Battlestar Galactica (1978, 1980)
Filming model
The miniature used for external shots of the Galactica was approximately six feet (1.8 m) long and weighed 70 pounds (32 kg). [1]
Depiction
In the original Battlestar Galactica series and its sequel Galactica 1980, the Galactica is a carrier warcraft constructed by the Twelve Colonies of Man, a flag vessel of the colonial planet Caprica commanded by Commander Adama. Galactica was launched 500 years before the events of the Thousand Yahren War which concluded during the series pilot episode. [2]
In the pre-Holocaust Colonial Service, Battlestars like Galactica operated as part of numbered naval fleets (e.g., the Fourth Fleet). [3] A typical fleet comprised 600 fighting ships [4] and operated independently of other fleets. [5]
As well as Galactica, eight other Battlestars are mentioned during in the series and are considered canon: Acropolis,Atlantia,Columbia,Galactica,Pacifica,Pegasus,Rycon, and Triton. All of these are believed destroyed with the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, until Battlestar Pegasus briefly reappears in the two-part episode "The Living Legend".
Galactica is depicted as capable of lightspeed travel, [6] although while escorting the refugee fleet she must limit her speed to that of the slowest ship. [7] Galactica also has a complement of shuttles. Unlike similar civilian models, these transport craft include military gear for detecting electronic emissions from other spacecraft [4] and drop chutes for paratroop assaults. [8] In addition, Galactica has armored, tracked ground vehicles known as "land rams" [9] and "snow rams." [10] These are armed with an open turret on the roof and are landed by shuttles. Galactica carries a large number of manually aimed [11] laser batteries, both for anti-aircraft defense against fighters and for engaging other capital ships. [2] Galactica is protected by both "electronic shields" and a heavy metal double-pocket hatch shield that covers its panoramic bridge viewport; the latter is closed in "positive shield" state and open in "negative shield" state. They are insufficient against suicide ramming runs by Cylon raiders [12] or pulsar-cannon fire from Cylon base ships. [2] Galactica can project a broad cone of energy, wide enough to cover much of one hemisphere of an Earth-sized planet, that is powerful enough to destroy ballistic missiles and their nuclear warheads. [6]
Vipers are single-pilot starfighters, armed with two-forward mounted laser-torpedo guns and deployed from Battlestars. [11] [13]
A Battlestar such as Galactica has two sources of energy. The engines are powered by Tylium, a highly volatile liquid fuel derived from minerals mined on certain planets. [13] The Tylium is stored in two tanks located inboard, since the detonation of either tank is sufficient to destroy the Battlestar. [14] Other energy needs are met by energizers, self-contained generators roughly the size of a human adult. These are located all across Galactica. [15] Networked to each other, they are able to supply sufficient power to meet Galactica's needs even if some of them should fail. [14]
