Command console

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For the actual chair used by starship commanding officers, please see command chair.

Senior Starfleet bridge officers used specialized command consoles to access and control many functions of the ship's critical computer systems. These consoles were designed in several different formats specific to each ship's bridge layout. (Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Star Trek: Voyager; Star Trek: Enterprise; Star Trek: First Contact; Star Trek Nemesis)

22nd Century

NX-class starships

On NX-class starships of the United Earth Starfleet, the bridge command console was built into the centrally-located command chair. The original chair's armrests had both physical buttons and a flip-up digital control panel; the controls provided access to multiple ship functions, including the shipboard intercom, docking arm control, and the torpedo firing system. (ENT: "Fight or Flight", "Cold Front") A replacement chair was included in a fleetwide upgrade in 2154, which had two banks of lighted buttons instead of the original touch panel. (ENT: "Borderland", "Affliction")

Enterprise NX01 command chair console, 2151.jpg

Travis Mayweather tries out the original flip-up console in 2151

Enterprise NX01 command chair console, 2154.jpg

Jonathan Archer examines the console upgrades in 2154

23rd Century

Constitution-class starships

Like the NX-class starships of the previous century, Constitution-class starships had a set of command consoles built directly into the command chair. In the 2250s and 2260s, the consoles had a built-in companel, several buttons and toggle switches, and a gooseneck-style viewer to the right. (TOS: "The Cage") The gooseneck viewer was eliminated by 2266, but the other console controls remained. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")

After the Constitution-class refit of the 2270s, the dual command consoles were replaced by smaller, adjustable panels which could be moved over the commanding officer's lap for stability during turbulence. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) The consoles were removed entirely by 2287. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

The original command console with gooseneck viewer in 2254

James Kirk sits in the updated chair with viewer removed in 2266

Constitution command chair console, 2270s.jpg

The revised consoles, part of the chair restraints in the 2270s

24th Century

Galaxy-class starships

The three command stations on a Galaxy-class bridge, with port and starboard consoles and central command chair

On most Galaxy-class bridges, two command stations, each flanking the command chair, had access to specialized consoles to access sensor data and to monitor starship operations. These freestanding consoles, designed with rotating display screens, were generally used by the ship's first officer, ship's counselor, or other senior officer occupying one of the stations. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Clues", "Timescape")

The main command chair had two built-in consoles, which were programmed in a variety of functions, including a system to record entries to the ship's log, library computer access and retrieval, viewscreen control, intercoms, backup conn and ops panels, plus armament and shield controls. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") Originally designed as flip-up consoles which could be hidden when unused, the chair was redesigned in 2365 to integrate the consoles directly into the armrests. (TNG: "The Child")

Deanna Troi operates the port command console in 2364

The port console display in 2369

William Riker at the starboard command console in 2367

Jean-Luc Picard uses a flip-up command chair console in 2364

The command chair in 2364 with command consoles closed

Galaxy bridge command chair console, 2368.jpg

Worf sits in the command chair in 2368, with integrated consoles

Defiant-class starships

File:SaoPauloBridge.jpg

A Defiant-class command chair with consoles in 2375

Unlike previous starship designs, command officers on Defiant-class bridges used two freestanding command consoles which flanked the central command chair. These consoles varied in design throughout the 2370s. These consoles were used for many functions, including accessing sensor data and shipboard communications. (DS9: "Valiant") In emergency situations, the consoles also controlled access to the ship's auto-destruct system. When needed, two command-level officers placed their palm on a hand scanner - built into the console - to verify their identities. (DS9: "The Adversary")

The initial console design, which was in use at the time of the USS Defiant's launch in 2370, consisted of two large, box-shaped consoles mounted on top of a complex structure which surrounded the command chair on three sides. (DS9: "The Search, Part I"). These consoles, along with the support structure, was removed and replaced by two smaller, ergonomically-shaped consoles on individual supports in the early part of 2371. This new console design became standard fleetwide. (DS9: "Equilibrium", "Valiant")

By late 2375, new Defiant-class ships launched with a revised console design, which consisted of two tiered consoles on each side of the command chair. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")

The original command console design in early 2371

Kira Nerys uses the hand scanner to authorize auto-destruct in late 2371

Tim Watters uses the intercom on the USS Valiant in 2374

Intrepid-class starships

On Intrepid-class bridges, there was only one large command console, located between the command chair and first officer's station. Accessible to both officers when active, this console had the ability to retract when unused. (VOY: "Caretaker", "Timeless") This console allowed command officers to access and control many of the bridge functions, including flight control, shipboard operations, and the ship's library computer. (VOY: "Future's End", "Year of Hell, Part II", "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy")

The exposed command console, open and ready for use

The retracted command console

A close look at the console, displaying a ship's duty roster

Sovereign-class starships

Sovereign-class bridge command stations in 2379

Sovereign-class bridges had console designs similar to the preceding Galaxy-class bridges, providing armrest controls on the central command chair and freestanding access consoles to the two senior officer stations. (Star Trek: First Contact)

These consoles, usually operated by the first officer and other senior-level staff, provided access to sensor data, inter-ship communications, and information regarding shipboard operations. (Star Trek: First Contact)

While these stations were removed from Sovereign-class bridges by 2375, (Star Trek: Insurrection) they were restored to their original location by 2379, featuring minor upgrades including the addition of handrails for crew use during turbulent situations. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Like the command chair on Galaxy-class bridges, the Sovereign-class command chair (registered as Station 01-001) also included integrated consoles to give commanding officers access to many bridge functions, including communications systems like intercoms and text-based intraship messages. (Star Trek Nemesis)

The original bridge command consoles in 2373

The displays on the command chair and consoles in 2379

Picard operates the armrest intercom while Troi grips her console handrail in 2379

It is not known why the consoles used by actors Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis were removed for the filming of Star Trek: Insurrection, only to return them to the bridge set for Star Trek Nemesis.
It is reasonable to assume, however, that the placement of the Enterprise-E's manual steering column used in Insurrection, which was located forward of the command chairs and aft of the conn/ops positions, did not allow enough room for the two consoles to fit onto the bridge set. A brief glimpse of the floor panels used to hide the electrical connections to the console props can be seen during the first scene set on the Enterprise bridge, just as Marina Sirtis stands up from the command chair.

Alternate reality

Despite many aesthetic and design differences found in the alternate reality formed in 2233, starships including Template:ShipType and Constitution-class vessels had command consoles built into the bridge command chairs, much like prime universe starships. (Star Trek)

George Kirk uses the USS Kelvin's built-in command chair console in 2233

James Kirk in the USS Trainer simulator's command chair, with armrest consoles, in 2258

Alternate Enterprise command consoles, 2258.jpg

James Kirk sits in the USS Enterprise's command chair in 2258, with built-in consoles

The USS Trainer simulator was a re-use of the USS Kelvin bridge set.