Depolarization

Two of the most common elements in known space are oxygen and silicon, which are, amongst many other things, the two components of SiO2, more commonly known as quartz. Oxygen is a very reactive substance, a property readily apparent in the rapid formation of metal oxides (iron oxide is more commonly known as rust). Since silicon exists in large quantities on many planetoids (our own moon is an example of this), it is relatively common for large amounts of quartz to form, sometimes covering the surfaces of entire planets. This abundance was one of the reasons that Felisian space-craft were often constructed from the substance, and Stardrifters were no exception. However, quartz in its natural form is translucent, which makes it unsuitable for making walls of any kind. To remedy this, the quartz from which your Stardrifter is made is polarized by having an electric current run through it. This gives it the property of blocking light, thereby making it opaque. In order to depolarize the Stardrifter, you must shut down the electric current. This can be done by selecting the "Depolarize" option from the Preferences menu. The effect is to make all the walls of your Stardrifter translucent, so you can see the stars through them.

Additionally, you can actually make the walls, floor, and ceiling appear invisible (The option for that is in the Extended->Visual Options menu).