Summary

  • The USS Voyager-A, unveiled in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, has undergone noticeable upgrades including increased staffing levels, advanced technology, and a larger shuttle bay.
  • The Voyager-A is a Lamarr-class science vessel, honoring real-world female scientist Hedy Lamarr, in line with the legacy of Janeway as a female leader and scientist.
  • While the Voyager-B and Voyager-J also feature upgrades and unique technologies, the Voyager-A stands out with its larger size and alternative warp drive.

The USS Voyager-A has been unveiled for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, confirming one or two changes to the original starship from Star Trek: Voyager. At STLV: 57-Year Mission, the Hageman Brothers screened a clip from Prodigy's season 2 premiere, giving convention attendees the first glimpse of the latest starship to carry the name Voyager. Voyager's return was teased in Prodigy's season 1 finale when iral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) hinted that she had a bigger and better starship in mind for use in the mission to rescue Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) from an alternate future.

The unveiling of the USS Voyager-A, and the return of Star Trek: Voyager's Doctor (Robert Picardo) has made the wait for Star Trek: Prodigy's troubled season 2 even more unbearable. Speaking at STLV: 57-Year Mission, the Hagemans seemed hopeful that Prodigy would find a new home after its cancelation by Paramount+. Until that deal is worked out, Voyager fans will have to make do with the tantalizing Star Trek: Prodigy clip (via StarTrek.com) that reveals some subtle upgrades to the legendary starship.

Star Trek: Prodigy's Design Changes To The USS Voyager-A Explained

The USS Voyager-A hangs in space, about to take flight

One of the most notable changes to the original USS Voyager is the staffing levels. When Voyager went in search of Chakotay and the crew of the Valjean, it was a new ship with various positions still to be filled. This doesn't appear to be the case with the USS Voyager-A, however, as Zero (Angus Imrie) lists off "29 decks, 800 plus crew, two schools", which is a substantial upgrade from its predecessor. The original Voyager had just 15 decks, a crew of 160, and no educational facilities. It's therefore a much larger starship, but appears to have retained the general look of the original Intrepid-class starship.

The Doctor teases that Star Trek: Prodigy's new USS Voyager has been fitted "stem to stern" with technology the original ship picked up in the Delta Quadrant, "and then some." This implies that the Voyager-A will likely be fitted with the same Quantum Slipstream drive as the USS Dauntless from Prodigy season 1. Designed by Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), the Dauntless was inspired by a ship previously encountered in the Delta Quadrant by the Voyager crew. This may also for the Voyager-A's flashier looking deflector dish.

The USS Voyager-A also has a rectangular shuttle bay similar to the one seen on the USS Discovery. This can be seen when the new style of shuttle craft transporting the Star Trek: Prodigy cast docks with the Voyager-A. The new shuttle craft looks like a souped-up version of the Delta Flyer designed by Star Trek: Voyager's Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill). This could hint at Paris' return for Prodigy season 2, as Janeway appears to have assembled her old friends to rescue Chakotay in Prodigy season 2.

The USS Voyager-A Is A Lamarr Class Science Ship

The brand-new USS Voyager-A hangs in space, shot from behind

The USS Voyager NCC-74656-A is not an Intrepid-class starship like its predecessor. Instead, it's one of Star Trek's brand new Lamarr-class science vessels, which is an appropriate designation given its namesake. The Hagemans confirmed to Trek Core that they were inspired by the actress and revolutionary inventor and scientist, Hedy Lamarr. Given that the character of Janeway inspired the founding of the Janeway Collective, and led the way for a whole generation of female leaders and scientists, it's absolutely perfect that her new Voyager honors a real-world female scientist.

How Does Star Trek: Prodigy's New Starship Compare To The Voyager-B and Voyager-J?

Raffi consults Starfleet Intelligence on Rachel Garrett, the Enterprise-F and the Voyager-B

The USS Voyager-B was briefly glimpsed in Star Trek: Picard season 3, by Janeway's stalker Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd). Like the USS Voyager-A, it retained a very similar shape to the original starship, but with some considerable upgrades. The Voyager-B was a Pathfinder-class starship, which originated in the MMORPG Star Trek Online. Featuring two deflector dishes and stylish black livery, it was a significant the Intrepid-class starships of the 24th century. However, with a crew of roughly 200, it was much smaller than the Lamarr-class USS Voyager-A teased in the first glimpse at Star Trek: Prodigy season 2.

In Star Trek: Discovery's far future, the USS Voyager-J helped Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the fledgling Starfleet to defeat the Emerald Chain in the 3200s. In Discovery season 4, the Voyager-J was fitted with an experimental pathway drive, which didn't require the use of dilithium. It's likely that the USS Voyager-A will also use an alternative to Star Trek's warp drive, more specifically the quantum slipstream technology discovered during its predecessor's exploration of the Delta Quadrant.

Star Trek: Voyager's titular starship, and its future successors all share a ion for pursuing the far reaches of scientific knowledge. With iral Kathryn Janeway back at the helm of a brand-new starship headed for an alternate future, the Voyager-A will certainly have ample opportunities to live up to its namesake. The only thing standing in its way is the fact that Star Trek: Prodigy remains in limbo. However, fans shouldn't lose hope, as the unveiling of the Voyager-A is yet another exciting reason for saving Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 from cancelation.