2023 could become the greatest year of the Starship Enterprise ever, and make Star Trek’s most beloved ship even more important. From 1966 when Star Trek: The Original Series premiered to 1987, with the arrival of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there was only one version of the USS Enterprise: the Constitution-class NCC-1701 which was refitted for the Star Trek movies before it was replaced by the Enterprise-A. TNG introduced the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D, and up to Star Trek Generations in 1994, there were two Enterprises in TV and the movies.
However, 2023 may introduce up to four versions of the Starship Enterprise! Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 returns in 2023 to further the 23rd-century five-year mission of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). But when Star Trek: Picard season 3 arrives (before Strange New Worlds season 2), Patrick Stewart’s series will show the 25th century USS Enterprise-F (as well as previous models of the Enterprise). Star Trek: Discovery season 5 could also finally show the 32nd-century version of the Enterprise, which season 4 established exists in the far future. Finally, if Star Trek 4 escapes development hell, the new movie will likely be set aboard Captain James T. Kirk’s (Chris Pine) Kelvin Timeline version of the NCC-1701 USS Enterprise-A.
Star Trek Made The Enterprise More Important
A major retcon by Strange New Worlds established that the USS Enterprise is the flagship of the United Federation of Planets in the 23rd century. Star Trek: The Next Generation made Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s Enterprise-D the Federation flagship, but Captain Kirk’s (William Shatner) Enterprise was not. Kirk’s Enterprise was just one of many Starfleet ships, albeit an important vessel with a noble legacy. Strange New Worlds season 1 changed this so that the Enterprise is now officially the Federation flagship in every era of Star Trek.
Strange New Worlds‘ Enterprise flagship retcon follows the change made by J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies. Star Trek 2009 set the Starship Enterprise as the Federation flagship in the Kelvin Timeline as well. Now, beginning with the NX-01 Enterprise commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) in Star Trek: Enterprise, which was the flagship of the pre-Federation United Earth, every incarnation of the Starship Enterprise in both timelines shares the legacy as the most important ship in Starfleet.
Star Trek Has Many Ships But The Enterprise Is Special
Star Trek has many beloved ships that have been the centerpieces of their own series, like Star Trek: Voyager‘s USS Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s USS Defiant, Star Trek: Prodigy‘s USS Protostar, Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ USS Cerritos, and Star Trek: Discovery’s USS Discovery. But as great as those ships are, the Enterprise is in a class of its own. The Enterprise is regarded by Star Trek fans and by pop culture at large as the symbol of Star Trek. The Enterprise’s saucer and V-shaped nacelles, even in their many variations, make it the best-known Star Trek ship by far.
Just as the Enterprise is the ship synonymous with Star Trek, being the Captain of the Enterprise is a lofty distinction held by just a few. Kirk and Picard are the most recognized and respected Star Trek Captains because they led the Starship Enterprise, and Pike and Archer also hold that ever-increasing distinction as well. The Starship Enterprise is, indeed, a major character in Star Trek in its own right, and it’s arguably the most important character as well. After Star Trek Beyond in 2016, there was no Enterprise seen in Star Trek until the NCC-1701 returned in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. A version of the Enterprise in every Star Trek era in 2023 would fittingly enshrine its status as the greatest starship of all.
