The USS Enterprise is synonymous withStar Trek, and I’m glad Gene Roddenberry changed the starship’s original name when he createdStar Trek: The Original Series. Roddenberry pitchedStar Trekas a new science fiction adventure series to NBC in 1964 and went into production onStar Trek’s pilot, “The Cage,” in 1965. NBC rejected “The Cage” but greenlit a second pilot episode, which resulted inStar Trekbecoming a TV series. From “The Cage” going forward,Star Trek’s signature ship was known as the USS Enterprise.
SomeStar TrekTV showsare named after their eponymous starships like the USS Voyager and the USS Discovery. However,Star Trek’s best-known vessel will always be the Starship Enterprise, whether it’s commanded by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), or Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). TheEnterprise’s storied legacy might not have been so grandiose had Gene Roddenberry not revised his original nameforStar Trek’s starship.
USS Enterprise’s Original Name In Star Trek Was USS Yorktown
“These Are The Voyages Of The Starship Yorktown”?
In his original 1964 pitch document forStar Trek,Gene Roddenberry originally named his starship the USS Yorktown.A World War II veteran, Roddenberry chose Yorktown because of the American aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, which was named after the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. Coincidentally, the USS Yorktown was of the same class as the USS Enterprise, the name Roddenberry finally decided upon forStar Trek’s primary starship.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Homesaw Commander Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) come aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, which was docked in San Francisco in 1986.
“Enterprise” has proven to be a savvier choice forStar Trek’s most famous starship than “Yorktown.““Enterprise” as a noun means an undertaking that is difficult or risky, which is a much better description for a starship that explores strange new worlds and goes where no man has gone before. “Yorktown” doesn’t conjure the same sense of excitement or adventure as “Enterprise,” and Gene Roddenberry was wise to make this crucial switch that helped underscore whatStar Trekis all about.
USS Yorktown Later Appeared In Star Trek
Star Trek Beyond Introduced A Very Different Yorktown
USS Yorktown still became part ofStar Trekafter Gene Roddenberry decided on naming his starship the USS Enterprise.Three versions of the USS Yorktown have been mentioned inStar Trek. InStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the USS Yorktown’s bridge was seen when it encountered the devastating whale probe.Star Trek: The Next Generationseason 2’s “The Measure of a Man” mentioned the USS Yorktown.Star Trek: Picard season 3also had the USS Yorktown chasing the USS Titan-A.
Every Starship Enterprise In Star Trek Ranked, Worst To Best
Throughout Star Trek’s nearly 60-year history, many Federation starships have held the name Enterprise, each iconic in their own right.
Star Trek Beyondintroduced Starbase Yorktown, a planetoid-sized space station encased in a protective bubble that was targeted for destruction by the villainous Krall (Idris Elba). With its multidimensional cityscapes, Starbase Yorktown was a wonder to behold. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) applied to become Vice Admiral in charge of Yorktown, although he ultimately chose to remainCaptain of the Enterprise.Star Trek: The Original Seriessimply wouldn’t have had the same verve if it were about the voyages of the USS Yorktown.
