Friday, December 11, 2015

Cult Gallery: Spaceships of the 1980s


Here's a look back at the spaceships featured in the films and TV programs of the 1980s.  

The big innovation of this decade?  Well, audiences saw the first computer-generated spaceships in this decade.  

Also, a major design change: curves.

How many of these do you remember?  And do you remember any that I missed?

Identified by Bruce Nims; Flash Gordon (1980)/The Ajax.

Identified by Pierre Fontaine: Galaxina (1980)/Infinity.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Saturn 3 (1980)

Identified by Bruce Nims: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)/Slave One

Not identified: Blake's 7/The Scorpio.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century/Searcher.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Battle Beyond the Stars/Nell.

Identified by Bruce Nims: John Carpenter's The Thing.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Outland.

Identified by Bruce Nims: E.T.

Identified by Bruce Nims: V (1983).

Identified by Bruce Nims: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan/Reliant.

Identified by SGB Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock/Klingon Bird of Prey.

Identified by Bruce Nims: The Last Starfighter/Gunstar.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Dune.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Enemy Mine.

Identified by Ponch: The Ice Pirates.

Identified by Bruce Nims: 2010/Discovery and Leonev.

Identified by Pierre Fontaine: Explorers.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Lifeforce.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Starman

Identified by Bruce Nims: Predator.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Aliens/Sulaco.

Identified by Duanne; Flight of the Navigator.

Identified by Bruce Nims; Spaceballs.

Identified by Bruce Nims: Star Trek: The Next Generation/Enterprise D
Identified by Bruce Nims; Star Trek: The Next Generation

Not identified: Earthstar Voyager.

Identified by Donald G: Mystery Science Theater 3000/Original S.O.L.

12 comments:

  1. Not sure if you wanted names or the source, but here is the sources (and names if I knew them):

    1. Flash Gordon
    2. ??
    3. Saturn 3
    4. Empire Strikes Back (Slave 1)
    5. ??
    6. Buck Rogers (Searcher?)
    7. Battle Beyond the Stars (Nell?)
    8. John Carpenter's The Thing
    9. Outland (Cargo Transport)
    10. E.T.
    11. V
    12. Star Trek II – The Wrath of Khan (USS Reliant)
    13. ??
    14. Star Trek III – The Search for Spock
    15. The Last Starfighter (Gunstar)
    16. Dune
    17. Enemy Mine
    18. ??
    19. 2010 (The Leonov and The Discovery)
    20. ??
    21. LifeForce
    22. Starman
    23. Predator
    24. Aliens (Sulaco)
    25. Explorers (I think)
    26. Space Balls
    27. Star Trek the Next Generation (USS Enterprise)
    28. Star Trek the Next Generation (or possibly Deep Space Nine) (Ferengi Cruiser)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Great job, Bruce! Excellent identifications. I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. My son has been home sick the last two days with a nasty stomach bug and fever, and this is the last week of the semester so I'm grading about 200 papers! But you did AWESOME!

      Delete
  2. Duanne10:01 AM

    25. Flight of the Navigator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. Flash Gordon (designed and built by the great Martin Bower)
    2. Galaxina
    3. The Empire Strikes Back: Slave 1
    5. Doctor Who
    6. Buck Rogers - The Searcher
    7. Battle Beyond The Stars
    8. The Thing
    9. Outland
    10. E.T.
    11. V
    12. Star Trek: Wrath Of Khan
    14. Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country (and others...that shot was reused a few times)
    15. The Last Star Fighter
    16. Dune
    17. Enemy Mine
    19: 2010:The Year We Make Contact
    20. Explorers
    22. Starman
    24. Aliens
    25. Flight Of The Navigator
    26. Spaceballs
    27. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Enterprise
    28. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Ferengi ship

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great job, Pierre! Only #5 is not from Doctor Who! (You are in the right country!!!)

      Delete
  4. Hi John,

    Great subject. Great answers.

    #13 Spacehunter:Adventures in the Forbidden Zone

    SGB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, SGB! Great job! Awesome identification!

      Delete
  5. Donald G10:48 PM

    #30: The original Satellite of Love, KTMA season of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donald, all I can says is...wow. You must be a true fan! :) That's a tough one.

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Ponch -- you rock! That's from Ice Pirates all right! Another obscure identification! :)

      Delete

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