Will astronauts in the far future need any kind of spacesuits? Given that we already have wireless connections for headphones, computers, and numerous other gadgets, can we envision a future where EVA suit technology might be replaced by something less analog? In 1973, in the first episode of “Beyond the Farthest Star,” the crew of the USS Enterprise sported what was called “Life Support Belts” instead of straightforward spacesuits. In the 23rd Century, these portable force fields did away with the need for bulky spacesuits and then disappeared from Trek’s canon.
But now, in the 32nd Century, the suitless spacesuit is back. Here’s how Starfleet Academy has revived the force field spacesuit in the guise of what’s called “plasma shields.”
In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, both the War College and Starfleet Academy take part in a joint exercise that goes terribly awry. A derelict vessel named the USS Miyazaki poses a real challenge to the various cadets: Can you restore power to this long-abandoned ship, and if you can, how much of the ship can you explore? At the start of the episode, we’re informed that the Miyazaki was set adrift due to “an experimental warp alternative known as the Singularity Drive.”
Essentially, during the Burn when Starfleet was fragmented, the Miyazaki was testing some alternatives to warp drive since all warp cores in the galaxy had exploded at that time. This occurred after the Burn but before the USS Discovery (via time travel) arrived in 3189. Presently, Starfleet Academy is set around 3195, placing the crew’s adventures on the Miyazaki around 3067.
Interestingly, the retroactive presence of the Miyazaki in this episode fosters a sort of in-universe nostalgia for the TOS/TAS era of Star Trek. We find out that the crew’s adventures were adapted into a comic book series titled Tales from the Frontier. And in this episode, panels from that comic are designed to resemble 23rd Century classic Star Trek closely, even though these stories are supposed to depict 31st Century adventures. In a way, Starfleet Academy highlights the notion that Starfleet in the distant future looks and acts very much like Starfleet from nine centuries earlier, and the reason is that a galaxy-wide catastrophe scaled back some technology, and optimistic propaganda led Starfleet to act like a somewhat more retro version of itself. Perhaps.
The least apparent outcome of this overlapping lore retcon and TOS-inspired nostalgia is that the episode also brings back a game-changing technology that Star Trek hasn’t revisited since the 1970s. Early in the episode, as the cadets are about to begin their training mission, we’re informed that everyone is using “plasma-based life support,” also known as “plasma shields.” Caleb (Sandro Rosta) activates his by tapping his uniform, and the brief glowing yellow effect is reminiscent of the life support belts from The Animated Series.
How to maintain a breathable atmosphere within such a force field isn’t fully explored. But, clearly, by the 32nd Century, Starfleet has revived the concept of EVAs that don’t need EVA suits. From a practical production standpoint, this means actors don’t have to put on spacesuit costumes for storylines that usually require them. And from a canon perspective, it means Starfleet can now freely use any outlandish tech from the early days of The Animated Series.
So, today it’s force field spacesuits. Tomorrow, could there be a moment when a starship can create a giant inflatable balloon version of itself as a decoy? Or perhaps a giant clone of Spock? Or pink tribbles? At this point, if Starfleet Academy has any foresight, every single bizarre thing from The Animated Series should and can be incorporated from now on. Fingers crossed.