FSD: Enterprise - NCC-1701 Constitution-class

The original starship Enterprise was launched in the year 2245 at the San Francisco Fleet Yards orbiting Earth. Captain Robert T. April commanded its first five-year mission.

Captain Christopher Pike took command of the Enterprise in 2251. In 2256, after its first five-year mission under the command of Captain Pike the Enterprise went into spacedock and began a year of refit work. After Captain Pike's second five-year mission ended in 2261 the Enterprise returned to spacedock for a major refit lasting two years. It is known that during this refit the Enterprise crew compacity was boosted from 203 to 430 officers and crew. Later in 2263, Captain Pike was promoted to Fleet Captain and relinquished command of the Enterprise to Captain James T. Kirk.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk took command of the Enterprise is 2264 after it received its second refit and embarked on the ship's third and historic journey of exploration "to boldy go where no man has gone before." During Captain Kirk's five-year mission he and the Enterprise became a legend in Starfleet for his first contact with several alien races, battles and dealings in hostile situations including the Klingons, Romulans, and alien races against the Federation. In 2269, after Captain Kirk's five-year mission he was promoted to Admiral and Chief of Starfleet Operations. The Enterprise returned to

the San Francisco orbital drydock and began a major refit process. Commander Willard Decker was promoted to captain of the Enterprise by Admiral Kirk's recommendation.

Captain Willard Decker took command of the Enterprise in 2270 during its refit. In 2271, Admiral Nogura gave Admiral Kirk command of the Enterprise making Captain Decker his first officer on the mission to intercept the V'Ger entity heading towards Earth. Decker physically joined with the V'Ger entity to keep it from destorying Earth. As a result he was listed as missing in action. Kirk embarked on his second five-year mission commanding the Enterprise afterward.

In 2277, Commander Spock was promoted to captain of the Enterprise. During this time the Enterprise was retired from exploratory duty and was assigned to Starfleet Academy as a cadet training ship. By 2285,

Admiral Kirk joined Captain Spock as Academy instructors and rejoined the Enterprise to participate in an inspection and cadet training exercise. On that mission Kirk took command of the ship when Khan hijacked the USS Reliant NCC-1864 and attacked the crew of space station Regula I trying to find the Genesis Device. Kirk was successful in stopping Khan, however Spock died from severe radiation exposure saving the Enterprise.

Upon returning to Spacedock for repairs Kirk learned that the Enterprise would be scrapped, and he commandeered the Enterprise to the Genesis Planet to reunite Spock's katra with his body. While there Kirk ordered the self-destruct of the Enterprise to prevent it from falling into Klingon hands. He then gained control of the Klingon Bird of Prey and headed to Vulcan for the rebirth of Spock.

Star Trek: Universe background information
In 1972, the name Enterprise was given to the first NASA space shuttle, thanks to thousands of letters the agency received from Trekkies across the country. After hundreds of conceptual sketches Walter Matt Jefferies made a wooden model of the Enterprise to show Gene Roddenberry and Desilu executives. Only after when the model was turned upside-down did Roddenberry like it.

Related Links:
Designing the Enterprise, Redesigning the Enterprise, Starship Briefing: NCC-1701, The Enterprise Refit of 2271 (EAS)