10. A-Wing Fighter
Introduced in 1983's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, according to some sources the A-Wing is supposed to be a small starfighter that relies more on speed than armament. Whatever. I just think the thing looks cool.
9. Romulan Warbird
This ship first appeared in the final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation's first season way back in 1988. Aptly named, it does indeed conjure up images of some sinister bird-of-prey about ready to snatch up some poor, helpless creature.
8. U.S.S. Sulaco
The Sulaco from Aliens looks like something that the military would use several decades from now. When I first saw that sucker on the silver screen for the first time way back in 1986, the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. That mother is one bad-ass ship!
7. Klingon Vor'cha-class heavy cruiser
Designed for Star Trek: The Next Generation and supposed to look like the Federation and Klingon Empire have been exchanging technology (note the warp nacelles), the Vor'cha-class is the best of both worlds as it combines some of the most eye-pleasing aspects of both Federation starships and Klingon ships. Rick Sternbach, who designed the Vor'cha-class, hit it just right.
6. Cylon Raider (new BSG)
The new Battlestar Galactica improved many of the things from the old BSG: Better actors, better writers, better sets, better babes. And better ships. While the old Cylon Raider is one cool ship, the new one with it's curved blade-wings blows it away. The fact that the new Cylon Raiders are Cylons just makes the Raiders even more uber-cool.
5. Imperial Star Destroyer
The Star Destroyers from the first Star Wars film captured my imagination as a kid even more than the Millennium Falcon originally did. I was five when Star Wars was released in 1977 and I would listen to the soundtrack by John Williams as I sat with pencil and paper drawing Star Destroyers over and over again.
4. U.S.S. Reliant
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a pretty good movie and had some awesome battle scenes between the beloved U.S.S Enterprise commanded by Captain Kirk and a hijacked U.S.S. Reliant helmed by Khan Noonian Soong. And that ship--the Reliant--stole the show for me. Often lovingly referred to as a "horseshoe crab" by fans, the Miranda-class starship is one of my all-time favorite spaceship designs.
3. Colonial Viper Mark II (original BSG version)
Yeah, classic Battlestar Galactica was a pretty sucky show. But whomever designed them Vipers sure knew their stuff. Inspired by fighter jets from the real world like the x-15 and the F-104 Starfighter, the Colonial Viper is still an awesome design thirty years later.
2. Colonial Viper Mark II (new BSG version)
I didn't think it was possible to improve on the sleek Viper from the original Battlestar Galactica. I was wrong. From the beginning of prodduction on the new BSG, the Colonial Viper was about the only thing the producers wanted to keep (mostly) untouched from the original BSG. Good call.
1. Millennium Falcon
Ah, the Millennium Falcon. The coolest space ship ever. Who knew that a cone stuck on a flying saucer would be so awesome? Allegedly the inspiration for the Falcon came from a half-eaten hamburger that George Lucas was chomping on. And the cockpit (which was supposedly the olive stuck to the burger) was inspired by the real-life B-29 Superfortress. Burgers and bombers. Hey, you take inspiration where you can get it.
