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On the concept art pictured in this link, we see a very sleek looking ship that would supposedly be powered by antimatter.

What is the large disk present on the side of what appears to be the second stage division of the craft?

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    $\begingroup$ That's the UCS (Unobtanium Collection System) antenna. $\endgroup$ Mar 20, 2016 at 20:48
  • $\begingroup$ @OrganicMarble Hehe $\endgroup$
    – Quiquȅ
    Mar 20, 2016 at 20:49
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    $\begingroup$ “I am having difficulty in maintaining contact with Earth. The trouble is in the AE-35 unit. My Fault Prediction Center reports that it may fail within seventy-two hours.” $\endgroup$
    – Joe L.
    Mar 20, 2016 at 21:32
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    $\begingroup$ No @OrganicMarble, that's the dilithium re-crystallization matrix. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Mar 21, 2016 at 10:15
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    $\begingroup$ I am voting to leave it open, If I ask what that red, white and blue rectangle is near the nose of the ship it is reasonable to assume someone can answer without asking the artist. $\endgroup$ May 27, 2016 at 13:40

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That looks like a simplified drawing of a standard parabolic radio antenna. Presumably pointed 'down' because the ship will be flying away from Earth.

  enter image description here

    Image produced for NASA's Exploration Office, Johnson Space Center (JSC) by John Frassanito and Associates

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  • $\begingroup$ I wrote that because in the original image I couldn't see a curvature in the dish. $\endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    Mar 22, 2016 at 16:02
  • $\begingroup$ It's an antidish. $\endgroup$ Mar 22, 2016 at 19:19

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