In the original Star Trek series, the USS Enterprise operated as a military vessel under the jurisdiction of Starfleet Command, an organization within the United Federation of Planets. The starship was devoted to space exploration, scientific research, and the mission of safeguarding the Federation.
The creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, selected the name USS Enterprise as a tribute to the famed World War Two aircraft carrier of the same name that survived incredible combat situations, and even destroyed two other enemy aircraft carriers in 1942.
The fictional Star Trek Enterprise received the designation NCC-1701. Contrary to a common misconception, the prefix “USS” stands for “United Star Ship” not “United States Ship” and it reflects an inclusive, united future for Earth, signifying a collaborative multinational effort in space exploration.
The “NCC” stands for “Naval Construction Contract” indicating that the starship was constructed for service within a naval-type organization, such as the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet.
Matt Jeffries, the designer of the Enterprise, proposed that the ship was the first vessel of Starfleet's 17th starship design, hence the registry number 17, then 01. And so, the final registry designation became NCC-1701.
The USS Enterprise NCC-1701, commanded by Captain James Kirk, has become an iconic symbol, not only within the Star Trek universe, but also in popular culture. The alphanumeric designation system designed by Jeffries has since become a standard in Star Trek lore, with subsequent series and movies featuring starships with similar registry formats.
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