USS Kearsarge

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

The USS Kearsarge was a Federation starship that was in service during the late 24th century.

In 2370, it was forced to delay a rendezvous with the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "Firstborn")

[edit] Background

The Star Trek Encyclopedia states that this vessel was a Challenger-class starship, with a registry of NCC-57566.

Additionally, according to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, this ship was named for the American aircraft carrier that served as the recovery vessel for Alan Shepard's Freedom Seven Mercury spacecraft. The name is derived from a mountain in New Hampshire, and various United States ships have been named USS Kearsarge, including a steam sloop-of-war during the American Civil War, and the current Kearsarge, amphibious assault ship LHD-3. The name was suggested by Star Trek fan and amateur Civil War historian William F.B. Vodrey, after whom the screenwriters named the Vodrey Nebula which appeared in the same episode.