The original design of the new Enterprise showed only one tractor 
beam emitter, at the base of the Engineering SectionÕs fantail. At the time the 
location made sense, since the main application of tractor beams is to tow 
other ships. As the show progressed, however, we had more than one 
episode in which that emitter location was not visible in ship exterior scenes 
calling for tractor beams to be used. As a result, our visual effects staff has 
ÒaddedÓ a number of additional emitters to the ship. With hindsight, the new 
emitters do seem to make sense given the fact that the Enterprise sometimes 
needs to move objects that are not directly below and astern. Our television 
starship, like its imaginary counterpart, continues to evolve.  Æ