Before it was a spoon-shaped ship lost in the Delta Quadrant, the U.S.S. Voyager was a series of sketches, foam-core models, and engineering daydreams from the mind of artist and tech consultant Rick Sternbach. As we continue marking the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager, Rick returns to The Trek Files to walk us through the behind-the-scenes process of designing one of Trek's most distinctive starships. From the early design directives—"smaller, leaner, faster"—to the collaborative process with producers like Rick Berman and Jeri Taylor, we explore how Voyager took shape on paper and on screen.

Along the way, Rick and Larry discuss the evolution of Voyager's signature articulated nacelles, the integration of set blueprints into exterior design, and the legacy of real-world science and scientists (including Minsky and Bussard) that informed Trek's fictional tech. And yes, Rick even drops a bit of headcanon about post-Delta Quadrant refits to the Intrepid-class.

Is the EMH evidence that Voyager's computer is sentient? Did the Voyager design secretly borrow from The Runabout? Could curvier nacelles have saved the timeline? This week, we boldly go into the mind of one of Star Trek's most influential designers.

Documents and additional references: Star Trek: Voyager concept art and related documents

The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha

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This week, The Trek Files returns to one of our most personal corners of Trek history.

Reinelda Estupinian,known lovingly as Reina, joins us again to share rare family photos and her firsthand memories of life inside the Roddenberry household. Hired in 1974 as a nanny for six-month-old Rod Roddenberry, Reina became a trusted part of the family for over three decades, eventually working closely with Majel Barrett Roddenberry at Lincoln Enterprises.

Reina shares candid and touching stories of those years: traveling with the family, managing Majel's whirlwind convention life, and offering emotional support through Gene's declining health and Majel's final days. With affection and a few sitcom-worthy anecdotes, she paints a vivid picture of the private lives behind Star Trek's public legacy.

📸 Document and additional references: A collection of rare Roddenberry family photos from Reina's personal archives

The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

What happens when fans learn their beloved Star Trek is returning, but not the way they expect?

This week on The Trek Files, we take a mid-season dive into the pre-internet letter-writing era of fandom with a look at Interstat #109, a Star Trek "LOC-zine" published just after the announcement of The Next Generation in late 1986. With Mission Log host and producer John Champion joining Larry, we revisit that first wave of passionate, skeptical, and sometimes prophetic reactions from fans adjusting to the idea of Star Trek without Kirk, Spock, or the original cast.

From fears about recasting to early excitement about a new crew, these letters reveal a fandom both resistant to change and deeply hopeful for Trek's future. And while the tone may be more thoughtful than today's drive-by social media culture, the underlying emotions haven't changed.

Together, John and Larry reflect on how fandom evolves, why backlash often masks deep investment, and how publications like Interstat helped shape the Trek we know today—slowly, one stamp at a time.

📄 Document and additional references: Interstat Issue #109 (November 1986)

The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!