Science fiction films and TV shows have graced us with some amazing spaceships over the last few decades, often becoming as iconic as the characters and stories themselves.
We’re taking the time to take a look at some of the biggest and best spacecraft ever to have made it onto the big and small screens.
Max (Flight of the Navigator)
In the 1986 classic ‘Flight of the Navigator’, a small boy called David is transported through space and time by an alien spacecraft from the planet Phaelon by a robotic commander known as Max (short for “Trimaxion Drone Ship”).
David’s journey includes a space trip to the alien craft’s home planet 560 light years away and a transport through time eight years into his future. In the meantime, his brain is used to store copious amounts of data including star charts, alien technical manuals and more.
Max and his spacecraft make it onto our list because of the comedy value of the pilot and the fascinating journey David goes on. We also can’t forget all the alien creatures he meets along the way. Cracking film for children of all ages!
Martian flying saucer (Mars Attacks!)
A slightly more comical, though no less deadly threat to the human race came in the form of the flying spaceships and their passengers from Mars in the 1996 film Mars Attacks!
Tim Burton apparently wanted to make the aliens and the special effects look as fake as possible for comedy value and as a homage to alien films from previous generations. The result was some hilarious-looking beings and flying saucers that perfectly matched the collectors' card series it was based on.
Borg Cube (Star Trek)
Resisting the Borg making its way into this list would be futile. These monster spaceships dwarf most other ships on our list, apparently spanning 3,000 metres on each side.
They’re the scourge of theStar Trek Universe, assimilating or laying waste to everything in their path. Equipped with disruptor beams, high-yield photon torpedoes, various tractor beams and multi-adaptive shields these ships have a heavy arsenal to fight off any foe.
Inside, the menacing Borg drones are ready to destroy or assimilate anyone and everyone they come across. A force to be reckoned with.
The Death Star (Star Wars)
No list of fictional spaceships would be complete without a reference to the Death Star - the moon-sized battle station built by the Galactic Empire with the sole purpose of blowing up planets with a rather unpleasant super laser.
As the Emporer’s pet project, it was akin to Hitler’s wonder weapons but, luckily for the Rebels, it had one weakness in an exhaust port that meant a cheeky and well-aimed proton torpedo could put an end to the threat. See Rogue One for the reason why it was there.
Heart of Gold (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)
From the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the Heart of Gold is a magnificent spaceship equipped with the infamous and revolutionary Infinite Improbability Drive making it capable of travelling anywhere in the galaxy in an instant. Unfortunately, that’s coupled with the danger of randomly and unfortunately altering reality in doing so.
Stolen by Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the Galaxy and a man who had been voted “Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe” no less than seven times, the Heart of Gold was later used to accidentally rescue Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect from an untimely death, as they floated unprotected in space. It also turned two missiles into a whale and bowl of petunias. Handy.
It’s a fantastic ship if you may cope with the sunny disposition of the automatic doors with Genuine People Personalities and the downtrodden depressing drone of Marvin the paranoid android.
Klingon Bird of Prey (Star Trek)
The Klingon Bird of Prey is a heavily armed warship from the Star Trek universe, first encountered by Starfleet and Captain James T. Kirk in 2153. Armed with a cloaking device and a deadly arsenal of weaponry, it’s a menacing foe in the right hands.
Not the prettiest ship to look at, but then neither is the crew. Though we wouldn’t say that to their faces.
The Milano (Guardians of the Galaxy 2)
This space ship was used by our hero Peter Quill to save the Galaxy. Which in our mind makes it a worthy addition.
In the original film, Star-Lord Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) used his ship, the Milano, to enter the Dark Aster and save the Galaxy.
In the process, the Milano was badly damaged. As payment for saving Xander, Nova Corps paid to rebuild and fix up the Milano for Quill.
USS Enterprise (Star Trek)
The USS Enterprise has been on our screens, big and small, in various guises over the decades. It’s been blown up, crashed, shot at and taken on bold new missions across stretches of space that no man has been before.
Indeed, Gene Roddenberry’s spaceship became such an influential vessel that NASA even named its first space shuttle after it.
Various versions of the Enterprise were Captained by big names from the Star Trek series including James T. Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard and Johnathan Archer.
The ship itself is pretty special for various reasons, including the presence of the holodeck in the Next Generation version and a wide array of weaponry and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities including photon torpedoes, ramming speed and a detachable saucer for emergency situations.
The Space Cruiser (Rick and Morty)
The Space Cruiser looks like something someone’s mad, drunk Grandfather bashed together in their garage. Which is pretty much exactly what happened.
This UFO-like flying machine was created by mad scientistRick Sanchezin order to aid his insane adventures around the Galaxy with his Grandson Morty.
It’s not much to look at, but it does boast some pretty special gadgetry that includes a battery which houses an entire Universe (in a miniature form known as a Microverse), some artificial intelligence and a vast array of hidden weaponry that appears to keep his Granddaughter Summer Safe from all threats in one episode of the show.
The Space Cruiser has already been on some pretty wild rides and we’re expecting more of the same in future episodes.
Thunderbird 3 (Thunderbirds)
Thunderbird 3 was the main spaceship in the International Rescue team’s arsenal of vehicles. Effectively a reusable, vertically launched space rocket, it was used for space rescue missions and trips to Thunderbird 5 – the team’s space station.
Boasting chemical lift-off rockets and an ion drive for use in the void of space, Thunderbird 3 was an impressive spacecraft in various ways, not least of which was the ability to be controlled remotely by a device on pilot Alan Tracy’s wrist.
