Stargate shield

A Stargate shield is a shield that fulfills the same role as the metal iris for Stargate Command. One example of a shielded Stargate is the one in Atlantis.

The Atlantis shield
Unlike the iris, the shield is transparent and one can clearly see the suppressed unstable vortex and the impact of objects prevented from rematerializing. The Atlantis shield has yet to be breached by anything. However, a "back-door" that was previously coded into the shield's control system by Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay once allowed him to deactivate it remotely from an off world location and prevented anyone else (including the inhabitants of Atlantis itself) from reactivating it.

GDOs and IDCs are still used in Atlantis; they are used by both Atlantis offworld teams and Athosians. The GDOs used by the Atlantis expedition members have been modified from the original design employed by the SGC.

Other shielded gates
Some planets, mostly Goa'uld-controlled ones, that use a gate shield similar to the one in place on Atlantis.


 * Erebus had a gate shield which also required a signal to deactivate it. The SGC was able to acquire the signal during a failed attempt by Bra'tac and Rya'c to escape to the Alpha Site, a fact that was witnessed by Daniel Jackson during his Ascension, allowing him to relay this information to the others following his return.
 * Tartarus also possessed a gate shield. However, Kull Warriors, with their energy-absorbing suit, could easily pass through the shield without requiring an IDC.
 * Although unconfirmed, it was stated by Teal'c that Dakara would most likely be shielded.