 " The Daedalus Variations " is the 84th episode of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis , and is the fourth episode in the series ' fifth season . The episode first aired on August 1 , 2008 on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States , and subsequently aired on October 9 on Sky One in the United Kingdom . The episode was written by Alan McCullough , and directed by regular Stargate director , Andy Mikita . Richard Woolsey ( Robert Picardo ) and Jennifer Keller ( Jewel Staite ) do not appear in the episode , despite being credited during the opening title sequence . The episode bears similarities to the Flying Dutchman , a mythical ghost ship that drifts forever in the ocean with no chance of returning home . It received generally favourable reviews . 
