We Now Know Why Star Trek Ships Need Carpeting
Star Trek: Lower Decks just answered another question that no Trekkie has ever actually asked: why do the ships in Starfleet all have wall-to-wall carpeting? As we previously reported, a recent episode of Lower Decks helped to solve a decades-old mystery involving Deep Space Nine‘s Dominion War, and believe it or not, the secret of Starfleet’s carpets comes from the very same episode. In the Season 4 episode titled “Empathalogical Fallacies,” one of a trio of Betazoid diplomats casually mentions how much she loves the carpeting on Starfleet ships because “It’s perfect to pass out on.”
It’s safe to assume the carpets provide quite a bit of cushioning for falling bodies—whether it’s passing out after a hard night of partying or a direct hit from a Klingon Bird of Prey.
While the line might seem like a bit of throwaway dialogue meant to get a laugh and highlight just how hard the Betazoid party girls actually throw down, as with all jokes, the line does contain a kernel of truth. As long-time fans of Star Trek know, anytime the Enterprise—or other Starfleet vessel—takes a direct hit from an enemy ship, some unnamed crewmate is going to go flying like they just took a direct punch from the Incredible Hulk. The Enterprise’s bridge crew specifically spends almost as much time on the floor as they do in their seats.
In the Season 4 episode of Lower Decks titled “Empathalogical Fallacies,” one of a trio of Betazoid diplomats casually mentions how much she loves the carpeting on Starfleet ships because “It’s perfect to pass out on.”
Given how often members of Starfleet get flung from their chairs and onto the deck—often amidst a shower of sparks—it only makes sense that the Federation would want to make their landings slightly less painful than they would be if the crewmembers fell onto plain metal or tile floors. Hence the carpet.
And even if there isn’t an actual in-universe design flaw that causes all Starfleet ships to react to damage by launching anyone aboard ten feet in the air, the carpets still serve the same real-world purpose. All of the Star Trek live-action series have been fairly low-budget affairs—especially in the old days—meaning that the cheapest and easiest way to protect extras from getting hurt when they hit the floor was to cover all of the sets in a nice, soft carpet.
After all, “Pass out” and “knocked unconscious.” are pretty much the same thing, right?
Upon reuniting with his former crew on the bridge of the Enterprise for the first time in decades, Picard jokingly quips that the thing he’s missed most about the ship is the carpets.
This explanation would seem to be backed up by a joke made by Jean Luc Picard in the most recent season of Star Trek: Picard. Upon reuniting with his former crew on the bridge of the Enterprise for the first time in decades, Picard jokingly quips that the thing he’s missed most about the ship is the carpets.
Given the advanced age of the Admiral by the time Picard takes place, it would only stand to reason that he’s not as sure on his feet as he once was and has probably taken his share of tumbles while shuffling along to his next adventure.
The joke was no doubt Picard’s way of saying that he’d rather fall on the Enterprise rather than anywhere else because of the comfort provided by the lush carpeting. Indeed, given the lack of lacerations and contusions visible on Enterprise crewmembers over the course of Star Trek: The Next Generation, it’s safe to assume the carpets provide quite a bit of cushioning for falling bodies—whether it’s passing out after a hard night of partying or a direct hit from a Klingon Bird of Prey.
