The U.S.S. Reliant NCC-1864 was a Miranda-class starship launched in 2264. In 2285, under the command of Captain Clark Terrell, the ship conducted a planetary survey mission in support of Project Genesis. On stardate 8130.4, Reliant personnel surveyed a planet they believed to be Ceti Alpha VI, as part of that project. Unbeknownst to them, the planet was actually Ceti Alpha V, where Khan Noonien Singh and his followers had been exiled, 15 years ago, by then-Captain James T. Kirk. Khan used the opportunity to seize control of the Reliant and to attempt to destroy Kirk and the Enterprise. Their effort was unsuccessful, but it resulted in the destruction of the Reliant, and the death of Captain Spock, along with that of Khan and his followers.

U.S.S. Reliant NCC-1864 Bridge | Deck 1 (2285)

Located on Deck 1 atop the primary hull, the Reliant’s main bridge was the command center from which mission operations and departmental activities could be coordinated. The bridge in 2285 was of similar design and layout to other Starfleet vessel bridges of the era, such as the newly refitted U.S.S. Enterprise. A large main viewer was situated at the front of the bridge, and operating stations for science, communications, engineering, environmental control, damage control, and weapons/defense lined the outer perimeter of the bridge. In the center of the bridge was a sunken command pit containing the combined helm and navigation console directly in front of the captain’s chair. However, unlike the Enterprise bridge, it was accessed only by a single turbolift directly aft of the captain’s chair, flanked on either side by two auxiliary consoles which could be configured for a variety of roles depending on the ship’s current mission.

Ship Model (Physical)

As portrayed in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Film, 1982)

The Miranda-class studio model, specifically the U.S.S. Reliant, was designed by Joe Jennings, Mike Minor, and Lee Cole. It was the first distinct Federation starship design other than the Constitution-class to ever appear in a filmed, live-action Star Trek production. The ship was designed with the requirements that it be easily recognizable from the Enterprise during battle sequences, but also appear that it was part of the same fleet and belonged to the same culture.

Bridge Set (Physical)

As portrayed in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Film, 1982)

The bridge of the U.S.S. Reliant seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was constructed by rearranging segments of the U.S.S. Enterprise bridge set that had been used in the first two Star Trek films. By rearranging the consoles that comprised the outer "shell" of the set, and with the addition of two new wall units, production designer Joseph Jennings was able to create a new control room that was different from the Enterprise, but retained the distinctive design style of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture-era Starfleet.