10 Worst Ever Starships In Star Trek

5. USS Discovery-A

The USS Discovery-A, being so similar to its predecessor, may seem like an odd entry here. After all, the original Discovery - inspired by Ralph McQuarrie's sketches for Star Trek: Planet Of The Titans - is extremely close in design. Why, then, single out this iteration of the Discovery?

The ship suffers from additional cut-out sections, floating nacelles, and a general lack of distinction. 

Where the original Discovery primarily left the cut-outs on its saucer section only, the Discovery-A design elects to take chunks out of the drive section as well. This is especially egregious when one considers the TARDIS-like size of the turbolift system - just where on earth does any of that go?

The floating nacelles utilise programmable matter to connect them with the rest of the ship, though this is shown to have its own set of weaknesses, one exploited during the Emerald Chain takeover. The Discovery-A may best be described as a toy with added pieces stuck to it (and chopped out) because they look cool, rather than serving any real purpose. 

It all seems a bit academic after that coda in Life, Itself, though...