroud, where it unblocks the Ori supergate for a mission against the Ori. In sgcite|The Daedalus Variations|Atlantis, the Atlantis team encounters a "Daedalus" from another reality equipped with a alternate reality drive, which made the ship jump to parallel universes.

*"Odyssey"Anchor|Odyssey The USS "Odyssey" (registry PB3865) first appears in sgcite|Off the Grid, having been rushed into service to rescue SG-1 from the Lucian Alliance. With the "Prometheus" destroyed in sgcite|Ethon, the "Odyssey" becomes Earth's first line of defense,sgcite|Echoes|Atlantis|show=ref] and is later equipped with a ZPM left behind by the Asurans in sgcite|The Return|Atlantis. The "Odyssey" survives the battle against the Ori in sgcite|Camelot, and supports SG-1 in several episodes including sgcite|Counterstrike, sgcite|The Scourge, and sgcite|Dominion. In sgcite|The Pegasus Project, the "Odyssey" conducts a mission in the Pegasus galaxy to seal the Ori supergate. In sgcite|Company of Thieves, the "Odyssey" is briefly taken over by the Lucian Alliance, which results in the death of its first commander, Colonel Paul Emerson. Emerson is succeeded by Colonel Davidson.sgcite|Talion|show=ref] In sgcite|The Shroud, where Daniel Jackson (with Merlin's knowledge) modifies the "Odyssey" with the ability to cloak and uses it as part of his plan to deliver the Sangraal to the Ori galaxy. The "Odyssey" travels to the Asgard homeworld Orilla in sgcite|Unending, where it is upgraded with the latest Asgard technologies. In "", the "Odyssey" is temporarily commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell on a mission to find the Ark of Truth in the Ori galaxy.

*"Korolev"Anchor|Korolev The "Korolev" is given to Russia by the United States in the season 9 episode sgcite|Crusade, in return for allowing Stargate Command to continue using the Russian Stargate. Commanded by Colonel Chekov, the "Korolev" picks up Daniel Jackson and Cameron Mitchell from Camelot en route to a confrontation with Ori motherships at P3Y-229 in sgcite|Camelot. The "Korolev" is destroyed in the ensuing battle; the "Odyssey" is able to beam only six crew members aboard, while Jackson escapes using a ring transporter and Mitchell in an F-302.sgcite|Flesh and Blood|show=ref]

*"Apollo"Anchor|Apollo The USS "Apollo", commanded by Colonel Abe Ellis and assigned to the Second Tactical Wing, [cite web |url=http://josephmallozzi.blogspot.com/2007/09/september-23-2007.html |title=September 23, 2007 |work=JosephMallozzi.blogspot.com |first=Joseph |last=Mallozzi |date=2007-09-23 |accessdate=2008-01-13] first appears in the "Stargate Atlantis" season 3 finale sgcite|First Strike|Atlantis. Its mission is to destroy the warships under construction on the Asuran homeworld, using the Horizon weapons platform. In sgcite|Adrift|Atlantis and sgcite|Lifeline|Atlantis, the "Apollo" searches for Atlantis after the city fails to arrive at its new planet, and rescues John Sheppard's team from the Asurans. In sgcite|Be All My Sins Remember'd|Atlantis, the "Apollo" and the "Daedalus" engage the Asuran fleet and participate in the plan to eliminate the Replicators once and for all. In sgcite|Outcast|Atlantis, the "Apollo" assists in the hunt for a rogue human-form Replicator on Earth. In "", which takes place before season 4 of "Atlantis", the "Apollo" monitors the approach of an Ori fleet.

*"Phoenix"Anchor|Phoenix The USS "Phoenix" appears in the alternate future of sgcite|The Last Man|Atlantis, where it is given to Colonel Samantha Carter to battle the forces of the Wraith Michael. She launches several successful hit-and-run attacks on Michael's ships, but he eventually corners her. With systems failing and no way of escape, Carter evacuates her crew and rams the "Phoenix" into one of the attacking hive ships, destroying it and two others nearby. Producer Joseph Mallozzi has stated that the "Phoenix" will eventually feature in the normal timeline.cite web |url=http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/may-9-2008-my-stargate-memento-wish-list/ |title=My Stargate Memento Wish-List |work=JosephMallozzi.wordpress.com |first=Joseph |last=Mallozzi |date=2008-05-09 |accessdate=2008-05-11]

References