On the other hand, if it had been refitted for orbital flight, then it would’ve replaced either Challenger or Columbia, which means it probably wouldn’t still be around to display as a museum exhibit.
Starfleet used the “USS” designation on certain computer graphics for United Earth NX-class starships, such as Enterprise NX-01 and Columbia NX-02. However, they did not label the hulls of the starships, and the ships were not commonly addressed with the prefix. (ENT: “Divergence”)
On Federation starships operated by Starfleet, the “USS” prefix was more prominently featured on the hull of the ship and as part of the starship’s official title. USS was referred to as standing for either “United Space Ship” (TOS: “The Cage”, “The Menagerie, Part I”, “Space Seed”, “The Gamesters of Triskelion”, “Patterns of Force”, “Assignment: Earth”, “Elaan of Troyius”) or “United Star Ship.” (TOS: “The Squire of Gothos”, “Court Martial”) This designation was used as early as 2167 on a Daedalus-class starship, the USS Essex. (TNG: “Power Play”)
I came here to say the same thing.
On the other hand, if it had been refitted for orbital flight, then it would’ve replaced either Challenger or Columbia, which means it probably wouldn’t still be around to display as a museum exhibit.
Hopefully it won’t be NASA’s last Enterprise.
Plenty of letters left in the alphabet!
I’m okay with it being NASA’s last Enterprise if and only if it’s because the next spaceship Enterprise is built by an entity other than NASA.
I hope it is because there’s no USA in the Federation.
Hard not to think there is when the ships are called “USS [name]”. Even if it doesn’t technically stand for that.
Huh? Federation vessels start with NCC.
Their registration numbers do; their names start with USS. “USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-D”
Lots of them have the USS prefix even if not always used https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/USS
Might want to read your own link there homie.
And my original comment:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701)
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