In Memorial...

[FredM 0]

Folks,

 

      Just something to consider. A gentlemen almost as important to Star Trek as Gene Roddenberry passed away. It's someone who you quote almost every sim, and can thank for some of the amazing sights we've seen on Star Trek.

 

      Walter "Matt/Matthew" Jefferies, 82, died yesterday. He had been fighting cancer, though during a surprise tribute last month was thought to be winning the fight. This is the gentleman who designed the starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, as well as almost every other ship we've ever seen.

 

      Quoting from news sources: As a former pilot, Jefferies got along well with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and received from him the assignment to develop a vessel that would be nothing like the rocket ships from the 1960s or the standard spaceships that appeared on the covers of pulp sci-fi magazines. The result was the unique look of the Enterprise featuring a saucer-shaped primary hull and two warp nacelles, a design that has been used on all Trek incarnations since then.

 

      Less high-profile but equally revolutionary was Jefferies' design of the Enterprise bridge. By placing the ship's bridge crew in a circle around the captain's chair this allowed Kirk easy access to all departments, as well as giving the film crew the ability for many unique dramatic shots. The design was thought out so well that many defense and aerospace organisations studied the design as a model for an efficient future control room, according to the Star Trek Encyclopedia.

 

      Jefferies' name will live on forever in the Trek universe in the form of the Jefferies tubes, the the engineering maintenance conduits giving full access to every location on a starship. The second-season Enterprise episode "First Flight" also contained a reference to a character named Captain Jefferies, the head of an engineering team.

[Nemesis 0]

I don't think I'll ever hear jefferies tube again and not think of this great man who has done so much for all star trek fans and opening the minds of our youth to new hopes and dreams may he rest in peace