Star Trek: 10 Secrets About The USS Dauntless You Need To Know

"When designing the “real” Dauntless, we wanted the shape to reflect that this was a ship which was reverse engineered from the detailed scans and schematics Voyager took from Arturis" explained producer Aaron Waltke. "but we adapted it to Starfleet’s capabilities and technological knowhow — hence, it would not be identical. The hull shape was inspired in part by Rick Sternbach’s assertion that ships would take on more of a pointed “arrowhead” shape when approaching or breaching the upper limits of the warp barrier."

A design that is reflected also in the USS Prometheus, to a degree Voyager and certainly in the Protostar. That design makes even more sense when fans consider that the Dauntless in Prodigy was part designed by one B'Elanna Torres who would have had more experience and interaction than most with the workings of Arturis' vessel in the Delta Quadrant.

The true designer in universe for the Hope and Fear Dauntless was never revealed although viewers are led to believe that Arturis is wholly responsible for the alterations made to turn it into a faux-Starfleet vessel.

In comparison to that original which was missing some key parts, the later version would add in holodecks, shuttles and replicators and have more than one transporter as is evidenced from its Master Systems Display.