The transporters are one of the most iconic aspects ofStar Trek: The Original Series, but the newness of them created a few quirks. The classic misquote attributed to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), “Beam me up, Scotty,” is so deeply linked withStar Trek,James Doogan, the actor who played Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, used it as the title of his autobiography. SinceThe Original Series, the shining beam of light that is a Federation transporter has been something to look forward to in everyStar Trekproperty. EvenStar Trek: Enterprise, which takes place before the Federation even existed, has a transporter.
Despite this legendary status, however, transporters were not always as integral to the universe ofStar Trek.Originally, transporters were introduced toStar Trekas a technical workaroundfor the fact that the special effects required to show the Enterprise landing on a planet were prohibitively expensive (a starship wouldn’t be shown landing untilStar Trek: Voyager). Since thetransporters were originally more of a solution to a problemthan a carefully developed plot element, it is hardly surprising thatThe Original Seriesdid not, initially, get too specific about the placement of transporter rooms on the Enterprise.
It Makes Sense, And There’s Evidence In Star Trek: The Animated Series
Although Captain Kirk mostly refers to “the transporter room,” singular, inThe Original Series, there is evidence that there were at least four separate transporter rooms on Kirk’s Enterprise.For one thing, it just makes sense that there would be more than one transporter room on a ship the size of the Enterprise.At various points inThe Original Series, the crew complement of the Enterprise is given at either 203 or 428, but with either number, it would make sense that the Enterprise would have multiple transporter rooms if only as a precaution for a potential evacuation.
InStar Trek: The Next Generation, the episode “11001001” makes it clear that there are ar least 20 transporter rooms on the Enterprise D.
If we want more concrete evidence for the specific number of transporter rooms on the Enterprise, the best place to look is actuallyStar Trek: The Animated Series. 15 minutes into “Mudd’s Passion,” Lt. M’Ress (Majel Barrett Roddenberry) says, “coordinates relayed to transporter room four,” thus making it clear thatthere are at least four transporter rooms on the Enterprise.Small details, like food replicators that appear in transporter rooms in only some episodes ofThe Original Series, also suggest that there are multiple transporter rooms at work.
Star Trek Later Dropped The Idea Of Multiple Transporter Rooms (Sort Of)
It Turned Out The Number Of Transporters Wasn’t That Important For TOS
Despite the fact that there is some evidence that there were more transporter rooms on the Enterprise, for the most part, characters on the show act like there is only one. So, although in some early episodes like “The Galileo Seven,” Captain Kirk speaks about transporter rooms in the plural, for the rest of the show, it’s framed as though there is just one room, or at least one main transporter room.
Why Spock Calls Himself “Second Officer,” Not “First Officer,” In Star Trek Season 1
Mr. Spock referred to himself as “Second Officer” early in Star Trek: The Original Series, but there are reasons why this happened.
People call it “the transporter room,” without clarifying a number, and there is never any confusion about which transporter room away teams are going to meet up. So, duringStar Trek: The Original Series, it seems like showrunners never really wanted to hammer down the exact number of transporter rooms on the Enterprise, instead leaving things up to the needs of individual episodes.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Cast
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
