| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
 The starshipEnterprise (NX-01) | |
| First appearance | |
| Last appearance | |
| Information | |
| Affiliation | Starfleet |
| Launched | April 12, 2151 |
| Decommissioned | 2161 |
| Auxiliary vehicles | 2xShuttlepods2x Workpods |
| General characteristics | |
| Class | NX |
| Registry | NX-01 |
| Armaments | Spatial torpedoes Photonic torpedoes Phase cannons Plasma cannons |
| Defenses | Polarized hull plating |
| Maximum speed | Warp 5.06 (maximum speed) 5.2 (emergency) |
Enterprise (NX-01) is the fictionalspaceship that serves as the primary setting of the Americanscience fiction television seriesStar Trek: Enterprise. The ship predates the otherStarfleet ships namedEnterprise and was first seen in the pilot episode "Broken Bow". Its missions included an initial period of deep space exploration and a mission into the Delphic Expanse following theXindi attack on Earth; it was also instrumental in the formation of the United Federation of Planets with theVulcans,Andorians andTellarites.
Its final regular appearance occurred in "These Are The Voyages...", where the ship is seen en route to the signing of theFederation charter and the decommissioning of the ship.Enterprise has appeared in several non-canon novels, which describe both its actions in the Romulan War and the vessel's final fate as a museum ship in orbit ofPluto. A model of an NX class ship was seen on screen in the 2013 filmStar Trek Into Darkness, and it has appeared in the video gameStar Trek: Encounters andStar Trek: Legacy. There was a negative fan reaction to the design, but television critics were mostly positive, calling the design "a sort of retro-futurism".[1] SeveralEnterprise toys and models have been released, including versions byArt Asylum,Diamond Select Toys, QMx and Eaglemoss Publications.
In the original pitch forStar Trek: The Original Series by creatorGene Roddenberry, the vessel that the series was set on was called the SSYorktown.[2] The starship was subsequently renamedUSSEnterprise before the start of the series because of the growing real world fame of the world's firstnuclear-poweredaircraft carrier, recently launched by the U.S. Navy as theUSS Enterprise (CVN-65).[3] The nameEnterprise has been linked withStar Trek since.
Following the end ofStar Trek: Voyager,[4] which had been used to launchUPN,[5] they were seeking a newStar Trek series. The network contactedRick Berman during thefifth season ofStar Trek: Voyager,[6] and informed him that if he didn't develop a newStar Trek show then they would find someone else who would.[7] Berman had previously been an executive producer onVoyager,[8] and other series dating back toThe Next Generation.[9] Berman contactedBrannon Braga, and the two became the executive producers on the new show.[7] The new series launched after the end ofVoyager, but was set a century before the events seen inThe Original Series. The new series was originally calledEnterprise, without theStar Trek prefix. UPN president Dean Valentine said that "Paramount felt it was no longer necessary.Enterprise is synonymous withStar Trek".[10] Berman's idea was to set it in an earlier time period, with limited technology such as the ship only being able to travel up towarp 5,[11] as he felt that after three series being set in roughly the same time period it would be exciting for the fans.[12]
Thefirst season was originally intended to be based around the construction of the ship. However, UPN wanted a more typical ship-basedStar Trek series and so the ship was presented as almost finished in the pilot episode, "Broken Bow".[13] Before the start of the series, the ship was referred to as the SSEnterprise.[14]
An early design was for a version with a secondary hull, but it appeared to be too similar to the ship seen inThe Original Series.[15] Thatthrowback styling had been partially inspired by Berman viewing the throwback concept in the 2002Ford Thunderbird, itself a modern update ofthe original Thunderbird. Following that concept, the designers took the styling of the USSEnterprise fromThe Original Series and updated it, but ultimately it looked too much like a simple update to the same vessel.[16]
The second design concept was similar to theAkira-class starship as seen on television in theStar Trek: Deep Space Nine andVoyager era, with the producers initially intending to use that class of vessel forEnterprise beforeHerman Zimmerman convinced them to go with a design with greater inspiration fromThe Original Series.[17][18] TheAkira itself had been created byAlex Jaeger for the 1996 filmStar Trek: First Contact with influences fromBattlestar Galactica, theKlingonBird of Prey and theMiranda-class starship originally seen inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.[17][19] A similar design was created forStar Trek: The Academy Years, a film proposed byHarve Bennett in 1989. This featured the primary hull ofEnterprise seen inThe Original Series, but without a secondary hull.[20]
Our first full view of the majestic ship as it clears the dock and moves into open space. More rocketship than starship,Enterprise is lean and masculine - yet its deflector dish and twin warp nacelles suggest the shape of Starfleet vessels to come.
Enterprise NX-01 was designed byDoug Drexler,[22] and based on the features of theAkira-class.[23] The new class itself was designated asNX by the producers, but Drexler referred to it as theEnterprise-class due to the naval tradition of naming the class after the first vessel.[24] Drexler had intended for the ship to be similar in design to theDaedalus-class starship with a sphere-shaped primary hull, but the producers wanted a flat saucer-shaped hull as it was more immediately recognizable as aStar Trek vessel.[17] Drexler deliberately attempted to insert references toThe Original Series into the ship. One of these was narrowstruts leading from the body of the ship to the warpnacelles – howeverDan Curry wanted them made bulkier as seen in ships of later series. Drexler included a leading edge at the front of the nacelles, and later described that the original struts would have been around a third more than those.[24]
Drexler also wanted thebussard collectors at the front of the warp nacelles to be orange likeThe Original Series, but this was overruled by producers once more, who wanted them red also like the later series. Drexler thought that this was because Rick Berman wasn't fond of bright colors, and soStar Trek: Enterprise was filmed in greys and dark blues. The rear ends of the nacelles were influenced byEnterprise fromThe Original Series, with the spheres that appeared on the 1960s version split in two for the NX-01. Direct elements fromThe Original Series that did make it on to the NX-01 were theimpulse engine cones and the lower sensor dome. The most prominent element from the first televisionEnterprise was the deflector dish. For the NX-01, it was vertically compressed placed at the front of the saucer.[24] The process of Drexler getting his designs approved by the producers was later described as "a long hard battle" by production illustrator and creator ofEnterprise-E,John Eaves.[25]
The exterior model was created inCGI rather than as a physical model, with the production done byPierre Drolet fromFoundation Imaging usingLightWave 3D. Two versions were created – ahigh definition version that was created for use in the television series itself and a lower resolution, which was also referred to as the "approved model". The low-res model was used for promotional purposes while work was conducted on the television model.[18] The exterior of the ship made its debut in acenterfold spread in the July 14, 2001 edition ofTV Guide using the approved model. This version looked smaller as the windows on the ship were larger than used on the television version, and the hull had a bronze tint. Regarding this change in coloration, Drexler later said that he didn't know when the change was made as both he and Zimmerman approved the prior version.[18]
Following this initial usage, the approved model was only used as a stand-in for the production version in the previews in thefourth season.[18] The drawing of the exterior ofEnterprise in the captain's ready room was created by John Eaves in less than 24 hours alongside four other drawings of earlier incarnations of the name.[25] Theshuttlecraft on the show were directly inspired by theLockheed Martin X-33, with Zimmerman saying that the re-entry vehicles used now will be the same technology used in the time ofEnterprise because up until then they won't have had the technological push that comes from developing the advanced technology seen being introduced for the first time on the show.[26] These were referred to as shuttlepods in the show;Enterprise was equipped with two of them.[27]
Doug Drexler had intended forEnterprise to undergo a major refit if a fifth season had been produced, and the series had not been cancelled at the end of thefourth season. This would have seen the addition of a secondary hull, and resulted in the ship taking on an appearance closer to theConstitution-class vessels inThe Original Series and later series.[28] The redesign made its debut in the 2011 edition of the officialShips of the Line calendar.[29] It was one of two designs for vessels never seen on screen to appear in that year's calendar, withMatt Jefferies' design for theUSSEnterprise (XCV-330) also appearing.[28]
This refit design of the NX-class made its television debut in the background ofStar Trek: Picard's third season as a decommissioned ship docked at the Starfleet Museum.
The interior of the vessel was designed by Zimmerman, who visitedUnited States Navyfast-attack submarines such as theUSSHouston[30] for inspiration.[31] He also kept in mind the heritage of the other ships namedEnterprise in the history ofStar Trek.[32] The designs attempted to allow a greater freedom of filming angles than seen in previousStar Trek series. The bridge stations were originally designed with both angular and tubular elements, but the tubular elements were dropped as they seemed out of place. John Eaves created the designs for the stations, whileMike andDenise Okuda,Jim Van Over andAnthony Fredrickson created the mechanical and detailed elements. Inspiration was taken from United States Navy ships and theSpace Shuttle, such as the inclusion of operations manuals on some of the stations such as communications.[33] Other elements that were added included a switch from the touch screen controls seen in series such asThe Next Generation to more hands-on dials and buttons as appeared inThe Original Series. The set also included what was described as "busy boxes" by the crew, which were parts of the consoles that folded out and were filled with wires - so that background actors could look busy during a shot whenEnterprise was being refitted or when there was battle damage to be seen on screen.[34]
Zimmerman and his team took feedback from the directors of previousStar Trek series to make the new space easier to film. Whereas in other series there have been purpose-built sets for briefing rooms, following the feedback this area was built into the bridge itself as the directors had stated that it proved difficult to make several people sitting around a table seem interesting.[34] Thetransporter design was intended as a reference tothe original series design that was created byMatt Jefferies, with Zimmerman including certain design elements such as the wall patterns around the transporter itself.[35] The design of the engineering deck was overhauled from previous series with the intention for it to look like the engine room of a nuclear submarine.[35] Zimmerman described it saying, "You're going to see a very powerful engine that looks like a very powerful engine."[36]
The ship first appeared in the pilot ofStar Trek: Enterprise, "Broken Bow". The episode showed the maiden voyage ofEnterprise, with the crew of 84[37][38] returning aKlingon named Klang (Tom Lister, Jr.) to his homeworld, Qo'noS.[39] Following that success, the ship and crew are ordered to begin a deep space exploration mission.[40] At launch, the vessel was limited to a maximum speed of warp 5 and was equipped with an experimentaltransporter.[40][41] The ship was launched three weeks ahead of schedule on April 16, 2151,[40] and several of its weapon systems were not yet online but it was equipped with polarized hull plating as a defensive measure. It was not until the following month while in combat with an unknown foe that itsspatial torpedoes were calibrated; and thephase cannons were installed in the following September.[40][42][43]
The exploration mission was temporarily cancelled in the final episode of the first season, "Shockwave", following the destruction of a colony after ashuttlepod fromEnterprise ignited the atmosphere. The ship was recalled to Earth, but after an investigation showed that the Suliban were responsible, the mission resumed.[44][45] In "Minefield",Enterprise suffered a hull breach from aRomulan mine,[46] but the crew was informed of a nearby repair facility where the breach was repaired in "Dead Stop".[47] Following the failure of a plasma injector in the warp drive, the ship had to make a detour to the Kreetassan homeworld in "A Night in Sickbay".[48]
In the episode "The Expanse", the final episode of thesecond season,Enterprise was recalled once again to Earth following an attack by the Xindi resulting in the deaths of seven million people, mostly in Florida. The ship and crew were given a new mission, to go into theDelphic Expanse and track down the Xindi to prevent the use of a greater weapon that would destroy Earth. Before departure, the ship was equipped withphotonic torpedoes, a new command centre and took on board a detachment of Military Assault Command Operations (MACO) soldiers.[49] During the year-long mission in the expanse, the ship and its crew searched for the location of the Xindi superweapon. During this time,Enterprise was repeatedly damaged by the spatial anomalies in the area, which appear to be caused by several alien-built moon-sized spheres.[50][51] The ship suffers a further hull breach and other damage during the events of "Chosen Realm" when the ship and crew are caught up in the Triannon civil war.[52]
While investigating a possible location of the superweapon in "Azati Prime",Enterprise was severely damaged by several Xindi vessels and its warp coil was destroyed.[53] This necessitates the crew stealing a warp coil from an Illyrian vessel in the following episode "Damage" as without it the ship could not travel at warp and intercept the Xindi weapon.[54] Following that acquisition, the ship and crew is approached by a version ofEnterprise that had been sent 117 years into the past and has become agenerational ship attempting not to disrupt the timeline. The crew of the two versions ofEnterprise work together and enable the present-dayEnterprise to enter a subspace corridor to allow CaptainJonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) to meet with the Xindi Council. The whereabouts of the futureEnterprise are unknown, but there is speculation as to whether it was destroyed or ceased to exist.[55]
After locating the Xindi weapon in "The Council",[56] the weapon was launched in "Countdown" withEnterprise in pursuit.[57] While Captain Archer leads a boarding party onto the weapon in the final episode ofthird season, "Zero Hour",Enterprise is commanded byT'Pol (Jolene Blalock) who directs it to a nearby sphere and Commander Tucker modifies the ship's deflector dish to use it as a weapon to destroy the sphere. Despite the interference of several Sphere Builders, the modifications destroy the sphere and set off a chain reaction destroying all the other spheres within the Expanse.Enterprise rendezvous with Archer's away team and it is revealed to the crew that Archer failed to make it off the superweapon before its destruction. The heavily damaged ship is returned to Earth inside a Xindi-Aquatic vessel.[58] Upon arrival, the crew find that the events of theTemporal Cold War have overtaken them and the vessel is sent back in time to an alternative 20th century whereNazi Germany has successfully invaded the United States. After the crew defeat the alien Vosk (Jack Gwaltney) and recover Captain Archer, the ship is returned to its correct time by Temporal AgentDaniels (Matt Winston) in "Storm Front".[59][60]
Following the Xindi mission,Enterprise undergoes repairs and upgrades in "Home".[61] In "Daedalus", Dr. Emory Erickson (Bill Cobbs), the inventor of the device, performed an upgrade on the transporter.[62] Further upgrades occurred to the plasma injector in the warp drive, allowingEnterprise to reach a cruising speed of warp 5.02 and an emergency speed of warp 5.2.[63][64] While carrying aTellariteAmbassador to a conference on Babel One, the ship is diverted due to attacks on several nearby vessels. It is discovered to be a Romulan vessel that uses holograms to change its external appearance.[63] The attacks are explained in "The Aenar" as being an attempt by the Romulans to provoke a war between the Andorians and the Tellarites,[65] but insteadEnterprise is used as the location for peace talks and is also one of a fleet of vessels used to create a sensor grid to track down the Romulan ship. This temporary alliance between the humans, Vulcans, Andorians and Tellarites becomes known as the Coalition of Planets.[66]
Enterprise returns to Earth once more and Commander Tucker transfers to the USSColumbia in "Affliction".[64] He is later reinstated as Chief Engineer toEnterprise in the following episode, "Divergence", after the two vessels undergo a dangerous high warpzip line transfer afterEnterprise's warp drive is sabotaged by Klingons.[67] AMirror Universe version ofEnterprise is seen in the first part of "In a Mirror, Darkly" under the command of CaptainMaximilian Forest (Vaughn Armstrong). The ship is destroyed in combat withTholians shortly after amutiny by Commander Archer.[68] In "Demons" and "Terra Prime",Enterprise travels back to Earth to resolve a crisis with a terrorist cell called Terra Prime, which seeks to remove all alien influence from Earth.[69][70]
The Romulan war was not seen on screen, but instead has been described in the non-canon novelThe Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing by Michael A. Martin, and subsequent follow-up books.[71] The events of the episode "These Are the Voyages..." on boardEnterprise are set six years after those seen in "Terra Prime" in 2161, but are actually related in theholodeck on boardEnterprise-D during the events of theStar Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Pegasus". Following the Romulan war,Enterprise is diverted en route to Earth where is it due to be present for the signing of theFederation charter.[72] The non-canonShatnerverse novelCaptain's Glory states that following its decommissioning,Enterprise was placed into the orbit ofPluto as a museum piece.[73]
Enterprise appeared in the video gamesStar Trek: Encounters andStar Trek: Legacy, both released in 2006. It is the first vessel that the player controls in each storyline, before moving onto the USSEnterprise seen inThe Original Series and later depictions.[74][75][76]Enterprise was seen as a model in a collection depicting the history of flight in Fleet Admiral Alexander Marcus' (Peter Weller) office inStar Trek Into Darkness (2013). It was placed next to other historical vessels such as theWright Flyer, the Space Shuttle and theNX-Alpha.[77][78] An NX-class starship in the style of the planned season 5refit appeared at the Fleet Museum in the 2023Star Trek: Picard episode, "The Bounty" although it is unclear if this was meant to be theEnterprise or another NX-class starship as theEnterprise had been decommissioned prior to undergoing any refit.
There was a negative fan reaction to the design ofEnterprise, and criticism of the efforts of Drexler and the other designers. When questioned about this,Geoffrey Mandel stated in an interview, "Having been around then, I also know that Doug Drexler and John Eaves did EXACTLY what the producers asked them to: Rick and Braga had very strong opinions, and knew exactly what they wanted."[15]
Allan Johnson, while writing for theChicago Tribune, said thatEnterprise looked "sleeker and less cheesy than the original 'Trek'."[79] Johnson added that although it contained technology that wasn't as advanced as that seen in the earlierStar Trek series set in the 24th century, it "still maintains a techno-savvy, post-1960s 'Trek' flair."[79] David Kronke in theLos AngelesDaily News, said that the sets were "largely gun-metal gray, representing a sort of retro-futurism – sort of what might've happened if '50s sci-fi design cliches had had today's technology to work with" and that the consoles had a "simpler mechanical feel".[1] In his review of "Broken Bow" forThe Washington Post, David Segal describedEnterprise's speed of warp 4 as slower than aHyundai.[80]
In 2018,Io9/Gizmodo ranked the NX-01 fictional spacecraft design shown in this episode, as the 7th best version of starshipEnterprise of theStar Trek franchise.[81] They felt that it both felt familiar as anEnterprise design, but also had its own look.[81]
In 2019,SyFy ranked the fictional starship design, the NX-01Enterprise as the 8th best version of the starship in theStar Trek science fiction universe.[82]
The initial 7-inch (18 cm) figure range byArt Asylum each shipped with anEnterprise bridge console. They slotted together to form a bridge diorama.[83] The actualEnterprise was also released by Art Asylum, and debuted at the 2002New York Toy Fair.[84] Following the acquisition of Art Asylum byDiamond Select Toys in 2007,[85] the company continued to releaseEnterprise toys. These included both the main television version and a Mirror Universe configuration as seen in "In A Mirror, Darkly".[86][87]
Enterprise has also been released as part of model lines. These include a 350:1 scale replica of the CGI model byQMx. It features more than 150LEDs, sound effects and a signed plaque by Doug Drexler. Each QMx model takes 150 hours to make and was limited to a production run of 1,000 units.[22] QMx also produced the models seen inStar Trek Into Darkness, including the one ofEnterprise.[77]Enterprise has also been released as a model kit byRound 2 Models as part of their Polar Lights line. These include both the version seen in the television series,[88] and the refit design intended for season five.[89]
Archer: 81 humans, a Vulcan and a Denobulan (plus Daniels, killed in previous episodeCold Front (Star Trek: Enterprise), written by Beck, Stephen and Finch, Tim)
Liane: How many people are on Enterprise. Trip: 83 (plus Daniels, killed in previous episodeCold Front (Star Trek: Enterprise), written by Beck, Stephen and Finch, Tim)