Observations in TNG: "First Contact"

This large medical console only appears briefly in the first scene of the episode. The same console was seen two years earlier on the bridge of Captain Okona's ship, the Erstwhile, in "The Outrageous Okona".

Also, one of two types of Malcorian PADDs created for this episode, featuring Malcorian text written on paper, can nicely be seen in this screenshot.

A Malcorian hand holding a medical device used to detect the heartbeat can be seen up close in this screenshot.
In Alien Hands

The medical device is later seen in Federation use in "Ethics", "Realm of Fear" (as a cardiostimulator) and VOY: "Alliances" (as a cortical stimulator).

Mirasta Yale's science lab is interesting for several reasons. The consoles in the foreground display schematics of the Malcorian warp ship, seen as a model a few seconds later. In the background, Mirasta is seen working on a console seen in countless Star Trek episodes. It made its debut in Dr. Soong's lab in "Datalore".

The large cylindrical console seen on the right makes its first appearance in this episode. It will be seen in many later episodes. It appears in the Pathfinder lab in many Voyager episodes, for example.

The model of the Malcorian warp ship can be seen behind Mirasta Yale. The same model appeared two years later, in Picard's cadet quarters on Starbase Earhart in "Tapestry".
Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships L-R

Mike Okuda: "My recollection is that I designed the Malcorian ship desktop model, but it is possible that it may have been Rick, who designed most of the ships and props... I think Ed Miarecki built it for us. Don't know what happened to it... I know I did the animated computer readouts in the lab. A big silkscreened diagram of the ship also appears on a clear acrylic display in the lab. Yes, it was specifically done for this episode, although the model did later appear as set dressing in another episode."

Rick Sternbach: "I think I did a few doodles or 3D computer model roughs of this one, based amazingly vaguely on a mashup of a Bussard ramjet and an Enzmann giant deuterium fuel tank starship. I do believe Mike added the warp nacelles and offset them from the center framework, which may have hinted at the possibility that warp physics was similarly discovered and refined by separate cultures."

The glass console seen at the right of the screenshot was originally created for "Booby Trap", where it appeared in drawing room 5 at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. It can be seen that it clearly rests on dolly trolleys.

The model and schematics of the Malcorian warp ship can be seen up close on these four stills.

Mirasta's science lab is a re-use of the USS Enterprise-D's battle bridge, last seen as the replicator center in "Data's Day". In the next episode, the set will appear as drafting room 5, just like it did when the room last appeared in "Booby Trap".