Rick Sternbach explains that although the SS Raven had already been seen in a previous episode [The Raven], it still needed a little design work. "The shape of the Raven was not terribly well thought out, but it didn't have to be for the first episode because it was crashed - the hull was crumpled and the engine torn loose. The sketch was sent to Foundation Imaging and they created the first image of the Raven. When we had to rework the configuration for [#109 and #110 Dark Frontier] I got a printout of the ship from the Foundation, so I would have a three-quarter perspective. I had initially wondered if I had rendered it a little too big. In the crashed version you really couldn't tell. In the revision we cut it down from eight or nine decks to four decks tops. This changed the scale of the windows and the entry hatches, and that sort of thing."

SS Raven

SS Raven design drawing

Ship's designation: "SS" Raven or "USS" Raven?

It is hard to be certain of Raven's designation. In [The Raven] the designation was SS Raven NAR-32450 as the civilian registry in conjunction with the prefix NAR seems correct as the Hansens were not members of Starfleet and were not on an official mission let alone a Starfleet one, and also the ship seems to be their own private property. However, in [#109 and #110 Dark Frontier], LCARS displays show "U.S.S. Raven" although the registry number remained NAR-32450, which would make it very unusual as it means a Starfleet "USS" with a civilian registry number. TOSTFF and Encyclopaedia list the ship as "U.S.S. Raven". Suggested excuse: in [#109 and #110 Dark Frontier] it is stated that the Hansens' mission was approved by the Federation Council shortly before the Hansens departed. Therefore, the Raven appears in official Starfleet records, which is how come it appears in Voyager's database, and may have been redesignated "USS" while retaining the civilian registry number and of course the name "Raven". The name on the ship's dedication plaque also remained unchanged.