Star Trek: 10 Secrets Of The USS Shenzhou You Need To Know

As Star Trek: Discovery's writers and art department continued to develop the series and build out a modernized and reimagined version of the Star Trek Universe, the development of the USS Shenzhou was used to test new approaches to tried and true elements.

Early renderings of the ship explored numerous color configurations and liveries, including a version featuring turquoise accents, a dove gray version hewing closer to the original USS Enterprise, and a much more ambitious stealth bomber look which proposed that the Shenzhou would be covered in repeating, faceted hull panels. Ultimately a more traditional Aztec hull panel pattern was selected, then augmented with red striping to make the ship stand out.

The location of the Shenzhou's bridge was also in flux as the ship evolved, the art department initially exploring the idea of placing the bridge in a notch at the front of the ship before the producers requested it be located beneath the primary hull. According to John Eaves:

The notes that we got said its bridge should be located on the bottom of the ship. There was no explanation for it, but I thought "Okay, let's go for it".

This unique location for the Shenzhou's bridge resulted in the practical set (designed by Mark Worthington) being constructed several feet above the stage floor with windows on the sides of the bridge and floors looking out onto green screen which would be replaced with CGI star fields and nebula in post production.

Follow the release of the series, John Eaves reflected on the Shenzhou's unusual bridge and the subversion of fan expectations:

When the studio made a teaser trailer to introduce the series, they started by showing the Shenzhou upside down. The Star Trek audience naturally thought they were looking at the top of a ship. Then they showed the ship rotate. Everyone was really surprised when they realized that the bridge was on the bottom. It was a very cool concept and it worked really well.