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<table class="wiki-sidebar">
 
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center">[[Image:Enterprise_orig.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: left !important"><center>Original Configuration</center></td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Type:</td><td class="even">[[Heavy Cruiser]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Length:</td><td class="even">289 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Beam:</td><td class="even">132 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Draft:</td><td class="even">73 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Mass:</td><td class="even">190,000 metric tons</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Crew:</td><td class="even">430 (43 officers, 387 enlisted)</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Maximum Speed:</td><td class="even">Warp 8 (Cochrane scale)</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Armament:</td><td class="even">2 to 6 phaser emitters, 2 to 6 photon torpedo launchers</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Defenses:</td><td class="even">Deflector shields</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center">[[Image:Enterprise11.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: left !important"><center>Refit Configuration</center></td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Type:</td><td class="even">Heavy Cruiser</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Length:</td><td class="even">305 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Beam:</td><td class="even">141 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Draft:</td><td class="even">71 meters</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Mass:</td><td class="even">200,000 metric tons (est)</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Crew:</td><td class="even">500 (72 officers, 428 enlisted)</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Armament:</td><td class="even">6 phaser emitters (dual mounts), 6 phaser emitters (single mounts), 2 photon torpedo launchers</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="odd">Defenses:</td><td class="even">Deflector shields</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
The '''''Constitution'' class [[starship]]s''' were the premiere front-line [[Starfleet]] vessels in the latter half of the 23rd century. They were designed for long duration missions with minimal outside support. They are best known for their celebrated missions of galactic exploration and diplomacy which typically lasted up to five years.
 
   
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{{Sidebar starship class
==History==
 
  +
|name = ''Constitution'' class<br />{{small|AKA: ''Starship'' class<sup>[[#footnote 1|1]]</sup>}}
The ''Constitution'' class [[starship]]s were launched in [[2245]] ''([[Star Trek Encyclopedia]])'', and served as [[Starfleet]]'s front-line vessel for the rest of the century. The ''Constitution'' class starships also served as a mighty deterrent to both the [[Klingon Empire|Klingon]] and [[Romulan Star Empire|Romulan Empire]]s, several times taking part in combat actions which determined the fate of the entire [[Federation]] if not the [[Alpha Quadrant]] itself.
 
  +
|dt = ''Constitution'' class
  +
|tab1 = 2245-2254
  +
|tab2 = 2254-2265
  +
|tab3 = 2265-2270
  +
|t1image = USS Enterprise, 2254 (remastered).jpg
  +
|t2image = USS Enterprise, 2259.jpg
  +
|t3image = USS Enterprise, 2266 (remastered).jpg
  +
|t1caption = The USS Enterprise in 2254
  +
|t2caption = The USS Enterprise in 2259
  +
|t3caption = The USS Enterprise in 2267
  +
|owner = {{Federation}}
  +
|t1owner = {{Federation}}<br />[[Terran Empire]]
  +
|operator = Federation [[Starfleet]]
  +
|t1operator = Federation [[Starfleet]]<br />[[Imperial Starfleet]]
  +
|type = {{class|Starship}}<br />[[Class I heavy cruiser]]
  +
|t1active = [[2240s]]&ndash;mid [[2250s]]
  +
|t2active = mid [[2250s]]&ndash;mid [[2260s]]
  +
|t3active = mid [[2260s]]&ndash;[[2270]]
  +
|length = 288.6 [[meter]]s<sup>[[#footnote 2|2]]</sup>
  +
|t2length = 442 [[meter]]s<sup>[[#footnote 2|2]]</sup>
  +
|beam = 127.1 meters
  +
|t2beam = 201 meters
  +
|height = 72.6 meters
  +
|t2height = 93 meters
  +
|mass = Nearly 1,000,000 [[gross ton]]s
  +
|t2mass = 190,000 [[metric ton]]nes (gross tonnage)
  +
|decks = 22
  +
|t1crew = 203
  +
|t2crew = 200 {{small|(2250s)}}<br />430 {{small|(2260s)}}
  +
|t3crew = 430
  +
|speed = [[Warp factor|Warp 6]] {{small|(max. safe [[cruising speed]])}}<br />Warp 8 {{small|([[emergency speed]])}}
  +
|t1speed = [[Warp factor|Warp 7]]
  +
|armament = 6 [[phaser emitter]]s<br />2 fore [[torpedo launcher]]s<br />Aft torpedoes<br />[[Antimatter charge]]s
  +
|t2armament = [[Phaser array]]s<br />[[Fore]]/[[aft]] [[photon torpedo]]es
  +
|defenses = [[Deflector screen]]s <br /> [[deflector shield|Shields]]
  +
|t1image2 = USS Enterprise profile view, 2254-R.jpg
  +
|t1caption2 = The USS Enterprise in 2254
  +
|t2image2 = USS Enterprise port side, 2258.jpg
  +
|t2caption2 = The USS Enterprise in 2258
  +
|t3image2 = USS Enterprise, 2270.jpg
  +
|t3caption2 = The Enterprise in 2270
  +
|t3image3 = USS Enterprise inside space amoeba.jpg
  +
|t3caption3 = The Enterprise in 2267
  +
}}
   
  +
{{disambiguation link}}
The ship was probably refurbished some time between 2254, when there were 203 people aboard, ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Cage]]")'' and 2266, when the Constitution class had a crew complement of over 400 ''([[TOS]]: "[[Charlie X]]")''.
 
  +
The '''''Constitution''-class''' was a [[Federation]] {{class|Starship}}, [[Class I heavy cruiser]] that was utilized as the premier front line [[Starfleet]] [[starship|vessels]] during the mid-[[23rd century]].
   
  +
They were designed for long duration exploration and patrol missions with minimal outside support and were best known for their celebrated missions of galactic exploration and [[diplomacy]] and were capable of operating on [[five-year mission]] cycles, with an operating endurance of eighteen years. ({{s|TOS}}; {{s|TAS}}; {{s|SNW}}; {{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic'')
===USS ''Enterprise''===
 
The most famous ''Constitution'' class starship was the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS Enterprise]], launched under the command of Captain [[Robert April]] in [[2245]]. The Enterprise gained its reputation during its five year mission ([[2265]]-[[2270]]) under the command of Captain [[James T. Kirk]]. ''([[VOY]]: "[[Q2 (episode)|Q2]]")''
 
   
  +
== Design ==
===Refit Configuration===
 
  +
During the mid-23rd century, at least twelve ''Constitution''-class starships were commissioned by Starfleet. ({{TOS|Tomorrow is Yesterday}}) Construction of these starships occurred at [[Earth]]'s [[San Francisco Fleet Yards]], [[California]], and [[Luna]]'s [[Tranquility Base]]. ({{TAS|The Counter-Clock Incident}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly}}; {{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic'') Many of the same unit components for the ''Constitution''-class were also used in the construction of the related {{class|Sombra}}. ({{SNW|All Those Who Wander}})
In the late [[2260]]s, the ''Constitution'' class starships underwent a major refit program. The actual refitting took eighteen months of work and essentially a new vessel was built onto the bones of the old, replacing virtually every major system. Thus the ''Constitution'' class starships continued in service for a further twenty years.
 
[[Image:Wrath of khan enterprise.jpg|thumb|left|182px|Refit configuration ''Enterprise''.]]
 
Essential upgrades were made to the ''Constitution'' class' warp systems; the old cylindrical [[nacelle]]s were replaced with new angular ones, and also the warp nacelle strust were new, as they were connected to the engineering hull much closer to the neck than before. The [[engineering hull]] roughly retained its original shape - while the original hull was essentially a conical cylinder, the refit was much more rounded. As for the interior of the hull, the most obvious upgrades were the englargment of the shuttle deck and landing bay, as well as the addition of an horizontal [[Matter-antimatter reaction assembly|matter-anitmatter reaction assembly]] and a vertical intermix chamber.
 
   
  +
The ''Constitution''-class was generally designed for the roles of [[exploration]], [[patrol]], and [[defense]]. ({{TOS|The Cloud Minders}}) Within [[Federation space]], these vessels were viewed as having the role of protector within the [[civilian]] community. ({{TOS|Mudd's Women|The Conscience of the King|The Trouble with Tribbles}})
New also was the installment of the double [[photon torpedo]] launcher with its rectangular housing in the neck of the vessel. Furthermore, the [[saucer section]] was considerably extended with almost 20 metres, while the rest of the surface remained about the same. Major changes were made to the interior of the ''Constitution'' class starship, however; many new systems were added and existing onces upgraded. Summerizing, only the internal structure of the saucer and very few of the engineering hull and neck may have survived the [[2271]]-upgrade.
 
   
  +
One of the class' original [[designer]]s was [[Larry Marvick]], whose work included designing the controls for [[engineering]]. ({{TOS|Is There in Truth No Beauty?}}) [[Doctor]] [[Richard Daystrom]] was responsible for the basic design of the [[computer]]s used aboard this class. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer}}) By the [[2260s]], it was the assertion of [[Captain]] [[James T. Kirk]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} that his [[chief engineer]], [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Montgomery Scott]] "''knew everything about that ship there is to know. More than the men who designed it.''" ({{TOS|The Apple}}) Indeed, Scott even once [[bet]] Marvick himself that "''a [[bottle]] of [[scotch]] says you can't handle the controls you designed.''" ({{TOS|Is There in Truth No Beauty?}})
==Technical Data==
 
<table class="wiki-sidebar">
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class original saucer.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Original configuration saucer module.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit engineeringhull.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration engineering hull.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit warpjump.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration warp jump.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit impulsedrive.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration impulse drive.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit torpedo.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration torpedo bay.</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
===Physical arrangement===
 
The ''Constitution'' class starships were one of the first to feature the saucer-engineering hull design, which would later become recognizable for most other [[Starfleet]] vessels. The hulls were capable of [[saucer separation]] in case of emergency; the crew would than evacuate to the saucer module, while personnel unable to escape in time could abandon the engineering hull through way of escape pod. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Apple]]")''
 
   
  +
In order to keep the class up to date and allow their missions of exploration to continue, the ''Constitution'' class had the ability to be outfitted with new technology, especially since the ships were sometimes on the front lines without support and needed to hold their own. ({{SNW|Strange New Worlds}}; {{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|The Corbomite Maneuver}}; {{film|1}})
===Command and control systems===
 
The computer system aboard the ''Constitution'' class starship was [[duotronic]] based. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Ultimate Computer]]")''
 
   
===Propulsion systems===
+
== History ==
  +
=== Launch ===
Until [[2260]], the ''Constitution'' class was furnished with a [[lithium]]-controlled [[Matter-antimatter reaction assembly]], while a [[dilithium]]-controlled MARA was installed that year. The vessel's starndard cruising speed was [[Warp]] 6 (216c), while its maximum cruising speed was Warp 8 (512c). Maximum warp speed was reached by the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] at Warp 14.1 (2803c) due to sabotage to the vessel's [[warp drive]] system. ''([[TOS]]: "[[That Which Survives]]")''
 
  +
Future ''Enterprise'' captain, [[Robert April]], was present when the ship's unit components were built. ({{TAS|The Counter-Clock Incident}}) The ship itself was launched [[April|April 11]], [[2245]]. ({{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic''; {{SNW|Strange New Worlds}} ''[[Enterprise dedication plaque]]'') In addition to the ''Enterprise'', the {{USS|Constellation|NCC-1017}} and the {{USS|Cayuga}} were also launched the same year. ({{PIC|The Star Gazer}} ''commemorative plaque'', {{SNW|Hegemony}} ''display graphic'')
  +
{{bginfo|During the conception of ''Star Trek'', the producer's original intent was that the "''Enterprise''-class [sic] starships have been in existence for about forty years," according to the reference book ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'' (p. 203). Author [[Stephen Whitfield]], who had full access to production sources and staff (p. 12), wrote the book during the production of [[TOS Season 2|season two]] in 1967, narrowing the class launch window down to the mid-2220s, as the ''Original Series'' showrunners had placed their series exactly three-hundred years into the future from the production year of the underlying series season (p. 209).}}
   
  +
=== Early 2250s ===
Following the [[2271]] refit of the class, the ''Constitition'' was equipped with a linear dilithium-controlled MARA, and a pulse dilithium-controlled assembly was installed in [[2285]] aboard the USS ''Enterprise''. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
  +
During the early [[2250s]], the ''Constitution''-class starship, USS ''Enterprise'', made [[first contact]] with the [[Talosian]]s on [[Talos IV]]. This combined with her numerous other discoveries and achievements made her the Federation [[flagship]]. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
   
  +
By this point the ''Constitution''-class starships were considered Starfleet's premier vessels, as they were usually on the front lines patrolling [[Federation space]] and exploring uncharted areas just within the Federation's borders. ({{TOS|The Cage}}; {{DIS|Will You Take My Hand?}})
The ''Constitution'' class' [[impulse drive]] system was a twin-port fusion reactor engine, capable of 0.25c.
 
   
  +
Around the latter half of [[2254]], ''Constitution''-class vessels were outfitted with the latest technology. ({{TOS|The Cage}}; {{DIS|Will You Take My Hand?}}; {{SNW|Spock Amok}})
===Tactical systems===
 
Originally, the ''Constitution'' class starships were equipped with four capacitor-driven medium-power lasers. After 2260, the vessel had two [[phaser]] banks and three [[photon torpedo]] launchers (furnished with approximately one hundred torpedos) at its disposal. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Cage]]")''
 
   
  +
[[File:USS Discovery rendezvousing with USS Enterprise.jpg|thumb|left|''Enterprise'' rendezvous with the ''Discovery'', 2257]]
==Interior Design==
 
  +
When the {{dis|Federation-Klingon War|2256-57}} started, ''Constitution''-class ships were kept off the front lines, as a unit of last resort. At the time, the {{USS|Defiant|NCC-1764}} was assigned to patrol [[Sector 006]], while the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} was ordered to continue its then five-year mission under Captain [[Christopher Pike]]. This order took a toll on their crews. During this time, with the ships out away on their five-year missions, it was rare to see a ''Constitution''-class ship at all. ({{DIS|Despite Yourself|Brother}})
<table class="wiki-sidebar">
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution Original Bridge.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Original configuration bridge.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit bridge 1.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration bridge.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Constitution class refit bridge 2.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration bridge.</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:TUC bridge.jpg|200px]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td class="even" colspan="2" style="text-align: center">Refit configuration bridge (2293).</td></tr>
 
</table>
 
===Main Bridge===
 
Deck 1 was primarily composed of the vessel's [[Main Bridge]], and it was from here that the [[commanding officer]] supervised the entire starship's operation. When seated in the command chair, located in the sunken centre section, the commander had visual access to all major personnel station and view screens, facilitating the decision-making process. This room was the nerve centre of the ''Constitution'' class starship, and was manned by the top officers of each department.
 
   
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During the war, the ''Constitution'' class was not Starfleet's priority to keep refitted, as Starfleet was focusing on their warships to keep the [[Klingon]]s from taking [[Federation space]], such as the {{class|Crossfield}} and its [[spore drive]]. ({{DIS|Will You Take My Hand?|Through the Valley of Shadows}})
Navigation and vessel course control were carried out at the [[Helm|helm console]], located in the centre of the room. Directly above this station, affixed to the ceiling, was the navigational sensor input system. This device transmitted by laser all input from the ship's main navigational sensor array, and tied directly into the astrogator console beneath it.
 
   
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Aboard the ''Enterprise'' at least, new colorful [[Starfleet uniform (late 2230s-2250s)#Type B|Starfleet uniforms]] were adopted before some other ships. They were seen in use shortly after the Federation-Klingon War. ({{DIS|Brother}})
Other stations were provided for communications, engineering, weapons control, gravity control, damage control, environmental engineering, sciences and library computer, and internal security. All stations were normally manned at all times.
 
   
  +
=== Late 2250s and early 2260s ===
Mounted into the room's forward bulkhead, on the ship's centreline, was the [[viewscreen|main viewscreen]]. Visual sensor pickups located at various points on the ''Constitution'' class' outer hull were capable of image magnification and allowed a varied choice of viewing angles.
 
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise, 2259.jpg|thumb|The USS ''Enterprise'', ''Constitution''-class, circa 2259]]
  +
''Constitution''-class starships (along with their ''Sombra''-class counterparts) had retrofitting in 2259, updating the main AI and transporters. ({{DIS|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}; {{SNW|Strange New Worlds}})
   
  +
The ''Constitution''-class starship, the ''Enterprise'' was extensively refitted around 2265 in preparation for her first five-year mission under [[James T. Kirk]]. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|The Ultimate Computer}})
Only one [[turbolift]] serviced the bridge of the original configuration vessels. On the refit ''Constitution''s, the bridge had access to two. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
   
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[[File:USS Enterprise leaving galactic barrier.jpg|thumb|left|The unique configuration of the ''Enterprise'' in 2265]]
:''The Starfleet Technical Manual, now considered apocryphal, states that the bridge is rotated 37° port, which would have the turbolift shaft travel down the centerline of the saucer section. No good reason is given as to why the bridge crew is looking in another direction than they're travelling.''
 
  +
The USS ''Enterprise'' was the second known Federation ship to ever leave the galaxy, but sustained extensive damage in upon coming into contact with the [[galactic barrier]]. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before}})
   
===Officers' Lounge===
+
=== Late 2260s ===
  +
[[File:USS New Jersey.png|thumb|The USS ''New Jersey'' appearing in the configuration as it appeared during the late 2260s]]
[[Image:Constitution class refit lounge.jpg|thumb|210px|Refit configuration officers' lounge.]]
 
  +
Following the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s return to Federation space, the ship was repaired with new equipment that was later used on other ''Constitution''-class starships in 2266. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|The Corbomite Maneuver}})
Located at the stern of Deck 3 aboard the Refit Configuration ''Constitution'' class starship was the officers' lounge. Here, four huge view ports afforded a spectacular view of the ship's warp nacelles and space beyond. To the sides, small planet areas holded flora from several worlds and a small pool featured fresh-water tropical fish. Just forward of this section of the lounge were two privacy areas. In each privacy area, a view screen was mounted into the wall, providing a full exterior tour of the vessel. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
   
  +
The year [[2267]], however, saw a gathering of the class when a large group was assembled at [[Starbase 11]] for refitting and repairs. ({{TOS|Court Martial}})
===Officers' Quarters===
 
[[Image:Original Enterprise quarters.jpg|thumb|140px|Crew quarters.]]
 
Crew quarters were located throughout the saucer section - keeping with [[Starfleet]] tradition, Deck 5 housed the senior officers' quarters. These staterooms were quite similar to the V.I.P. units on Deck 4, with only a few differences.
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit officers quarters.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Refit configuration officers' quaters.]]
 
The sleeping area holded a single large bed which could double as a sofa during off-duty relaxation. The room's corner circular nook, normally occupied by a dining booth, could be modified at the officer's request.
 
   
  +
The ''Constitution''-class continued their exploration missions at this time, and the Enterprise went on perhaps the greatest mission to date under the command of James T Kirk, discovering and making contact with many new species. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|The Corbomite Maneuver|Turnabout Intruder}}; {{TAS|Beyond the Farthest Star}})
:''On [[Star Trek|the original series]], several "different" crew quarters were seen, but always the same set was used, changed by different lighting designs and furniture configuration.''
 
   
  +
Despite the successes of the class, exemplified by the performance of the ''Enterprise'', under Captain [[James T. Kirk]], the mission parameters for the ''Constitution''-class also meant that the vessels of the class operated under highly dangerous circumstances, resulting in a relatively high loss rate, and that being assigned to one was hazardous at best. Due to this, in the late 2260s, many ''Constitution''-class vessels were lost. In 2267 for example, the USS ''Constellation'' under the command of [[Commodore]] [[Matt Decker]] fell victim to what has become known as the "[[doomsday machine]]" when it was on a routine survey mission near system [[L-374]], and both the ship and crew were lost. ({{TOS|The Doomsday Machine}}) Likewise, and less than a year later in [[2268]], the [[Vulcan]]-manned USS ''Intrepid'' was lost with its entire crew in a fatal encounter with a huge [[space amoeba|simple cellular being]] in [[star system]] [[Gamma 7A system|Gamma 7A]] of [[Sector 39J]]. ({{TOS|The Immunity Syndrome}}) Later that year, the USS ''Exeter'' became infected with an unknown virus, a residue from [[Biological weapon|biological warfare]] which had raged on [[Omega IV]] and which the ship was orbiting, again killing her entire crew, save for its captain, [[Ronald Tracey]]. While undamaged, the contaminated ship was for the time being left adrift. ({{TOS|The Omega Glory}})
===Recreational Facilities===
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit recreation.jpg|thumb|200px|Refit configuration recreation room.]]
 
Aboard the original ''Constitution'' class starships, there were at least six recreation rooms, which included [[Three-dimensional chess|three dimensional chess]] and card game tables. Also aboard were a gymnasium, a bowling alley, a threatre, and a chapel. ''([[TOS]]: "[[Charlie X]]", "[[The Naked Time]]", "[[The Conscience of the King]]")''
 
   
  +
In late-[[2268]], the starships ''Excalibur'', ''Hood'', ''Lexington'', and ''Potemkin'' all took part in the disastrous testing of the [[M-5 multitronic unit]], which had been placed in control of the ''Enterprise''. The ''Excalibur'' was severely damaged, with all hands lost. The ''Lexington'' also was brutally assaulted by the M-5 computer when the unit became unstable. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer}})
On the refited ''Constitution'' class vessels, recreational facilities were further expanded. One large room in the centre of the starship's saucer section furnished off-duty personnel with a wide variety of recreational games and entertainment.
 
   
  +
Later that year, the ''Defiant'' responded to a distress call from an unexplored sector of space, claimed by the [[Tholian Assembly]]. Shortly upon entering the region, the ''Defiant'' crew began experiencing sensory distortion, and insanity quickly spread throughout the ship. The ship's surgeon was unable to determine what was happening, and eventually, the insanity induced by the phenomenon led the crew to kill each other. ({{TOS|The Tholian Web}})
At the front of the room was an immense, wall-mounted viewing screen. Beneath this was an information display alcove; five small screens exhibited, upon request, a choice of pictorial histories. A raised platform in the centre of the lower level floor featured a diversity of electronic entertainment.
 
   
  +
[[File:USS Defiant in Tholian drydock, 2155.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Defiant'' in a Tholian drydock facility]]
===Medical Facilities===
 
  +
Three weeks later, Starfleet ordered the ''Enterprise'' to mount a search mission to locate the ''Defiant''. On stardate 5693.2, the ''Enterprise'' located her adrift, lost between universes in a space warp. As a result of a later [[phaser]] exchange between the ''Enterprise'' and two {{dis|Tholian ship|23rd century}}s, a hole was created through the [[spatial interphase]], pushing the ''Defiant'' into the [[mirror universe]]. ({{TOS|The Tholian Web}})
On the original ''Constitution'' class starships, a [[Sickbay]] facility was located on Deck 6, which featured an examination room, a nursery, the [[Chief Medical Officer]]'s office and a medical lab. Elsewhere on the vessel, another medical lab and a biopsy were located. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Naked Time]]")''
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit sickbay.jpg|thumb|left|Refit configuration sickbay.]]
 
   
  +
=== 2270s refit ===
:''The sickbay set of the pilot episode ''"[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]"'' underwent considerably changes following the shooting of the episode for the remainder of the series.''
 
  +
In the early [[2270s]], the ''Constitution''-class underwent a massive refit and redesign which would later be known as the {{class|Constitution II}}. ({{film|1}}; {{PIC|The Bounty}})
   
  +
=== Mirror universe ===
With the class refit of 2271, the Medical Facilities of the ''Constitution'' class starship were considerably updated. New micro-diagnostic tables were capable of fully analyzing the humanoid body at the sub-cellular level, offering the physician a total understanding of the patient's status. Another new addition was the medical stasis unit, in which patients whose conditions were considered immediately life-threatening could be placed into suspended animation until the proper cure or surgical procedure could be established. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
  +
The ''Defiant'' emerged in the [[22nd century]] [[mirror universe]], where the Tholians of that universe had created the interphase rift by detonating a [[tricobalt]] warhead within the [[gravity well]] of a dead [[star]]. The ''Defiant'' was initially captured by the Tholians, but later taken over by the [[Terran Empire]] with control of the ship finally passing to {{mu|Hoshi Sato}}. ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
   
  +
[[File: USS Defiant Terran.jpg|thumb|The ''Defiant'' as modified by the Terran Empire]]
===Transporter Systems===
 
  +
In [[2256]] the {{USS|Discovery}} became inadvertently trapped in the mirror universe, where its crew discovered that the ''Defiant'' had in the meantime undergone substantial modifications while it had been in the service of the Terran Empire. ({{DIS|Despite Yourself}}) Upon her return to the prime universe however, their findings became part of all the intelligence pertaining to the USS ''Discovery'' that was sequestered by [[Starfleet Command]] as strictly classified after the ship had disappeared yet again in 2258. ({{DIS|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}) It explained why the command crew of the USS ''Enterprise'' was not aware of ''Defiant''{{'}}s fate when it chanced upon her derelict hulk in 2268, shortly before she transited into the mirror universe, also unbeknownst to the ''Enterprise'' command crew at the time. ({{TOS|The Tholian Web}})
Extravehicular transporter to and from the ship was accomplished by a number of transporter systems, which allowed personnel or equipment to be transported over large ranges. The transporter platform featured six pads, which were numbered clockwise, beginning with the right front. A redesigned field generator matrix was mounted into the rear wall of the chamber aboard the refit configuration ''Constitution'' class starships.
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit transporter.jpg|thumb|190px|left|Refit configuration transporter.]]
 
Aboard the refited ''Constitution'' class vessels, the transporter operator stood within an enclosed control pod, which had a floor-to-ceiling transparent aluminium panel through which he or she could view the transport platform. This panel served to shield the operator from the effects of any cumulative radiations emitted by the new transporter machinery, a side effect of the more powerful system.
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit armoury.jpg|thumb|200px|Refit configuration staging area.]]
 
A door in the standard transporter room wall leaded to a staging area where landing parties prepared for transporter. Four spacesuit lockers line one wall; each containing one suit, providing enough to clothe a standard party of four. A small, locked arms cabinet holded phasers; communicators, tricoders, translators, and outerwear were contained in a separate cabinet on another wall. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
   
  +
In 2267, the {{ISS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} was a ''Constitution''-class starship of the Imperial {{mu|Starfleet}} identical in configuration to the prime ''Enterprise'', as was discovered by ''her'' command crew when they too became inadvertently trapped on the mirror universe version of their ship. ({{TOS|Mirror, Mirror}}) They were unaware of the fact that she had been based off the USS ''Defiant'' whose transition into the mirror universe they would only witness the following year, although remaining unable to connect the dots.
===Engineering Section===
 
[[Main Engineering]] was from where the ship's [[warp|warp system]] was controlled. All thrust and power systems were primarily controlled form this site, as were the vessel's [[life support]] and gravitional control systems. ''([[TOS]]: "[[The Ultimate Computer]]")''
 
[[Image:Constitution Engineering.jpg|thumb|210px|Refit configuration engineering.]]
 
During the [[2271]] ''Constitution'' class refit, the interior design of the engineering section was drastically upgraded, featuring the vertical [[warp core]] and the horizontal intermix area. Main Engineering was lodged on Decks 14 and 15. Deck 14 was the uppermost level of the engineering hull, and was the anchoring framework for the connecting dorsal and the warp nacelle pylons. On the forward end of the deck was the engineering computer monitoring room, which encircled the cortical intermix shaft and opens, to the rear, into the engineering computer bay.
 
[[Image:Constitution class refit engineering.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Refit configuration engineering.]]
 
Deck 15 housed the main engineering room. Located in the centre of the room, and extending for many levels both above and below the deck, was the vertical linear intermix chamber. This complex, radically new design in intermix technology, provided operational power for the impulse drive system and furnished enough additional energy to power all other shipboard systems. Both matter and antimatter for this chamber were contained in a series of magnetic bottles, which were housed in pods at the base of the intermix shaft. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
   
  +
== Legacy ==
===Landing Bay and Cargo Facilities===
 
  +
By [[2401]], the original ''Constitution''-class had been completely phased out, though a few remained as training vessels. At least one ''Constitution''-class starship retaining its original design, the {{USS|New Jersey}}, was preserved in the [[Fleet Museum]] in its late 2260s configuration. ({{TNG|Relics}}; {{PIC|The Bounty}})
Deck 17 was the main access level of the [[engineering hull]]. The aft landing bay provided personnel in small craft with a means of entering or exiting the vessel, as did docking port on either side of the level.
 
   
  +
== Technical data ==
The refit configuration ''Constitution'' class starship featured a new landing bay design. A wide range of [[Starfleet]] and [[Federation]] craft could utilize this state-of-the-art landing facility. Alcoves on either side of the landing bay provided storage for up to six standard work bees, and furnished all necessary recharging and refuelling equipment. Additional space was available for the storage of non-ship shuttlecraft.
 
  +
=== Physical arrangement ===
[[Image:Constitution class refit landingbay.jpg|thumb|210px|Refit configuration landing bay.]]
 
  +
[[File:Constitution class schematics profile.jpg|thumb|Profile schematic: [[bridge]], [[shuttlecraft hangar]], [[secondary hull]], [[main sensor]], [[sensor array]] t[op]/b[ottom] ]]
Just within the landing bay doors was a force field generator unit, which was built into the main bulkheads on either side of the entry area. This field allowed craft to enter the ship, while at the same time retaining the atmosphere and temperature within the landing bay.
 
  +
[[File:Constitution class schematics, NCC-1700.jpg|thumb|Dorsal schematic: [[phaser bank]] [[port|p]]/[[starboard|s]], [[impulse power]], [[space/warp propulsion unit|space/warp propulsion 2 units]], [[primary hull]] ]]
  +
The ''Constitution''-class featured the [[saucer section]]-[[engineering section]]-[[warp nacelle]] layout common to most Starfleet vessels. All ship configurations of the class of the appeared to be identical at first glance, but closer inspection revealed minor detail differences on certain vessels. ({{TOS|The Cage|The Ultimate Computer}}; etc.)
   
  +
Various science labs, numbering fourteen in all, ({{TOS|Operation -- Annihilate!}}) were located in the primary hull in the class' configuration in the 2260s. There were at least seven [[turbolift]]s that serviced the primary and secondary hulls. ({{TOS|The Man Trap}}) The ''Constitution''-class had at least two [[briefing room]]s, one of which was located on Deck 14. ({{TOS|Mudd's Women}})
Deck 18, the refit configuration shuttlecraft hanger bay, was situated at the widest point of the engineering hull. Much of the deck consisted of open space, as it was the midlevel of the cargo facility; thirty-two cargo pod modules could be stored in the alcoves lining the forward, port, and starboard sides of the bay.
 
   
  +
The modular design of the ''Constitution''-class allowed for component separation in times of crisis. If an emergency was confined to the [[nacelle|warp engine nacelles]], it was theoretically possible to disengage and jettison the secondary hull while keeping the bulk of the vessel's main section intact. Any hull separation was considered a dangerous procedure and not always an option. ({{TOS|The Apple|The Savage Curtain}})
The shuttle hangar had sufficient room for the storage of four craft at any given time. During normal storage situations, these shuttlecraft faced aft ward.
 
   
  +
Though not an aerodynamic craft, in emergencies, ''Constitution''-class vessels were able to break orbit and enter a [[class M]] [[planet]]'s upper [[atmosphere]] (and maintain altitude control while passing through it) for a limited period of time, conditional on the ship's ability to re-achieve escape velocity. ({{TOS|Tomorrow is Yesterday}}; {{SNW|Strange New Worlds}})
This deck also housed the vessel's lifeboat facilities. These one-man craft, which escaped through blow-away panels in the side of the secondary hull, were provided for those persons were unable to reach the primary hull in case of an emergency. ''([[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]])''
 
   
  +
=== Propulsion systems ===
==Ships Commissioned==
 
  +
==== Warp engines ====
[[Image:Constitutions formation.jpg|thumb|Four ''Constitution''s fly in formation.]]
 
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise at warp.jpg|thumb|The ''Enterprise'' at warp]]
*[[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']] (NCC-1700)
 
  +
The ''Constitution''-class of starship were [[lithium]], and later [[dilithium]] {{dis|power|physics}}ed [[warp engine]]s that fueled a [[matter]]/[[antimatter]] [[propulsion system]] over its service lifetime. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|Mudd's Women}}; {{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic'') Altogether this allowed the class to spec a maximum safe [[cruising speed]] of [[Warp factor|warp 6]] (or 384[[speed of light|c]]) and an [[emergency speed]] of warp 8 (or 512c). ({{TOS|Amok Time|Obsession}}; {{TAS|One of Our Planets Is Missing}}; {{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic'')
*[[USS Constellation|USS ''Constellation'']] (NCC-1017)
 
*[[USS Defiant (NCC-1764)|USS ''Defiant'']] (NCC-1764)
 
*[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] (NCC-1701)
 
*[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)|USS ''Enterprise'']] (NCC-1701-A)
 
*[[USS Excalibur|USS ''Excalibur'']]
 
*[[USS Exeter|USS ''Exeter'']]
 
*[[USS Hood|USS ''Hood'']]
 
*[[USS Intrepid|USS ''Intrepid'']]
 
*[[USS Lexington|USS ''Lexington'']]
 
*[[USS Potemkin|USS ''Potemkin'']]
 
*[[USS Yorktown|USS ''Yorktown'']]
 
   
  +
{{dthumb|Constitution class warp nacelle interior.jpg|Constitution class warp nacelle interior.png|The inside length of antimatter nacelle|The inside width of [[antimatter nacelle]]|left}}
===Uncertain Ships===
 
  +
During the mid-2250s the ship was more than capable of operating nominally at [[warp factor|warp 7]]. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
*[[USS Essex|USS ''Essex'']]
 
  +
*[[USS Farragut|USS ''Farragut'']]
 
  +
The ''Enterprise'' infrequently exceeded warp 8; Chief Engineer Scott once confirmed, when asked if the ship could be capable of warp 8, that he could, and offered "''maybe a wee bit more,''" even offering to, "''sit on the warp engines myself and nurse them,''" if needed. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}}) While the ''Enterprise'' had once engaged at warp 9 to escape the [[Romulan Neutral Zone]] ({{TOS|The Enterprise Incident}}), doing so was highly discouraged because it was an unsafe velocity, as was noted following when the ship was taken over by the [[Beta XII-A entity]]. ({{TOS|Day of the Dove}})
*[[USS Kongo|USS ''Kongo'']] (NCC-1710)
 
  +
*[[USS Republic|USS ''Republic'']] (NCC-1371)
 
  +
With further modifications or influences, the ''Enterprise'' managed to even push beyond warp 9 on more than one occasion, once following modifications made by [[Lokai]], it exceeded warp 10, and again achieved warp 10 when it was drawn into the [[creation point]]. ({{TOS|Let That Be Your Last Battlefield}}; {{TAS|The Magicks of Megas-Tu}})
  +
  +
The ''Enterprise'' was also twice modified to achieve a speed of warp 11. The first time was when the probe ''[[Nomad]]'' increased the ship's engine efficiency by 57% in [[2267]] and allowed the ship to reach warp 11, but Kirk persuaded ''Nomad'' to reverse its "repairs" because the ship's structure could not stand the stress of that much power, and it would eventually destroy the ship. ({{TOS|The Changeling}}) The second time followed when more extensive modifications were made to the ship by the [[Kelvan]]s in [[2268]], who were able to produce velocities that were far beyond the reach of Federation science, allowing the ''Enterprise'' to safely maintain a cruising speed of warp 11 while traveling through the intergalactic void. ({{TOS|By Any Other Name}})
  +
  +
The maximum warp speed recorded for this class by itself was warp 14.1, achieved by the ''Enterprise'' due to sabotage to the vessel's [[warp drive]] system. While the ship itself was not structured to take that speed for any length of time, the ''Enterprise'' was able to maintain that velocity for nearly fifteen minutes. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}})
  +
  +
The ''Enterprise'' artificially maintained stability at warp 22 while tractored to a ship going warp 32. ({{TAS|The Counter-Clock Incident}})
  +
  +
If the reserves for the [[antimatter engine]] ever dropped of the [[indicator]] below two [[anti-kilo]]s, the engines would no longer [[regenerate]]. ({{TAS|One of Our Planets Is Missing}})
  +
  +
===== Bussard collectors =====
  +
[[File: Enterprise and Constellation bussard collectors.jpg|thumb|Bussard collectors]]
  +
[[File:Constitution class Bussard collecting deuterium.jpg|thumb|Bussard collector collecting deuterium]]
  +
The ''Constitution''-class was equipped with [[Bussard collector]]s at the front of the [[Nacelle|warp nacelles]]. The primary purpose of bussard collectors was that they could be used to collect interstellar hydrogen ([[deuterium]]) and other particles, however they could also be used to expel these gases as well. Bussard collectors were useful for when these ships passed through a hydrogen rich nebula, as it allowed them to pull in hydrogen which was the primary fuel source for the constitution class starship and their [[Warp core|warp cores]]. ({{TOS|The Cage|Where No Man Has Gone Before|The Corbomite Maneuver}}; {{DIS|Context Is for Kings|Will You Take My Hand?}}; {{SNW|Strange New Worlds|Lost in Translation}})
  +
{{clear}}
  +
  +
==== Impulse engines ====
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise maintaining impulse thrust.jpg|thumb|A close-up of the impulse drive assembly in 2266]]
  +
The main sub light drive on ''Constitution''-class starships was an [[impulse drive]], located at the back of the saucer/primary hull section of the ship and was where fusion exhaust propelled the ship.
  +
  +
A fusion explosion equivalent to at least 97.835 [[megaton]]s would result if the impulse engines were overloaded in 2267. ({{TOS|The Doomsday Machine}})
  +
  +
=== Tactical systems ===
  +
While the ''Constitution''-class was never meant as a [[warship]], the vessel was adequately well-armed for dealing with various threats. Exercising Federation defense policy and if need be, sustained conflict was built into them. Thus, they carried an array of weapons thus allowing them to hold their own against even [[D7 class|dedicated]] warships of its day. ({{TOS-R|Errand of Mercy}}, et al.)
  +
  +
==== Directed beam batteries ====
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise firing phasers.jpg|thumb|USS ''Enterprise'' firing her main batteries]]
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise firing phasers in 2259.jpg|thumb|...and seen firing a single phaser]]
  +
During the early [[2250s]], ''Constitution''-class heavy cruisers were armed with a complement of [[directed energy weapon]]s, that possessed enough {{dis|power|physics}} to destroy half a [[continent]] in a concentrated bombardment. In addition, these vessels carried on board [[laser cannon]]s, capable of operating on [[energy]] [[Energy beam|fed remotely]] from the ship. ({{TOS|The Cage|The Menagerie, Part I|The Menagerie, Part II}})
  +
  +
===== Laser cannons =====
  +
From 2254 to 2257, ''Constitution''-class vessels were fitted with laser cannons. These were an upgrade to the phase cannons on previous ships in Starfleet, however the laser cannons were quickly replaced by phaser banks once the technology was developed. ({{TOS|The Cage}}; {{DIS|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}; {{SNW|Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach}}; {{TOS|Balance of Terror}})
  +
{{bginfo|According to the ''[[Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology]]'' (p. 164), the advanced ship-board laser banks used by ''Constitution''-class starships were upgraded to phaser banks four years after the ''Enterprise'' had visited [[Talos IV]] in "The Cage".}}
  +
  +
===== Main phasers =====
  +
[[File:Phaser Control Room.jpg|thumb|left|Phaser control room]]
  +
With a range of approximately 90,000 [[kilometer]]s, the ''Constition''{{'}}s [[main phaser]]s were targeted via [[directional beam]] produced by the [[navigator]] or [[helmsman]] via a direct line of communication with [[phaser crew]]s located in the [[phaser control room]]. In order to prepare the ship for firing, the main phasers needed to be energized, primed, and brought to full power. ({{TOS|The Corbomite Maneuver|Balance of Terror|Arena}}) [[Phaser tracking control]]s was also used in phaser operation. ({{TOS|The Tholian Web}})
  +
  +
[[File:Constitution class phaser bank diagram.jpg|thumb|Diagram of forward phaser bank]]
  +
These ship mounted phasers were capable of being adjusted to a rate as low as 1/100th power, and like hand phasers were capable of [[stun]], heat, or disintegrate targets, including objects or beings in space or on a planet's surface. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer|A Piece of the Action}}) The focus could be adjusted from a narrow to a wide beam. ({{TOS|Who Mourns for Adonais?|Whom Gods Destroy|The Paradise Syndrome|A Piece of the Action}}) Targeting was typically done visually, but could also be accomplished on [[motion sensor]]s at a loss of accuracy. When only motion sensor readings were available, the ship's phasers could be set for [[proximity blast]] or a 100% dispersal pattern. ({{TOS|Balance of Terror|Errand of Mercy}})
  +
  +
{{dthumb|USS Enterprise phasers blue remastered.jpg|USS Defiant (NCC-1764) firing aft phasers.jpg|USS ''Enterprise'' firing forward phasers|...and the USS ''Defiant'' firing aft phasers|left}}
  +
By [[2257]], this class of ship had a standard complement of six [[phaser emitter]]s. ({{DIS|Brother}} ''display graphic'') This included placements at port, starboard, and mid-ship, among which were two to (up to) four forward phaser banks. ({{TOS|Balance of Terror|The Paradise Syndrome}}) There were also two banks each on the port and starboard on the dorsal surface of the primary hull. Two banks covered both flanks.({{TNG|Datalore}} ''[[:File: Constitution class schematics, NCC-1700.jpg|display graphic]]'')
  +
  +
By the late 2260s, the ship also had aft banks located above and below the [[shuttlebay]] on the [[secondary hull]]. ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|Based on dialogue from "The Paradise Syndrome", there were four forward phasers, though the visual effects in that episode depict two phasers firing on each discharge, suggesting a battery of eight forward phaser emitters.|In a scene description from the final draft script of "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", the aft phaser was said to be "beneath the hangar deck." However, the location of the aft phaser is shown on-screen to be above the hangar deck.}}
  +
  +
==== Torpedo systems ====
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise fires photon torpedo.jpg|thumb|Torpedo launcher in 2267]]
  +
''Constitution''-class ships [[torpedo tube]]s were located on the underside of the saucer section, and aft mounted capabilities at the end of the secondary hull. ({{TOS|Arena}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}) This combined arsenal was powerful enough to destroy the entire surface of a planet. ({{TOS|A Taste of Armageddon}})
  +
  +
The standard complement consisted of two 2 forward [[torpedo launcher]]s, as well as aft torpedoes. ({{DIS|Brother}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|According to a line of dialogue from {{TOS|Journey to Babel}}, Kirk ordered his crew to "''fire photon torpedoes two, four, and six''", indicating that the first three torpedoes in the "even" launcher were fired. Further dialogue in scene from {{TOS|Elaan of Troyius}}, in which all tubes were brought to bear, the full spread of torpedoes from the forward tubes consisted of six photon torpedoes, again indicating two tubes capable of rapidly firing three torpedoes at one time.|Dialogue from {{TAS|More Tribbles, More Troubles}} suggests that the first tube was identified as through the command/reply: "fire one"/"one fired".|Dialogue from "A Taste of Armageddon" states that the ''Enterprise'' possessed a complement of at least "a few dozen." According to the apocryphal ''[[Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology]]'' (p. 164), in the late 2260s configuration the ship carried a total of four hundred photon torpedoes.}}
  +
  +
==== Defensive systems ====
  +
The ''Constitution''-class starship had two types of [[defensive system]]s, consisting of [[deflector screen]]s and [[deflector shield|shields]]. The shield shield grid was divided into four segments, referred to as "number one shield", "number two shield", etc. ({{TOS|Journey to Babel|Elaan of Troyius}}) At full power, with the warp reactor tied into the shield system, it was capable of absorbing and repulsing a bombardment of energy impacts equal to the detonation of 360 [[photon torpedo]]es of the type the ''Enterprise'' was equipped with at the time, before the shielding power was completely lost. In [[2267]], for example, the ''Enterprise'' survived an attack from the ''[[Nomad]]'' probe. ''Nomad'' fired four powerful bolts of [[energy]], each with the equivalent force of ninety photon torpedoes. The first hit reduced shielding power only by twenty percent. After being hit with the equal force of 270 photon torpedoes, warp maneuvering power was lost. Shields were lost with the fourth hit. ({{TOS|The Changeling}}) A ship was no capable of firing full phasers with its screens up. ({{TOS|A Taste of Armageddon}})
  +
  +
The deflector shield grid was much more vulnerable to intense standard [[phaser]] bombardment. In [[2268]], an [[Orion scout ship]] was able to cause buckling in some of the shields of the ''Enterprise'' after it had made just five attack runs on the ship. On the seventh run, the ''Enterprise'' lost one of its four shields. ({{TOS|Journey to Babel}}) Other more powerful weaponry could take the shields down even more easily, the [[planet killer]] for example could completely deplete a ''Constitution''-class starship's shielding power with only three hits with its [[antiproton beam]]. ({{TOS|The Doomsday Machine}})
  +
  +
The diversion of all but [[emergency maintenance power]] to the shields had the adverse effect of reducing phaser power by fifty percent. ({{TOS|The Tholian Web}}) A single detonation of a [[nuclear warhead]] less than a hundred meters away could cause internal overloads on the ship and leak [[radiation]] through the shields to the outer regions of the ship. ({{TOS|Balance of Terror}}) Without the warp reactor to power the shields, the system was not very effective in protecting the ship. With only the [[impulse reactor]]s powering the shields, a {{class|D7}} [[Klingon]] [[battle cruiser]] could deplete a ''Constitution''-class starship's shielding power with only few passes of [[disruptor]] fire. ({{TOS|Elaan of Troyius}})
  +
  +
=== Navigational deflector ===
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise fires deflector beam.jpg|thumb|The navigational deflector dish]]
  +
The navigational deflector dish on ''Constitution''-class vessels was mounted at the front of the secondary hull. It was mainly used to deflect/repel debris and other objects.
  +
  +
In [[2268]] the USS ''Enterprise'' used a [[deflector beam]] to attempt to shift a large [[asteroid]] off course when it threatened the [[planet]] [[Amerind]]. The attempt failed and caused damage to the ship's power. ({{TOS|The Paradise Syndrome}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|[[Stephen E. Whitfield]] and [[Gene Roddenberry]]'s ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'' (p. 191) stated of the vessel's prominent dish: "''The starship's main sensor-deflector (a parabolic sensor and asteroid-deflector) is located at the front end of the secondary hull.''" In accordance with this, [[Franz Joseph]]'s ''[[Star Trek Blueprints]]'' labeled it as the "''main sensor and navigational deflector,''" although Joseph's ''[[Star Fleet Technical Manual]]'' omitted the latter and referred to it only as the "main sensor." Some [[Matt Jefferies]] concept sketches of the ship had earlier included a dome-shaped nosecone "sensor" in place of, or perhaps covering, the dish. (''[[Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook]]'', p. 68; ''[[The Art of Star Trek]]'', p. 9)}}
  +
  +
== Interior design ==
  +
The color scheme implemented aboard ''Constitution''-class ships was predominantly red-orange accents alongside dark gray or light gray paneling. These colors were accented with soft white light or multicolored lights installed in floor and wall paneling, and later, in the ceiling. This color scheme was put in and kept from the ''Constitution''-class refit of the mid-2250s to the early [[2270]]s. ({{s|TOS}}; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}; {{DIS|Brother|Such Sweet Sorrow|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}; {{ST|Q&A|The Trouble with Edward|Ask Not}}; {{DS9|Trials and Tribble-ations}})
  +
  +
{{see-list|Constitution class decks||''Constitution''-class decks}}
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:USS Enterprise corridor 2259.jpg|A typical corridor on the ''Constitution''-class, late 2250s
  +
File:USS Enterprise corridor.jpg|A typical corridor on the ''Constitution''-class, late 2260s
  +
File:Una and Spock in the turbolift.jpg|Turbolift car interior, late 2250s
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
=== Main bridge ===
  +
==== Overview ====
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise bridge dome.jpg|thumb|The translucent bridge dome]]
  +
Located at deck 1 atop of the [[primary hull]], the ''Constitution''{{'}}s [[main bridge]] directly supervised all primary mission operations and coordinated all departmental activities. Due to the age and variety of configurations of the ''Constitution''-class, bridge configurations varied from mission to mission and ship to ship.
  +
  +
{{bginfo|Multiple sets were used to represent the bridge of the original ''Constitution''-class. In {{s|TNG}}, a partial set was faithfully recreated for {{e|Relics}}, a full set was created for {{e|Trials and Tribble-ations}}, a new set with a slightly altered appearance was built for the two-part {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly}} and {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}, and starting with {{e|Such Sweet Sorrow}}, a completely new set, with updated design, bigger overall diameter, and a blend of touchscreen and classic jelly bean controls was introduced.}}
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:USS Enterprise Bridge, 2253.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2253
  +
File:Constitution class bridge 2250s.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2254
  +
File:USS Enterprise bridge, 2258.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2258
  +
File:USS Enterprise bridge, 2259.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2259
  +
File:USS Enterprise bridge, 2267.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2267
  +
File:USS Enterprise bridge overview, 2269.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2269
  +
File:USS Enterprise bridge wide, 2269.jpg|Bridge of the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2270
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==== Command chair ====
  +
The [[command chair]] was located in the recessed area at the center of the room, where consequently, the captain could be immediately updated on the condition of the vessel or its crew during missions, and orders could be given clearly with a minimum of effort. The chair was mounted on a circular pillar, attached to a rectangular footplate that was directly anchored to the deck. It was designed to swivel on the support so that the captain could turn to any member of the bridge crew.
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:Constitution command chair, 2254.jpg|The original gooseneck viewer in the mid-2250s
  +
File:USS Exeter command chair.jpg||A typical captain's chair during the mid-2260s
  +
File:Bob Wesley aboard Lexington.jpg|A high-back captain's chair during the late 2260s
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
The command chairs featured three slightly different versions of the same command chair. Most, such as the one on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}, featured a backrest that only reached the mid-back. The [[2250s]] and [[2260s]] version of this chair had a "gooseneck viewer" on the right armrest. ({{TOS|The Cage|Where No Man Has Gone Before}}) A few, such as that of the {{USS|Lexington|NCC-1709}}, had a full backrest. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|The full backrest used for the ''Lexington'' helped visually distinguish between the bridges of that ship and the ''Enterprise''. The same full backrest was used on the set re-dress of the bridge for the [[mirror universe]] {{ISS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} in the episode {{TOS|Mirror, Mirror}}.}}
  +
  +
[[File:Captain's chair controls.jpg|thumb|The captain's chair controls]]
  +
The command chair also had {{dis|button|electronics}}s on either of the arm rests used to operate the [[command console]]. The left side contained the button for [[companel]], and the right side contained buttons for manually placing the ship on [[red alert|red]] or [[yellow alert]], as well as one to jettison [[ion pod|pod]]. ({{TOS|Court Martial}}) The gooseneck viewer was eliminated by [[2266]], but the other console controls remained. ({{TOS|The Corbomite Maneuver}})
  +
  +
==== Bridge stations ====
  +
The command chair was position was equidistant from all the [[control console]]s that operated specific bridge stations.
  +
  +
Piloting and navigation functions were carried out at the [[helm console]], located in the center of the room, positioned in front of the command chair. This panel consisted of three main sections.
  +
  +
On the left was a compartment which opened automatically to permit operation of the targeting scanner. Next to this was the main control panel, which operated maneuvering [[thruster]]s, [[impulse]] engines, and fired the ship's weapons. Directly below this panel was a row of eight flip-switches provided to set warp flight speeds.
  +
  +
The central section of the conn panel was fitted with a number of sensor monitor lights and was dominated by two main features: the alert indicator and the [[astrogator]], which was used for long-range course plotting. The [[navigation console]] had a control panel for entering the course and heading data and the flight path indicator and supplied information on any deviations or course corrections in progress. It also had controls for the weapons systems.
  +
  +
[[File:Constitution class bridge console, 2258.jpg|thumb|left|A duotronic-based data-input bridge console]]
  +
Other stations on the bridge were provided for [[communications station]], [[engineering station]], [[weapons control]], [[gravity control]], [[damage control]], [[environmental engineering]], [[Science station|science]] and [[library computer]], and internal security. ({{TOS|This Side of Paradise|The Ultimate Computer}}, et al.) All computer systems aboard the ''Constitution''-class were [[duotronic]]-based. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer}}; {{DS9|Trials and Tribble-ations}})
  +
During the mid-2260s, these consoles were [[203-R]] compatible. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before}})
  +
  +
==== Additional features ====
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise viewscreen, 2259.jpg|thumb|The viewscreen aboard the USS ''Enterprise'' in 2259]]
  +
Mounted into the room's forward bulkhead was the main [[viewscreen]]. Visual sensor pickups located at various points on the ''Constitution''-class' outer hull were capable of image magnification and allowed a varied choice of viewing angles. ({{TOS|The Corbomite Maneuver|Balance of Terror}}, et al.)
  +
  +
[[File:Automatic bridge defense system.jpg|thumb|left|The automatic bridge defense system deployed]]
  +
In the late [[2260s]], along with the added turbolift, the bridge design changed from a segmented flat-panel peripheral station configuration to a completely circular design, including curved overhead viewscreens, and railings and steps which matched the arc of the circumference. At the same time, an [[automatic bridge defense system]] was also installed atop the ceiling. ({{TAS|Beyond the Farthest Star}})
  +
{{bginfo|According to production designer Matt Jefferies, dramatic necessity required the turbolift to be moved from its planned center-line position (as seen on the ''Enterprise'' model). This offset placement allowed characters to walk onto the bridge and enter scenes without being blocked by actors sitting in the command chair.}}
  +
  +
===Main engineering===
  +
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[File:USS Enterprise Engineering 2259.jpg|360px]]
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="2" class="even" |<center>USS Enterprise main engineering, 2259</center>
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Constitution class engineering, 2266.jpg|180px]]
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Constitution class engineering, 2268.jpg|180px]]
  +
|-
  +
| class="even" |<center>main engineering, [[2266]]</center>
  +
| class="even" |<center>main engineering, [[2268]]</center>
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Constitution class warp core, 2269.jpg|180px]]
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Constitution class main engineering dilithium chamber.jpg|180px]]
  +
|-
  +
| class="even" |<center>main engineering, [[2269]]</center>
  +
| class="even" |<center>[[Dilithium chamber]] in engineering in 2269</center>
  +
|}
  +
[[Main engineering]] was from where the ship's warp was controlled. All thrust and power systems were primarily controlled from this site, and it is also where the main dilithium crystal reactor/warp core was located for most of the ship's life. Life support was controlled separately from Deck 6. ({{TOS|The Ultimate Computer|The Corbomite Maneuver|The Naked Time|The Enemy Within|The Conscience of the King}}, {{e|Day of the Dove}})
  +
  +
In 2259, the warp core was located in main engineering. The matter and antimatter were directed down into the reaction chamber where the dilithium crystals were and then the resulting electro-plasma was directed through unseen conduits into the warp conduits on the walls in the back of the engineering room to the warp nacelles. ({{SNW|Strange New Worlds|Ghosts of Illyria}})
  +
  +
In 2266, the warp core was moved to a separate room called the dilithium crystal energizer room, where the main warp reaction occurred horizontally. The warp plasma conduits to the nacelles remained in main engineering but were secured being a grate. ({{TOS|The Alternative Factor}}) In 2268, the warp core was moved back to Engineering, with the dilithium crystals and main reaction occurring in a dilithium crystal converter. The matter anti-matter reaction still happened horizontally at this time and was still directed into unseen conduits beneath the engineering deck. In late 2269, a new vertical component of the warp core was added to the dilithium crystal converter. ({{TAS|The Terratin Incident}})
  +
  +
=== Transporter rooms ===
  +
Extravehicular transporter to and from the ship could be accomplished by a number of transporter systems besides the airlocks, which allowed personnel or equipment to be transported over large ranges. The transporter platform featured six small pads, which were numbered clockwise, beginning with the right front. ({{SNW|Strange New Worlds}}, {{TOS|The Cage|Where No Man Has Gone Before}}) A large section in the middle of the transporter could be used to transport large cargo. ({{TOS|Dagger of the Mind}})
  +
  +
A door in the standard transporter room wall led to a staging area where landing parties prepared for transporter. ({{TOS|The Cage}})
  +
  +
The transporter room was also outfitted with a food slot. ({{TOS|Tomorrow is Yesterday}})
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:Constitution transporter 2250s.jpg|Inward view of a [[transporter room]] from the late [[2250s]]
  +
File:Constitution transporter room, 2259.jpg|Inward view of a [[transporter room]] in [[2259]]
  +
File:Constitution class transporter room, 2268.jpg|Inward view of a transporter room, ca. [[2268]]
  +
File:Constitution class transporter room, 2269.jpg|Inward view of a transporter room, ca. [[2269]]
  +
File:Constitution transporter room from pad, 2269.jpg|View from transporter pad, ca. 2269
  +
File:Constitution class transporter, 2266.jpg|[[Transporter pad]]
  +
File:Constitution class transporter console, 2267.jpg|[[Transporter console]]
  +
File:Constitution class transporter room food slot.jpg|[[Food slot]]
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Landing bay and cargo facilities===
  +
The aft [[landing bay]] provided personnel in small craft with a means of entering or exiting the vessel.
  +
  +
The 2260s configuration of the ''Constitution''-class carried a standard complement of 4 [[shuttlecraft]], some of which were [[Class F shuttlecraft|Class F]]. ({{TOS|The Omega Glory}})
  +
  +
The class contained at least five [[cargo hold]]s. ({{TAS|Beyond the Farthest Star}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|This may have varied per ship, as while the {{USS|Exeter|NCC-1672}} was specifically stated to just have four, the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} was seen with one Class F and three other shuttles in its shuttlebay in {{TAS|Mudd's Passion}}. The same ship was also seen to have at least two Class F shuttles earlier in {{TOS|The Galileo Seven}}, so its shuttle configuration may have varied over time as well.}}
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:Constitution class shuttle bay, 2259.jpg|External view, 2259
  +
File:Galileo approaches USS Enterprise from Vulcan.jpg|External view, 2267
  +
File:Galileo and Columbus on hangar deck.jpg|Internal view
  +
File:Enterprise shuttlebay, 2269.jpg|Internal view with full complement of shuttles
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
=== Sickbay ===
  +
[[File:Constitution class sickbay, 2259.png|thumb|''Constitution''-class sickbay in 2259]]
  +
[[File:Constitution class sickbay, 2270.jpg|thumb|Biobeds in sickbay]]
  +
On the ''Constitution''-class starships in the late 2260s, a [[sickbay]] facility was located on Deck 6, which featured an examination room, a nursery, the [[chief medical officer]]'s office and a medical lab. At least one other medical lab was located elsewhere on the vessel, and was used for biopsy, among other things. Sickbay was considered the safest place to be on the ship during combat. ({{TOS|The Naked Time|Elaan of Troyius}}) Many of the tools used in the Sickbay aboard the USS ''Enterprise'', following her launch, were designed by her first [[medical officer]], [[Doctor]] [[Sarah April]], as life aboard required frequent improvisation. ({{TAS|The Counter-Clock Incident}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|The sickbay set of the pilot episode {{e|Where No Man Has Gone Before}} underwent considerable changes following the shooting of the episode for the remainder of the series.}}
  +
  +
=== Crew lounge and recreation facilities ===
  +
The crew/officers lounge on ''Constitution''-class starships offered an officers' lounge, adored by multiple viewpoints and with tables and a seating area.
  +
  +
In the late 2260s, the crew lounge was located at the front of the saucer section, just above the three windows below it. ({{SNW|Strange New Worlds}})
  +
  +
In the late 2260s, there were at least six recreation rooms, which included [[three-dimensional chess]] and card game tables. There was also a [[Recreation room|holographic rec room]], which was the predecessor of the [[holodeck]]. Also aboard were an [[arboretum]], [[galley]], [[gymnasium]], a [[bowling alley]], a theater, and a [[chapel]]. ({{TOS|Charlie X|The Naked Time|The Conscience of the King|Is There in Truth No Beauty?}})
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:USS Enterprise officer's lounge 2259.jpg|Officers' lounge on a ''Constitution''-class vessel in 2259
  +
File:USS Enterprise bar 2259.jpg|A bar on a ''Constitution''-class
  +
File:Constitution class recreation room.jpg|A typical recreation room (2260s)
  +
File:Constitution class mess hall.jpg|[[Mess hall]]
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Crew quarters===
  +
Crew quarters were located throughout the saucer section &ndash; keeping with [[Starfleet]] tradition, Deck 5 housed the senior officers' quarters.
  +
  +
From the 2250s to at least 2265, officers' quarters on a ''Constitution''-class were larger than in latter half of the 2260s and later due to an increase in a ''Constitution''-class' crew compliment size from 203 to 450. ({{TOS|The Cage}}; {{DIS|Brother|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}; {{SNW|Strange New Worlds|Children of the Comet|Spock Amok}}; {{TOS|The Enemy Within}})
  +
{{bginfo|In "The Cage", Pike claims to be responsible for 203 lives. In "Brother", set three years later, scans still show 203 crew members, which was explicitly called the vessel's "entire complement." This crew count originated from Gene Roddenberry's original March 1964 ''[[Star Trek is...]]'' pitch (p. 9), whereas he had revised the number upwards to 430, "approximately one-third of them female", in the 17 April 1967 third draft of the series' "The Writer's Bible", aka ''{{dis|The Star Trek Guide|production document}}'' (p. 7).|The number of personnel assigned to the ship, as noted in numerous TOS episodes, including {{e|The Ultimate Computer}}, which was set a decade later, establihsed a crew compliment of 430. This number was later adopted by Franz Joseph for his 1975 ''Technical Manual'', whose "Class I Heavy Cruiser &ndash; Constitution Class Starships" specifications in turn became the source a [[:File:USS Enterprise details and specs.jpg|display graphic]] that was erroneously featured in "Brother", stating the larger crew size found under Kirk's command, specifically a crew compliment of 430 (43 [[officer]]s, 387 [[enlisted]]).}}
  +
  +
For most of a ''Constitution''-class starship's life, the officers' quarters featured two areas, separated partly by a wall fragment. One area was allocated as sleeping area, featuring a comfortable bed, and another as work area, including a desk and computer terminal. Entrance to a bathroom was provided through the quarter's sleeping area. Both areas could be configured to personal preference. ({{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}; {{TOS|The Enemy Within}})
  +
  +
{{bginfo|On the original series, several "different" crew quarters were seen, but always the same set was used, changed by different lighting designs and furniture configuration.}}
  +
  +
<gallery>
  +
File:Christopher Pike on his bed, remastered.jpg|Captain's quarters, 2254
  +
File:Pike's quarters, 2259.jpg|Captain's quarters, 2259
  +
File:Michael Burnham in Spock's quarters.jpg|[[Crew quarters]], 2250s
  +
File:Constitution class quarters, 2269.jpg|Crew quarters, 2260s
  +
File:Jonathan Archer (mirror) in a wraparound tunic.jpg|Senior officers' quarters, 2260s
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Ships commissioned==
  +
{| width="100%" |
  +
| valign="top" width="50%" |
  +
;Certain<sup>[[#footnote 3|3]]</sup>:
  +
*[[NCC-1700]]
  +
*{{USS|Cayuga}} (NCC-1557)
  +
*{{USS|Constellation|NCC-1017}} (NCC-1017)
  +
*{{USS|Defiant|NCC-1764}} (NCC-1764)
  +
*{{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} (NCC-1701) (later [[Constitution II class|refit]])
  +
*{{USS|Excalibur|NCC-1664}} (NCC-1664)
  +
*{{USS|Exeter|NCC-1672}} (NCC-1672)
  +
*{{USS|Hood|NCC-1703}} (NCC-1703)
  +
*{{USS|Intrepid|NCC-1631}} (NCC-1631)
  +
*{{USS|Lexington|NCC-1709}} (NCC-1709)
  +
*{{USS|New Jersey}} (NCC-1975)
  +
*{{USS|Potemkin|NCC-1657}} (NCC-1657) (later refit)
  +
;Alternate
  +
*{{ISS|Enterprise|NCC-1701| (NCC-1701)}} (in the [[mirror universe]])
  +
*{{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701| (NCC-1701)}} (in an [[alternate timeline]])
  +
*{{UEF|Enterprise}} (in an alternate timeline)
  +
| valign="top" width="50%" |
  +
;Unnamed
  +
*[[Constitution unnamed 000|Unnamed ''Constitution''-class starships]]
  +
;Fictional
  +
*{{USS|Ravenous}}
  +
;Uncertain:
  +
*[[NCC-1685]]
  +
*[[NCC-1697]]
  +
*[[NCC-1718]]
  +
*[[NCC-1831]]
  +
*{{USS|Kongo}} (NCC-1710)
  +
*{{USS|Republic}} (NCC-1371)
  +
*{{USS|Valiant|2259}}
  +
*{{USS|Yorktown|23rd century}}
  +
|}
   
 
==Appendices==
 
==Appendices==
 
===Appearances===
 
===Appearances===
  +
The ''Constitution''-class ''Enterprise'' appeared in every episode of [[SNW]], [[TOS]], and [[TAS]] (except for {{e|The Slaver Weapon}}). Episodes featuring other ''Constitution''-class vessels, or the ''Enterprise'' for other series, are listed below.
*[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]
 
  +
<div class="appear">
*[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]
 
  +
* {{TOS}}
*[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]
 
  +
** {{e|Court Martial}} {{small|(remastered only)}}
*[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]
 
  +
** {{e|The Doomsday Machine}}
*[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]
 
  +
** {{e|The Ultimate Computer}}
*[[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]
 
  +
** {{e|The Omega Glory}}
*[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]
 
  +
** {{e|The Tholian Web}}
  +
* {{Star Trek films}}:
  +
** {{film|1}} {{small|(painting)}}
  +
** {{film|2}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{film|3}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{film|4}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{film|7}} {{small|(painting)}}
  +
** {{film|8}} {{small|(model)}}
  +
** {{film|10}} {{small|(model)}}
  +
* {{TNG}}
  +
** {{e|The Naked Now}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{e|Haven}} {{small|(model)}}<!--which version?-->
  +
** {{e|Datalore}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{e|Booby Trap}} {{small|(model)}}
  +
** {{e|The First Duty}} {{small|(model)}}
  +
** {{e|Relics}} {{small|(holographic recreation of bridge)}}
  +
* {{DS9}}
  +
** {{e|The Nagus}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{e|Trials and Tribble-ations}}
  +
** {{e|What You Leave Behind}} {{small|(corridor in montage scene)}}
  +
* {{VOY|In the Flesh}} {{small|(wall display)}}
  +
* {{ENT}}
  +
** {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly}}
  +
** {{e|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}
  +
** {{e|These Are the Voyages...}} {{small|(archive footage)}}
  +
* {{DIS}}
  +
** {{e|Despite Yourself}} {{small|(display graphic)}}
  +
** {{e|Will You Take My Hand?}}
  +
** {{e|Brother}}
  +
** {{e|If Memory Serves}} {{small|(archive footage)}}
  +
** {{e|Such Sweet Sorrow}}
  +
** {{e|Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2}}
  +
* {{ST|Ephraim and Dot}}
  +
* {{PIC}}
  +
** {{e|Maps and Legends}} {{small|(hologram)}}
  +
** {{e|The Star Gazer}} {{small|(display graphic)}}<!--which version?-->
  +
** {{e|The Bounty}}
  +
** {{e|Vox}}
  +
** {{e|The Last Generation}}
  +
* {{LD}}
  +
** {{e|An Embarrassment Of Dooplers}} {{small|(photograph)}}
  +
** {{e|Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus}} {{small|(display graphic)}}<!--which version?-->
  +
* {{PRO}}
  +
** {{e|Starstruck}} {{small|(hologram)}}<!--which version?-->
  +
** {{e|All the World's a Stage}} {{small|(stageplay backdrop; holographic recreation of consoles)}}
  +
* {{SNW}}
  +
** {{e|Spock Amok}}
  +
** {{e|A Quality of Mercy}}
  +
** {{e|Among the Lotus Eaters}}
  +
** {{e|Subspace Rhapsody}} {{small|(interior only)}}
  +
** {{e|Hegemony}}
  +
</div>
   
===Background===
+
=== Background information ===
  +
==== Name {{anchor|footnote 1}} ====
[[Image:Constitution class model.jpg|thumb|160px|''Constitution'' class model.]]
 
  +
For information on the origin of the ''Constitution''-class designation, please see {{class|Starship}}.
[[Matt Jefferies]] designed the original ''Constitution'' class starship for [[Star Trek|the original series]]. The image to the right show the almost final version of the first ''Enterprise''. The next design stage was the preparation of scale drawing for model builder [[Don Loos]], incorporating the final changes that would turn this into the ''Enterprise'' recognized by millions.
 
   
  +
==== Interiors ====
For [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]], a new ''Enterprise'' was designed by [[Andrew Probert]], based upon [[Mike Minor]]'s concepts for [[Star Trek: Phase II]]. Other artists who worked on the refit design were [[Joe Jennings]], [[Douglas Trumbull]], and [[Harald Michelson]].
 
  +
{{See-list|Constitution class sets||''Constitution''-class sets}}.
   
====Interior Design====
+
==== Size {{anchor|footnote 2}} ====
<table class="wiki-sidebar">
+
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
  +
|-
<tr><td colspan="2" align="left">[[Image:Officers lounge location.jpg|200px|Officers' lounge elevation sketch.]]</td></tr>
 
<tr><td colspan="2" align="left">[[Image:Officers lounge concept.jpg|200px|Officers' lounge concept art.]]</td></tr>
+
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[File:USS Enterprise NCC-1701 finalized plan.jpg|360px]]
  +
|-
</table>
 
  +
| colspan="2" |<center>Jefferies' detailed size plan views he created for AMT</center>
[[Andrew Probert]] was production illustrator for ''The Motion Picture''. A key concern of his was was that the sets built somehow conform to the structure of the starship they are supposed to exist within. Here we see Andrew Probert's development sketches for an officer's lounge in the saucer section's upper dome. Probert's concept art was, however, not used for the movie, and a much cheaper set was constructed for the scene.
 
  +
|-
[[Image:Mike Minor cargodeck.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Mike Minor concept.]]
 
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:D7-class and Enterprise scale drawings.jpg|180px]]
Probert's main contribution for the ''Enterprise'' interior came in the form of the vessel's cargo deck, thoughts on which had already been visualized by veteran [[Mike Minor]], before Probert had a chance to address it. Minor worked at the Paramount lot, while Probert was at the Robert Abel special effects facility designing various pieces of space hardware.
 
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" |[[File:Constitution-D7 class comparison.jpg|180px]][[File:Constitution-D7 class comparison 2.jpg|180px]]
<table class="wiki-sidebar">
 
  +
|-
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:TMP cargobay film.jpg|200px|Filmed cargo deck scene.]]</td></tr>
 
  +
| class="even" |<center>Jefferies' size comparison graphics production art…</center>
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:TMP cargobay matte.jpg|200px|Matte painting.]]</td></tr>
 
  +
| class="even" |<center>…as featured in "The Enterprise Incident"</center>
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Probert matte rendering.jpg|200px|Andrew Probert matte rendering.]]</td></tr>
 
  +
|}
<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">[[Image:Probert matte rendering 2.jpg|200px|Andrew Probert matte rendering.]]</td></tr>
 
  +
The length of the ''Constitution''-class had for over half a century been accepted as being 947 feet (289 meters) long, a figure once propagated across nearly all contemporaneous [[reference works]] dealing with the subject, beginning with [[Stephen Edward Poe]]'s [[reference book]], ''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', p. 178. The origin of the graphic used was designer [[Matt Jefferies]], who had originally produced the graphic in 1967 not for the actual ''Original Series'' production, but as a reference for Poe's employer, [[Star Trek model kits|model kit]] company [[Aluminum Metal Toys]] (AMT) for their 1968 second edition retooled USS ''Enterprise'' model kit, No. S951 &ndash; where the graphic was displayed on the side of the box. Prior to this, a specific length for the starship had not been solidly defined as producer [[Gene Roddenberry]]'s memo of 24 August 1964 evidenced, "''We anticipate a final design might see the ship as 200 feet in length, and thus even a 1&frac12;-inch scale would give us quite a huge [[Studio model|miniature]].''" This early estimate, initially accompanied with an intended crew complement of 203, would more or less stand until Jefferies utilized his engineering background to recalculate the figures for his design three years later (''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', pp. 89, 134).
</table>
 
The thinking, then at Paramount under production designer [[Harold Michaelson]], was that the cargo bay would be a space 30 feet high that had two walls with twelve holes containing cargo pods. Mike Minor's cargo deck design shows us cargo pods simply stacked or lined up on the deck, leaving a huge open and unused space above. The walkways along the sides were also rather old fashioned looking.
 
   
  +
The first brief onscreen indication of scale occurred when two ship size comparison graphics were featured in the ''Original Series'' [[TOS Season 3|third season]] episode {{e|The Enterprise Incident}}. The two computer console graphics, also created by Jefferies, showed a ''Constitution''-class vessel in comparison with the {{class|D7}}, along with a barely discernible yardstick. Careful measurement of the production art using that yardstick produces a figure close to but not entirely congruent with other sources, placing the ''Constitution''-class vessel as depicted here at 900 feet (274 meters). Jefferies later sold this original art, including that created for AMT, in the [[Profiles in History]] ''[[The Star Trek Auction]]'' of 12 December 2001, in order to raise funding for the {{w|Motion Picture & Television Fund}} charity.
The image to the right shows the plate of the cargo deck scene, filmed from [[James T. Kirk|Kirk]]'s perspective as he enters the new ''Enterprise''. What Andrew Probert was required to do was to get a frame of plate film and have it printed at a pre-determined size. Part of this frame, required for the live action elements, would be cut out and pasted to a piece of illustration board. The remaining blank board, intended to be the matte, would then be painted around that piece, blending the two together.
 
[[Image:TMP Enterprise cut.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Cargo deck sketch.]]
 
Following a discussion with [[Douglas Trumbull]] examining the logic of the early cargo deck concepts, this elevation sketch of the ''Enterprise'' was drawn by Andrew Probert upon Trumbull's question how the pods would get in and out of the cargo deck. What Probert proposed was that the landing bay and cargo deck be connected, allowing the easy passage of cargo trains.
 
   
  +
{{dthumb|File:USS Enterprise details and specs.jpg|File:Paul Stamets at USS Discovery's bridge engineering station.jpg|The excised ''Enterprise'' specs graphic shot in "Brother"&hellip;|&hellip;partially visible elsewhere in the episode}}
The idea was that shuttles would normally take off from and land in the landing bay. They then could be lowered to the Hanger Bay level, or lowered another level to shuttle maintenance. A multi-paneled two-story door, between the elevators and cargo bay, has been opened to the sides allowing the transfer of cargo.
 
  +
With the return of the class to the limelight as redesigned for its {{s|DIS}} and {{s|SNW}} appearances, a new set of specific dimensions were established onscreen in a recurring manner for the first time. Most easily seen during {{SNW|Memento Mori}}, a length of 442 meters (1450 feet), width of 201 meters, and height of 93 meters can be identified on the [[dedication plaque]] of the ''Constitution''-class USS ''Enterprise'' as it was in 2259. Of the 53% increase from the prior reference material figures, ''Discovery'' Production Designer [[Tamara Deverell]] said following its debut, "''Overall, I think we expanded the length of it to be within the world of our Discovery, which is bigger, so we did cheat it as a larger ship.''" {{TrekMovie.com|2018/03/24/7-things-we-learned-about-star-trek-discovery-season-2-at-wondercon-visionaries-panel}} In the redesign's debut episode {{e|Brother}}, Deverall intended to leave behind what she called an "Easter egg for the fans" in the form of a {{USS|Discovery}} bridge display screen which stated the prior reference dimensions of 288.6 meters long, 127.1 meters wide, and 72.6 meters high, taken from [[Franz Joseph]]'s ''[[Star Fleet Technical Manual]]''. A full view establishing shot of the complete graphic on a freestanding bridge monitor screen, featuring these figures, was filmed but eventually trimmed from the episode as aired. However, the graphic remained partially visible on two other ''Discovery'' bridge station computer screens; [[Joann Owosekun]]'s [[ops station]] and [[Paul Stamets]]' [[engineering station]], {{TrekMovie.com|2019/02/10/star-trek-discovery-designers-show-concept-art-and-talk-changing-sets-uss-enterprise-and-more}} legible in the latter case.
   
  +
[[File:USS Cayuga CGI Wireframe.jpg|thumb|The ''Constitution''-class USS ''Cayuga'']]
===Apocrypha===
 
  +
The revised class dimensions continue to be referenced in later appearances, such as in {{SNW|All Those Who Wander}} on a [[:File:USS Peregrine file.jpg|graphic]] for the {{class|Sombra}} derivative, which used the same space frame as the ''Constitution''. On 12 August 2023, the database graphic appearing in {{SNW|Hegemony}} for the {{USS|Cayuga}} was posted with clarity by Motion Graphics Designer [[Tim Peel]] on his Twitter account, establishing that ''Constitution''-class ship as being 442 meters long, 192 meters wide and 93 meters high. {{Twitter|timothypeel1/status/1690360805903007744}} A length of 442.06 meters for the USS ''Enterprise'' was cited within the [[Eaglemoss Collections]] reference publications as well.
''Although not considered canon, several sources have produced a long list of ''Constitution'' class starships. The main source was [[Franz Joseph]]'s [[Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual|Star Fleet Technical Manual]], which listed over 100 ''Constitution'' class ships divided into sub-classes: Constitution, Bonhomme Richard, Achernar and Tikopai. Ships of the class were later expanded by other publications such as [[Ships of the Starfleet]] which included the Endeavour, Enterprise and Enterprise (II) sub-classes.''
 
   
  +
====Ships of the class {{anchor|footnote 3}}====
* ''[[USS Constitution|USS Constitution (NCC-1700)]]''
 
  +
After the [[TOS Season 1|first season]] had concluded its run, it dawned upon ''Original Series'' producers [[Robert H. Justman]] and [[D.C. Fontana]] that a need had arisen to keep track of the already mentioned ''Constitution''-class starships for future production reference. After some corresponding with suggestions to and fro, a definitive name list of vessels belonging to the, then still called Starship-class, was agreed upon by the producers (dutifully carried over to the decal sheet of AMT's 1968 re-issue USS ''Enterprise'' model kit) at the start of the series' second season, and comprised the following vessels (''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', pp. 163-165),
* ''[[USS Constellation]] (NCC-1017)''
 
  +
{| width="100%"
* ''[[USS Republic]] (NCC-1371)''
 
  +
| width="33%" valign="top" |
* ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)]]''
 
  +
<center>D.C. Fontana's<ref>Aside from the remarks behind several of the names, Fontana further annotated on her memo, "''Alternates include the names of some famous fighting ships of the past, plus a couple of international variations we might consider, Star Fleet being composed of a united service.''"</ref> proposal 8 August 1967</center>
* ''[[USS Farragut]] (NCC-1702)''
 
  +
*''Enterprise''
* ''[[USS Lexington]] (NCC-1703)''
 
  +
*''Exeter''
* ''[[USS Yorktown]] (NCC-1704)''
 
  +
*''Essex''
* ''[[USS Excalibur]] (NCC-1705)''
 
  +
*''Excalibur''
* ''[[USS Exeter]] (NCC-1706)''
 
  +
*''Lexington''
* ''[[USS Hood]] (NCC-1707)''
 
  +
* ''Yorktown''
* ''[[USS Intrepid]] (NCC-1708)''
 
  +
*''Endeavor''
* ''[[USS Valiant]] (NCC-1709)''
 
  +
* ''El Dorado''
* ''[[USS Kongo|USS Kongo (NCC-1710)]]''
 
  +
*''Excelsior''
* ''[[USS Potemkin]] (NCC-1711)''
 
  +
*''Saratoga''
* ''USS Bonhomme Richard (NCC-1712)''
 
  +
*''Constellation'' (destroyed in "Doomsday Machine." Presume she would be replaced by Starfleet)
* ''[[USS Monitor]] (NCC-1713)''
 
* ''[[USS Hornet]] (NCC-1714)''
+
*''Hornet''
  +
*''Wasp''
* ''[[USS Merrimack]] (NCC-1715)''
 
  +
*''Farragut'' (mentioned as destroyed in "Obsession")
* ''[[USS Endeavour]] (NCC-1716)''
 
  +
*''Hood''
* ''[[USS Defiant (NCC-1764)|USS Defiant]] (NCC-1717)''
 
  +
*''Bonhomme Richard''
* ''[[USS Excelsior]] (NCC-1718)''
 
  +
*''Monitor'' or ''Merrimac'', depending upon your loyalties
* ''[[USS Eagle]] (NCC-1719)''
 
  +
*''Tori'' ("bird" [note: in Japanese])
* ''USS Lafayette (NCC-1720)''
 
  +
*''Lafayette''
* ''USS Wasp (NCC-1721)''
 
  +
*''Ari'' ("lion" [note: in Hebrew])
* ''USS El Dorado (NCC-1722)''
 
  +
*''Krieger'' ("warrior" [note: in German])
* ''USS Ari (NCC-1723)''
 
  +
| width="33%" valign="top" |
* ''[[USS Saratoga]] (NCC-1724)''
 
  +
<center>Justman's<ref>Justman noted in his memo, "''I think there would be several other candidates, such as ''Saratoga'' and perhaps another English [[Aircraft carrier|carrier]], a {{w|French aircraft carrier La Fayette (R96)|French carrier}}, a Russian carrier and certainly a Japanese carrier ''[note: though the ultimately chosen {{wt|Japanese battleship Kongō|Kongo}} was in reality a World War I and II -era Japanese battleship, as were the British {{w|HMS Hood (51)|HMS ''Hood''}} and Russian {{wt|Russian battleship Potemkin|Potemkin}}, whereas, with the exception of the ''Excalibur'' and the ''Endeavor'', all other by Justman proposed names were those of World War II aircraft carriers, the {{wt|USS Constellation (CV-64)|Constellation}} being an at the time recent US post-war carrier]''. In addition, I think a name ought to be made up that would be of Vulcan origin ''[note: though not adopted, some of Justman's notion was carried over to having the ''Intrepid'' a crew that was almost entirely composed of Vulcans].''"''</ref> proposal 9 August 1967</center>
* ''USS Tori (NCC-1725)''
 
  +
*''Enterprise''
* ''USS Krieger (NCC-1726)''
 
  +
*''Essex''<ref name="almost">Remarkably, the vessel nearly made the final cut as it was already referenced to in first script draft dialogue treatment, dated 30 September 1967, page 64, for the second season episode {{e|Journey to Babel}}, which contained a line having [[Lieutenant]] [[Uhura]] state, "''[[Starfleet Command]] confirms alien attack on the other starships, sir. The enemy was defeated. Starships ''Essex'' and ''Eagle'' suffered heavy damage, but will make base.''" The reference to the ''Essex'' and the ''Eagle'' though, was dropped from the episode as aired, indicating that it was not until after September 1967 that the final list was composed. {{el|trekplace.com/article10.html}} {{USS|Eagle}} however, resurfaced as a {{class|Constitution II}} vessel a quarter of a century later in {{film|6}}, referenced on the "[[Operation Retrieve]]" briefing charts, courtesy of [[Michael Okuda]].</ref>
* ''[[USS Essex]] (NCC-1727)''
 
* ''USS Truxton (NCC-1728)''
+
* ''Excalibur''
  +
*''Lexington''
* ''USS Confiance (NCC-1729)''
 
  +
* ''Yorktown''
* ''USS Bunker Hill (NCC-1730)''
 
  +
*''Endeavor''
* ''USS La Vengeance (NCC-1731)''
 
  +
*''Eagle''<ref name="almost" />
* ''USS Achernar (NCC-1732)''
 
* ''USS Sol (NCC-1733)''
+
* ''Constellation''
  +
*''Hornet''
* ''USS Jupiter (NCC-1734)''
 
  +
*''Wasp''
* ''USS Rigel Kentaurus (NCC-1735)''
 
  +
*''Lafayette''
* ''USS Quindar (NCC-1736)''
 
  +
| width="33%" valign="top" |
* ''USS Proxima (NCC-1737)''
 
  +
<center>Definitive list as utilized at the start of Season 2</center>
* ''USS Androcus (NCC-1738)''
 
  +
*''Enterprise''
* ''USS Astrad (NCC-1739)''
 
  +
*''Exeter''
* ''USS Mondoloy (NCC-1740)''
 
  +
*''Excalibur''
* ''USS Alfr (NCC-1741)''
 
  +
*''Lexington''
* ''USS Thelonii (NCC-1742)''
 
  +
*''Yorktown''
* ''USS Xanthii (NCC-1743)''
 
  +
*''Potemkin''
* ''USS Sirius (NCC-1744)''
 
  +
*''Republic''
* Registries NCC-1745 to NCC-1799 assigned, but never built.
 
  +
* ''Hood''
  +
*''Constitution''<ref name="unreferenced">The ''Constitution'' and ''Kongo'' were the only vessels on the final list that have not been referenced to in any form or format in the ''Original/Animated Series'' beyond their inclusion on the list and, obviously, besides the class designation itself. However, a "NCC-1700" registry, presumed to be ''Constitution''{{'}}s as the class vessel by fanon ever since (most conspicuously by [[Gregory Jein]] in his influential "[[The Case of Jonathan Doe Starship]]" article), had been referenced in the prior episode {{e|Court Martial}}, but the name/registry combination has never been established in [[canon]].</ref>
  +
*''Kongo''<ref name="unreferenced" />
  +
* ''Constellation''
  +
*''Farragut''<ref>It was until 2022 generally assumed by both production staff and reference book authors alike (Michael Okuda among them in all editions of his {{ste}}) that ''Farragut'' was a class member. That notion became ultimately dispelled in canon in 2022 when the {{type|Farragut}} {{USS|Farragut|NCC-1647}} was shown as belonging to an altogether different starship class in the {{s|SNW}} [[SNW Season 1|first season]] episode {{e|A Quality of Mercy}}. Incidentally, after having been featured in later ''Star Trek'' live-action productions, the ''Cayuga'', ''Defiant'' and ''New Jersey'' became subsequent confirmed class additions in canon, as was NCC-1700 for that matter &ndash; albeit without a corresponding name in the latter case.</ref>
  +
*''Valiant''
  +
*''Intrepid''
  +
|}
  +
{{small|<references />}}
   
===Footnotes===
+
==== Saucer separation====
  +
A [[saucer separation]] capability for the ''Constitution''-class was suggested as early as the second season of the ''Original Series'' in the original script of its episode {{e|The Apple}}, but was never produced as no ''Original Series'' script has ever actually called for one. The capability was however envisioned by the producers, "''Designed to operate separately from the rest of the ship, the saucer therefore contains all elements necessary for independent operation.''" (''[[The Making of Star Trek]]'', p. 171) The intent made it even into the official series' internal writer's guide, ''{{dis|The Star Trek Guide|production document}}'' (third revision, page 15 of the supplement and generally dubbed the "''Writer's Bible''"), where the saucer section was described to be "''in fact a completely self-sustaining unit which can detach itself from the galaxy drive units and operate on atomic impulse power for short range solar system exploration.''" {{el|leethomson.myzen.co.uk/Star_Trek/1_Original_Series/Star_Trek_TOS_Writer's_Guide.pdf}}
*'''Registry numbers''': Although the ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'' and other references provide complete registry numbers for many Constitution class ships, these numbers are at best conjecture. Many of the Encyclopedia's numbers, especially, were derived from the faulty assumption that the list seen on the wall at Starbase 11 in [[Court Martial]] were all Constitutions. Many fans now doubt that claim.
 
   
  +
====Retconned design====
*'''Uncertain ships''': These ships have been listed in various references as Constitutions, but were never seen on screen as such, and are therefore of uncertain class.
 
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise profile view, 2254-R.jpg|thumb|The ''Constitution''-class as it appears in TOS-R "The Cage"]]
  +
There have been three different renditions of the original design:
   
  +
The [[Constitution class model (original)|first model]], used in the original pilot "The Cage", featured a larger bridge dome and sensor/deflector dish, and spikes on the Bussard collectors, among other minor differences. The second configuration, used in the second pilot, and throughout the rest of the series due to footage being reused, was similar to the first version, with the addition of running lights, additional markings, and a grille pattern on the rear of each engine nacelle.
*'''"Starship" class''': If you read the dedication plaque on the bridge of the original Enterprise, it was actually listed as "Starship Class". The term Constitution class came later, probably from "[[Space Seed]]", where one of [[Montgomery Scott|Scotty]]'s technical manual screens showed a phaser bank diagram for a "Constitution class" starship. Though it was "understood" to have been Constitution Class by both production staff and fans alike, the first time it was actually referred to as such was by Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] in "[[The Naked Now]]".
 
   
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), ENT.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Constitution''-class as it appears in TOS-R]]
*'''"Enterprise" class''': The exact designation of the Constitution refit is a divisive one within ''Star Trek'' fandom. Some maintain that the comprehensive nature of the refit of the Constitutions between [[TOS]] and the movie era constitutes a new starship class, while others consider the two types maintaining the same profile and hull geometry as keeping the class consistent.
 
  +
''The version used for the production of the regular series had a smaller bridge dome, a smaller sensor/deflector dish, and lighting effects in the Bussard collectors, which had their antenna spikes removed. The remastered edition of TOS replaced the anomalous stock shots in later episodes with the proper configuration.''
   
  +
[[File:USS Enterprise, 2257.jpg|thumb|The ''Constitution''-class as it appears in DIS]]
: In [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]], the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] simulator at [[Starfleet Academy]] refers to the ship as an "Enterprise class" vessel. However, the blueprints that Scotty is seen examining in [[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]] are labeled "Constitution Class (Refit)".
 
  +
A new, more radically [[Constitution class model (retcon)|redesigned model]] for the ''Constitution''-class USS ''Enterprise'' was introduced in "Will You Take My Hand?". After briefly considering a radical departure from previous depictions, the designers of this new model instead aimed "''to get as close as possible to the original''", yet add "''the sleek, unique ''Discovery'' look to it.''" While ''Discovery'' used this new model for all "current" depictions of the class, the "previously on" opening sequence of the ''Discovery'' episode "If Memory Serves" however, utilized an original shot of the ''Original Series'' version (instead of the actual pilot version) for the events of "The Cage" and ''not'' the newly redesigned one. A holographic image of the ''Discovery'' version of the ''Enterprise'' was later featured in the {{s|PIC}} episode {{e|Maps and Legends}} as well.
   
  +
The ''Enterprise'' was redesigned for {{s|DIS}} to look more up to date for a modern television audience. The designers first increased the [[#Size|size of the ship]] to better match with the ''Discovery'' so it wouldn't look too small. The team then began redesigning by drawing ten sketches of the ship to show how the ship could be altered. The final product was an ''Enterprise'' that fitted with the new aesthetic of ''Discovery'', but kept close to the original.
: Both designations are supported by behind the scenes material and interviews, [[Andrew Probert]] in particular mentioning that the design for the refit was originally designated "''Enterprise''-class".
 
  +
  +
The two ''Star Trek'' veteran re-designers of the new ''Enterprise'', [[John Eaves]] and [[Scott Schneider]], theorized that their new ''Enterprise'' could be refitted to become the original, as they had designed the new ship to look less advanced than the TOS series production version from the 1960s. {{trekmovie.com|2019/03/24/how-the-uss-enterprise-was-redesigned-for-star-trek-discovery}}
  +
  +
While the ''Discovery'' series itself has shied away from explaining in canon the in-universe visual configuration differences of ''Enterprise'' between "The Cage" and the ''Original Series'', an attempt was made to do so in the 2019 officially licensed in-universe reference book ''[[Star Trek: The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 & 1701-A Illustrated Handbook]]'', where it followed the reasoning of the two co-redesigners by implying that the upgrades were a temporary measure to meet the crisis situation if the ship was called upon to perform as a "last resort" in the Federation-Klingon War. Page 34 had it stated that "''[m]any of the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s systems had been augmented and enhanced for the mission, to ensure the ship was capable of withstanding any exceptional and extreme conditions in the extreme regions it was exploring,''" continuing to explain the alterations. Page 54 further implied &ndash; rather implausibly, as Kirk's mission was every bit as "exceptional" and "extreme" as Pike's had been &ndash; that these alterations were no longer deemed necessary for the subsequent five-year mission under Kirk, and that the ship was therefore returned to the "The Cage"-era configuration, though some upgrades under Pike were "retained", which included the dispensing with of the "spikes" on the Bussard collector caps and the smaller deflector dish.
  +
  +
Shortly before its introduction in the [[DIS Season 1|season one]] closing episode {{e|Will You Take My Hand?}} though, Executive Producer [[Alex Kurtzman]] implied that, despite the [[canon]] appearances of the classic design in both {{DIS|Despite Yourself|If Memory Serves}} (albeit as a mirror universe adapted wireframe graphic only in the former case), the redesigned ''Constitution''-class was henceforth the canonnical one and therefore intended as the definitive replacement of Matt Jefferies' classic design
  +
<blockquote>
  +
Obviously ''[Discovery]'' looks more modern than ''The Original Series'', because we are in a modern world now and if we made the show look that way people would not feel that it was worth the money. That being said, every prop and costume design is filtered through what existed at the time. And do we create the new version of it or do we augment the original design in very subtle ways or do we just leave it alone? And when I say every prop and design choice I mean ''every'' ''[note: "every" emphasized]'' prop and design choice. So, I think you will see a lot of tips of the hat to devices to ''The Original Series'' and the timeline. But, obviously we wanted to create a more modern experience and that necessitated certain adjustments. {{TrekMovie.com|2017/10/06/exclusive-alex-kurtzman-on-pushing-edges-of-canon-and-planting-seeds-for-star-trek-discovery-season-2}}
  +
</blockquote>
  +
[[File:Ephraim and the USS Enterprise.jpg|thumb|Kirk's retconned ship in "Ephraim and Dot"]]Pursuant the introduction Production Designer Tamara Deverell has added more specifically, "''For the ''Enterprise'', we based it initially off of ''The Original Series''. We were really drawing a lot of our materials from that. And then we particularly went to more of the Star Trek movies, which is a little bit fatter, a little bit bigger. Overall, I think we expanded the length of it to be within the world of our Discovery, which is bigger, so we did cheat it as a larger ship.''" {{TrekMovie.com|2018/03/24/7-things-we-learned-about-star-trek-discovery-season-2-at-wondercon-visionaries-panel}} The showrunner's implied intent had already accrued credence when the redesign appeared as Kirk's ''Original Series'' ship in the {{s|ST}} episode {{e|Ephraim and Dot}} shortly before its holographic reappearance, for all intent and purposes the first actual [[retcon]]ning of the ship in canon &ndash; which, incidentally, was all the more remarkable as the interiors shown in that episode adhered more closely to the ones as seen in ''The Original Series''.
  +
  +
When redesigning the ''Enterprise'' for ''Strange New Worlds'', the designers overhauled the windows on the saucer section because at the end of ''Star Trek: Discovery'' the front of the saucer section had been destroyed during the battle against Control. The overall majority of the model was kept the same, though the bridge window was reduced in size to not be so big and exposed. {{el|filmandfurniture.com/2022/08/exclusive-the-star-trek-strange-new-worlds-enterprise-fuses-midcentury-design-with-scifi-futurism-part-1}}
  +
  +
Yet, it were the [[PIC Season 3|season three]] showrunners of {{s|PIC}}, staunch [[Trekkie|''Original Series'' fans]] to a man, who rendered moot whatever intentions there might have been, if any, for the classic ''Original Series'' Jefferies design, by visually inserting it into the episodes {{PIC|The Bounty|Võx|The Last Generation}} in the guise of {{USS|New Jersey}}. By doing so, they effectively validated the theory retcon designers Eaves (who had worked in a similar capacity on ''Picard'' as well) and Schneider had put forward four years earlier.
  +
  +
====Studio models====
  +
For further information on both original, and retcon redesign ''Constitution''-class [[studio model]]s, please see respectively,
  +
*[[Constitution class model (original)|''Constitution''-class model (TOS)]]
  +
*[[Constitution class model (retcon)|''Constitution''-class model (Discovery)]]
  +
  +
===Apocrypha===
  +
[[File:Star Trek blueprints, sheet 1.jpg|thumb|Joseph's alternatives for the 14 ''Original Series'' "Connies"]]
  +
Although not considered canon, several sources have produced a long list of ''Constitution''-class starships. The main source was Franz Joseph's aforementioned ''Star Fleet Technical Manual'', which listed over one hundred ''Constitution''-class ships divided into subclasses: ''Constitution'', ''Bonhomme Richard'', ''Achernar'', and ''Tikopai''. Ships of the class were later expanded by other publications such as ''[[Ships of the Star Fleet]]'' which included the ''Endeavour'', ''Enterprise'', and ''Enterprise'' (II) subclasses. It should be noted that Joseph incorporated all the ship names the ''Original Series'' producers had originally proposed at the start of the second season, and had only these listed in his ''[[Star Trek Blueprints]]'' companion publication.
   
  +
''Constitution''-class vessels are prominently featured in [[fan film]] productions like ''[[w:c:stexpanded:Star Trek: Phase II|Star Trek: Phase II]]'', ''[[w:c:stexpanded:Starship Exeter|Starship Exeter]]'' (where the USS ''Kongo'' has actually performed a saucer separation in its second episode), ''[[w:c:stexpanded:Starship Farragut|Starship Farragut]]'', and ''[[w:c:stexpanded:Star Trek: Of Gods and Men|Of Gods and Men]]''.
: The official [[canon]] maintains the (Refit) classification as the correct designation.
 
   
  +
===External links===
*'''USS Yorktown''': [[Gene Roddenberry]] suggested that the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)|USS ''Enterprise''-A]] was first designated as [[USS Yorktown|USS ''Yorktown'']], and later recommissioned as USS ''Enterprise''-A.
 
  +
* {{startrek.com|database_article/constitution-class-starship|''Constitution''-class|external}}
  +
*{{mbeta||''Constitution''-class}}
  +
*{{wikipedia||''Constitution''-class}}
  +
*{{Forgotten Trek|designing-the-first-enterprise|Designing the First ''Enterprise''|external}} &ndash; article on Matt Jefferies' design of the ''Enterprise'' for ''The Original Series''
  +
*{{Datalink|art/1701.html|Designing the Starship ''Enterprise''|external}}
  +
*{{eas|articles/jefferies.htm|Where are the Jefferies Tubes?|external}}
   
  +
{{featured|date=February 2005|id=62803|re-date=February 2018|re-id=2161540}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT|Constitution 01}}

Latest revision as of 18:31, 1 March 2024

Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)

For additional meanings of "Constitution class", please see Constitution class.

The Constitution-class was a Federation Starship-class, Class I heavy cruiser that was utilized as the premier front line Starfleet vessels during the mid-23rd century.

They were designed for long duration exploration and patrol missions with minimal outside support and were best known for their celebrated missions of galactic exploration and diplomacy and were capable of operating on five-year mission cycles, with an operating endurance of eighteen years. (Star Trek: The Original Series; Star Trek: The Animated Series; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; DIS: "Brother" display graphic)

Design

During the mid-23rd century, at least twelve Constitution-class starships were commissioned by Starfleet. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday") Construction of these starships occurred at Earth's San Francisco Fleet Yards, California, and Luna's Tranquility Base. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly"; DIS: "Brother" display graphic) Many of the same unit components for the Constitution-class were also used in the construction of the related Sombra-class. (SNW: "All Those Who Wander")

The Constitution-class was generally designed for the roles of exploration, patrol, and defense. (TOS: "The Cloud Minders") Within Federation space, these vessels were viewed as having the role of protector within the civilian community. (TOS: "Mudd's Women", "The Conscience of the King", "The Trouble with Tribbles")

One of the class' original designers was Larry Marvick, whose work included designing the controls for engineering. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?") Doctor Richard Daystrom was responsible for the basic design of the computers used aboard this class. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer") By the 2260s, it was the assertion of Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise that his chief engineer, Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott "knew everything about that ship there is to know. More than the men who designed it." (TOS: "The Apple") Indeed, Scott even once bet Marvick himself that "a bottle of scotch says you can't handle the controls you designed." (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

In order to keep the class up to date and allow their missions of exploration to continue, the Constitution class had the ability to be outfitted with new technology, especially since the ships were sometimes on the front lines without support and needed to hold their own. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds"; TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Corbomite Maneuver"; Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

History

Launch

Future Enterprise captain, Robert April, was present when the ship's unit components were built. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident") The ship itself was launched April 11, 2245. (DIS: "Brother" display graphic; SNW: "Strange New Worlds" Enterprise dedication plaque) In addition to the Enterprise, the USS Constellation and the USS Cayuga were also launched the same year. (PIC: "The Star Gazer" commemorative plaque, SNW: "Hegemony" display graphic)

During the conception of Star Trek, the producer's original intent was that the "Enterprise-class [sic] starships have been in existence for about forty years," according to the reference book The Making of Star Trek (p. 203). Author Stephen Whitfield, who had full access to production sources and staff (p. 12), wrote the book during the production of season two in 1967, narrowing the class launch window down to the mid-2220s, as the Original Series showrunners had placed their series exactly three-hundred years into the future from the production year of the underlying series season (p. 209).

Early 2250s

During the early 2250s, the Constitution-class starship, USS Enterprise, made first contact with the Talosians on Talos IV. This combined with her numerous other discoveries and achievements made her the Federation flagship. (TOS: "The Cage")

By this point the Constitution-class starships were considered Starfleet's premier vessels, as they were usually on the front lines patrolling Federation space and exploring uncharted areas just within the Federation's borders. (TOS: "The Cage"; DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?")

Around the latter half of 2254, Constitution-class vessels were outfitted with the latest technology. (TOS: "The Cage"; DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?"; SNW: "Spock Amok")

USS Discovery rendezvousing with USS Enterprise

Enterprise rendezvous with the Discovery, 2257

When the Federation-Klingon War started, Constitution-class ships were kept off the front lines, as a unit of last resort. At the time, the USS Defiant was assigned to patrol Sector 006, while the USS Enterprise was ordered to continue its then five-year mission under Captain Christopher Pike. This order took a toll on their crews. During this time, with the ships out away on their five-year missions, it was rare to see a Constitution-class ship at all. (DIS: "Despite Yourself", "Brother")

During the war, the Constitution class was not Starfleet's priority to keep refitted, as Starfleet was focusing on their warships to keep the Klingons from taking Federation space, such as the Crossfield-class and its spore drive. (DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?", "Through the Valley of Shadows")

Aboard the Enterprise at least, new colorful Starfleet uniforms were adopted before some other ships. They were seen in use shortly after the Federation-Klingon War. (DIS: "Brother")

Late 2250s and early 2260s

USS Enterprise, 2259

The USS Enterprise, Constitution-class, circa 2259

Constitution-class starships (along with their Sombra-class counterparts) had retrofitting in 2259, updating the main AI and transporters. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"; SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

The Constitution-class starship, the Enterprise was extensively refitted around 2265 in preparation for her first five-year mission under James T. Kirk. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Ultimate Computer")

USS Enterprise leaving galactic barrier

The unique configuration of the Enterprise in 2265

The USS Enterprise was the second known Federation ship to ever leave the galaxy, but sustained extensive damage in upon coming into contact with the galactic barrier. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")

Late 2260s

USS New Jersey

The USS New Jersey appearing in the configuration as it appeared during the late 2260s

Following the Enterprise's return to Federation space, the ship was repaired with new equipment that was later used on other Constitution-class starships in 2266. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Corbomite Maneuver")

The year 2267, however, saw a gathering of the class when a large group was assembled at Starbase 11 for refitting and repairs. (TOS: "Court Martial")

The Constitution-class continued their exploration missions at this time, and the Enterprise went on perhaps the greatest mission to date under the command of James T Kirk, discovering and making contact with many new species. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Corbomite Maneuver", "Turnabout Intruder"; TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star")

Despite the successes of the class, exemplified by the performance of the Enterprise, under Captain James T. Kirk, the mission parameters for the Constitution-class also meant that the vessels of the class operated under highly dangerous circumstances, resulting in a relatively high loss rate, and that being assigned to one was hazardous at best. Due to this, in the late 2260s, many Constitution-class vessels were lost. In 2267 for example, the USS Constellation under the command of Commodore Matt Decker fell victim to what has become known as the "doomsday machine" when it was on a routine survey mission near system L-374, and both the ship and crew were lost. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine") Likewise, and less than a year later in 2268, the Vulcan-manned USS Intrepid was lost with its entire crew in a fatal encounter with a huge simple cellular being in star system Gamma 7A of Sector 39J. (TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome") Later that year, the USS Exeter became infected with an unknown virus, a residue from biological warfare which had raged on Omega IV and which the ship was orbiting, again killing her entire crew, save for its captain, Ronald Tracey. While undamaged, the contaminated ship was for the time being left adrift. (TOS: "The Omega Glory")

In late-2268, the starships Excalibur, Hood, Lexington, and Potemkin all took part in the disastrous testing of the M-5 multitronic unit, which had been placed in control of the Enterprise. The Excalibur was severely damaged, with all hands lost. The Lexington also was brutally assaulted by the M-5 computer when the unit became unstable. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer")

Later that year, the Defiant responded to a distress call from an unexplored sector of space, claimed by the Tholian Assembly. Shortly upon entering the region, the Defiant crew began experiencing sensory distortion, and insanity quickly spread throughout the ship. The ship's surgeon was unable to determine what was happening, and eventually, the insanity induced by the phenomenon led the crew to kill each other. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

USS Defiant in Tholian drydock, 2155

The Defiant in a Tholian drydock facility

Three weeks later, Starfleet ordered the Enterprise to mount a search mission to locate the Defiant. On stardate 5693.2, the Enterprise located her adrift, lost between universes in a space warp. As a result of a later phaser exchange between the Enterprise and two Tholian ships, a hole was created through the spatial interphase, pushing the Defiant into the mirror universe. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

2270s refit

In the early 2270s, the Constitution-class underwent a massive refit and redesign which would later be known as the Constitution II-class. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; PIC: "The Bounty")

Mirror universe

The Defiant emerged in the 22nd century mirror universe, where the Tholians of that universe had created the interphase rift by detonating a tricobalt warhead within the gravity well of a dead star. The Defiant was initially captured by the Tholians, but later taken over by the Terran Empire with control of the ship finally passing to Hoshi Sato. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly", "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

USS Defiant Terran

The Defiant as modified by the Terran Empire

In 2256 the USS Discovery became inadvertently trapped in the mirror universe, where its crew discovered that the Defiant had in the meantime undergone substantial modifications while it had been in the service of the Terran Empire. (DIS: "Despite Yourself") Upon her return to the prime universe however, their findings became part of all the intelligence pertaining to the USS Discovery that was sequestered by Starfleet Command as strictly classified after the ship had disappeared yet again in 2258. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2") It explained why the command crew of the USS Enterprise was not aware of Defiant's fate when it chanced upon her derelict hulk in 2268, shortly before she transited into the mirror universe, also unbeknownst to the Enterprise command crew at the time. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

In 2267, the ISS Enterprise was a Constitution-class starship of the Imperial Starfleet identical in configuration to the prime Enterprise, as was discovered by her command crew when they too became inadvertently trapped on the mirror universe version of their ship. (TOS: "Mirror, Mirror") They were unaware of the fact that she had been based off the USS Defiant whose transition into the mirror universe they would only witness the following year, although remaining unable to connect the dots.

Legacy

By 2401, the original Constitution-class had been completely phased out, though a few remained as training vessels. At least one Constitution-class starship retaining its original design, the USS New Jersey, was preserved in the Fleet Museum in its late 2260s configuration. (TNG: "Relics"; PIC: "The Bounty")

Technical data

Physical arrangement

Constitution class schematics profile

Profile schematic: bridge, shuttlecraft hangar, secondary hull, main sensor, sensor array t[op]/b[ottom]

Constitution class schematics, NCC-1700

Dorsal schematic: phaser bank p/s, impulse power, space/warp propulsion 2 units, primary hull

The Constitution-class featured the saucer section-engineering section-warp nacelle layout common to most Starfleet vessels. All ship configurations of the class of the appeared to be identical at first glance, but closer inspection revealed minor detail differences on certain vessels. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Ultimate Computer"; etc.)

Various science labs, numbering fourteen in all, (TOS: "Operation -- Annihilate!") were located in the primary hull in the class' configuration in the 2260s. There were at least seven turbolifts that serviced the primary and secondary hulls. (TOS: "The Man Trap") The Constitution-class had at least two briefing rooms, one of which was located on Deck 14. (TOS: "Mudd's Women")

The modular design of the Constitution-class allowed for component separation in times of crisis. If an emergency was confined to the warp engine nacelles, it was theoretically possible to disengage and jettison the secondary hull while keeping the bulk of the vessel's main section intact. Any hull separation was considered a dangerous procedure and not always an option. (TOS: "The Apple", "The Savage Curtain")

Though not an aerodynamic craft, in emergencies, Constitution-class vessels were able to break orbit and enter a class M planet's upper atmosphere (and maintain altitude control while passing through it) for a limited period of time, conditional on the ship's ability to re-achieve escape velocity. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday"; SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

Propulsion systems

Warp engines

USS Enterprise at warp

The Enterprise at warp

The Constitution-class of starship were lithium, and later dilithium powered warp engines that fueled a matter/antimatter propulsion system over its service lifetime. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "Mudd's Women"; DIS: "Brother" display graphic) Altogether this allowed the class to spec a maximum safe cruising speed of warp 6 (or 384c) and an emergency speed of warp 8 (or 512c). (TOS: "Amok Time", "Obsession"; TAS: "One of Our Planets Is Missing"; DIS: "Brother" display graphic)

During the mid-2250s the ship was more than capable of operating nominally at warp 7. (TOS: "The Cage")

The Enterprise infrequently exceeded warp 8; Chief Engineer Scott once confirmed, when asked if the ship could be capable of warp 8, that he could, and offered "maybe a wee bit more," even offering to, "sit on the warp engines myself and nurse them," if needed. (TOS: "That Which Survives") While the Enterprise had once engaged at warp 9 to escape the Romulan Neutral Zone (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident"), doing so was highly discouraged because it was an unsafe velocity, as was noted following when the ship was taken over by the Beta XII-A entity. (TOS: "Day of the Dove")

With further modifications or influences, the Enterprise managed to even push beyond warp 9 on more than one occasion, once following modifications made by Lokai, it exceeded warp 10, and again achieved warp 10 when it was drawn into the creation point. (TOS: "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"; TAS: "The Magicks of Megas-Tu")

The Enterprise was also twice modified to achieve a speed of warp 11. The first time was when the probe Nomad increased the ship's engine efficiency by 57% in 2267 and allowed the ship to reach warp 11, but Kirk persuaded Nomad to reverse its "repairs" because the ship's structure could not stand the stress of that much power, and it would eventually destroy the ship. (TOS: "The Changeling") The second time followed when more extensive modifications were made to the ship by the Kelvans in 2268, who were able to produce velocities that were far beyond the reach of Federation science, allowing the Enterprise to safely maintain a cruising speed of warp 11 while traveling through the intergalactic void. (TOS: "By Any Other Name")

The maximum warp speed recorded for this class by itself was warp 14.1, achieved by the Enterprise due to sabotage to the vessel's warp drive system. While the ship itself was not structured to take that speed for any length of time, the Enterprise was able to maintain that velocity for nearly fifteen minutes. (TOS: "That Which Survives")

The Enterprise artificially maintained stability at warp 22 while tractored to a ship going warp 32. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident")

If the reserves for the antimatter engine ever dropped of the indicator below two anti-kilos, the engines would no longer regenerate. (TAS: "One of Our Planets Is Missing")

Bussard collectors
Enterprise and Constellation bussard collectors

Bussard collectors

Constitution class Bussard collecting deuterium

Bussard collector collecting deuterium

The Constitution-class was equipped with Bussard collectors at the front of the warp nacelles. The primary purpose of bussard collectors was that they could be used to collect interstellar hydrogen (deuterium) and other particles, however they could also be used to expel these gases as well. Bussard collectors were useful for when these ships passed through a hydrogen rich nebula, as it allowed them to pull in hydrogen which was the primary fuel source for the constitution class starship and their warp cores. (TOS: "The Cage", "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Corbomite Maneuver"; DIS: "Context Is for Kings", "Will You Take My Hand?"; SNW: "Strange New Worlds", "Lost in Translation")

Impulse engines

USS Enterprise maintaining impulse thrust

A close-up of the impulse drive assembly in 2266

The main sub light drive on Constitution-class starships was an impulse drive, located at the back of the saucer/primary hull section of the ship and was where fusion exhaust propelled the ship.

A fusion explosion equivalent to at least 97.835 megatons would result if the impulse engines were overloaded in 2267. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine")

Tactical systems

While the Constitution-class was never meant as a warship, the vessel was adequately well-armed for dealing with various threats. Exercising Federation defense policy and if need be, sustained conflict was built into them. Thus, they carried an array of weapons thus allowing them to hold their own against even dedicated warships of its day. (TOS-R: "Errand of Mercy", et al.)

Directed beam batteries

USS Enterprise firing phasers

USS Enterprise firing her main batteries

USS Enterprise firing phasers in 2259

...and seen firing a single phaser

During the early 2250s, Constitution-class heavy cruisers were armed with a complement of directed energy weapons, that possessed enough power to destroy half a continent in a concentrated bombardment. In addition, these vessels carried on board laser cannons, capable of operating on energy fed remotely from the ship. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

Laser cannons

From 2254 to 2257, Constitution-class vessels were fitted with laser cannons. These were an upgrade to the phase cannons on previous ships in Starfleet, however the laser cannons were quickly replaced by phaser banks once the technology was developed. (TOS: "The Cage"; DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"; SNW: "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach"; TOS: "Balance of Terror")

According to the Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology (p. 164), the advanced ship-board laser banks used by Constitution-class starships were upgraded to phaser banks four years after the Enterprise had visited Talos IV in "The Cage".
Main phasers
Phaser Control Room

Phaser control room

With a range of approximately 90,000 kilometers, the Constition's main phasers were targeted via directional beam produced by the navigator or helmsman via a direct line of communication with phaser crews located in the phaser control room. In order to prepare the ship for firing, the main phasers needed to be energized, primed, and brought to full power. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", "Balance of Terror", "Arena") Phaser tracking controls was also used in phaser operation. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

Constitution class phaser bank diagram

Diagram of forward phaser bank

These ship mounted phasers were capable of being adjusted to a rate as low as 1/100th power, and like hand phasers were capable of stun, heat, or disintegrate targets, including objects or beings in space or on a planet's surface. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer", "A Piece of the Action") The focus could be adjusted from a narrow to a wide beam. (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?", "Whom Gods Destroy", "The Paradise Syndrome", "A Piece of the Action") Targeting was typically done visually, but could also be accomplished on motion sensors at a loss of accuracy. When only motion sensor readings were available, the ship's phasers could be set for proximity blast or a 100% dispersal pattern. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", "Errand of Mercy")

By 2257, this class of ship had a standard complement of six phaser emitters. (DIS: "Brother" display graphic) This included placements at port, starboard, and mid-ship, among which were two to (up to) four forward phaser banks. (TOS: "Balance of Terror", "The Paradise Syndrome") There were also two banks each on the port and starboard on the dorsal surface of the primary hull. Two banks covered both flanks.(TNG: "Datalore" display graphic)

By the late 2260s, the ship also had aft banks located above and below the shuttlebay on the secondary hull. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

Based on dialogue from "The Paradise Syndrome", there were four forward phasers, though the visual effects in that episode depict two phasers firing on each discharge, suggesting a battery of eight forward phaser emitters.
In a scene description from the final draft script of "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", the aft phaser was said to be "beneath the hangar deck." However, the location of the aft phaser is shown on-screen to be above the hangar deck.

Torpedo systems

USS Enterprise fires photon torpedo

Torpedo launcher in 2267

Constitution-class ships torpedo tubes were located on the underside of the saucer section, and aft mounted capabilities at the end of the secondary hull. (TOS: "Arena"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II") This combined arsenal was powerful enough to destroy the entire surface of a planet. (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon")

The standard complement consisted of two 2 forward torpedo launchers, as well as aft torpedoes. (DIS: "Brother"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

According to a line of dialogue from TOS: "Journey to Babel", Kirk ordered his crew to "fire photon torpedoes two, four, and six", indicating that the first three torpedoes in the "even" launcher were fired. Further dialogue in scene from TOS: "Elaan of Troyius", in which all tubes were brought to bear, the full spread of torpedoes from the forward tubes consisted of six photon torpedoes, again indicating two tubes capable of rapidly firing three torpedoes at one time.
Dialogue from TAS: "More Tribbles, More Troubles" suggests that the first tube was identified as through the command/reply: "fire one"/"one fired".
Dialogue from "A Taste of Armageddon" states that the Enterprise possessed a complement of at least "a few dozen." According to the apocryphal Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology (p. 164), in the late 2260s configuration the ship carried a total of four hundred photon torpedoes.

Defensive systems

The Constitution-class starship had two types of defensive systems, consisting of deflector screens and shields. The shield shield grid was divided into four segments, referred to as "number one shield", "number two shield", etc. (TOS: "Journey to Babel", "Elaan of Troyius") At full power, with the warp reactor tied into the shield system, it was capable of absorbing and repulsing a bombardment of energy impacts equal to the detonation of 360 photon torpedoes of the type the Enterprise was equipped with at the time, before the shielding power was completely lost. In 2267, for example, the Enterprise survived an attack from the Nomad probe. Nomad fired four powerful bolts of energy, each with the equivalent force of ninety photon torpedoes. The first hit reduced shielding power only by twenty percent. After being hit with the equal force of 270 photon torpedoes, warp maneuvering power was lost. Shields were lost with the fourth hit. (TOS: "The Changeling") A ship was no capable of firing full phasers with its screens up. (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon")

The deflector shield grid was much more vulnerable to intense standard phaser bombardment. In 2268, an Orion scout ship was able to cause buckling in some of the shields of the Enterprise after it had made just five attack runs on the ship. On the seventh run, the Enterprise lost one of its four shields. (TOS: "Journey to Babel") Other more powerful weaponry could take the shields down even more easily, the planet killer for example could completely deplete a Constitution-class starship's shielding power with only three hits with its antiproton beam. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine")

The diversion of all but emergency maintenance power to the shields had the adverse effect of reducing phaser power by fifty percent. (TOS: "The Tholian Web") A single detonation of a nuclear warhead less than a hundred meters away could cause internal overloads on the ship and leak radiation through the shields to the outer regions of the ship. (TOS: "Balance of Terror") Without the warp reactor to power the shields, the system was not very effective in protecting the ship. With only the impulse reactors powering the shields, a D7-class Klingon battle cruiser could deplete a Constitution-class starship's shielding power with only few passes of disruptor fire. (TOS: "Elaan of Troyius")

Navigational deflector

USS Enterprise fires deflector beam

The navigational deflector dish

The navigational deflector dish on Constitution-class vessels was mounted at the front of the secondary hull. It was mainly used to deflect/repel debris and other objects.

In 2268 the USS Enterprise used a deflector beam to attempt to shift a large asteroid off course when it threatened the planet Amerind. The attempt failed and caused damage to the ship's power. (TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome")

Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry's The Making of Star Trek (p. 191) stated of the vessel's prominent dish: "The starship's main sensor-deflector (a parabolic sensor and asteroid-deflector) is located at the front end of the secondary hull." In accordance with this, Franz Joseph's Star Trek Blueprints labeled it as the "main sensor and navigational deflector," although Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual omitted the latter and referred to it only as the "main sensor." Some Matt Jefferies concept sketches of the ship had earlier included a dome-shaped nosecone "sensor" in place of, or perhaps covering, the dish. (Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook, p. 68; The Art of Star Trek, p. 9)

Interior design

The color scheme implemented aboard Constitution-class ships was predominantly red-orange accents alongside dark gray or light gray paneling. These colors were accented with soft white light or multicolored lights installed in floor and wall paneling, and later, in the ceiling. This color scheme was put in and kept from the Constitution-class refit of the mid-2250s to the early 2270s. (Star Trek: The Original Series; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly", "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; DIS: "Brother", "Such Sweet Sorrow", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"; ST: "Q&A", "The Trouble with Edward", "Ask Not"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")

Main bridge

Overview

USS Enterprise bridge dome

The translucent bridge dome

Located at deck 1 atop of the primary hull, the Constitution's main bridge directly supervised all primary mission operations and coordinated all departmental activities. Due to the age and variety of configurations of the Constitution-class, bridge configurations varied from mission to mission and ship to ship.

Multiple sets were used to represent the bridge of the original Constitution-class. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, a partial set was faithfully recreated for "Relics", a full set was created for "Trials and Tribble-ations", a new set with a slightly altered appearance was built for the two-part "In a Mirror, Darkly" and "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", and starting with "Such Sweet Sorrow", a completely new set, with updated design, bigger overall diameter, and a blend of touchscreen and classic jelly bean controls was introduced.

Command chair

The command chair was located in the recessed area at the center of the room, where consequently, the captain could be immediately updated on the condition of the vessel or its crew during missions, and orders could be given clearly with a minimum of effort. The chair was mounted on a circular pillar, attached to a rectangular footplate that was directly anchored to the deck. It was designed to swivel on the support so that the captain could turn to any member of the bridge crew.

The command chairs featured three slightly different versions of the same command chair. Most, such as the one on the USS Enterprise, featured a backrest that only reached the mid-back. The 2250s and 2260s version of this chair had a "gooseneck viewer" on the right armrest. (TOS: "The Cage", "Where No Man Has Gone Before") A few, such as that of the USS Lexington, had a full backrest. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer")

The full backrest used for the Lexington helped visually distinguish between the bridges of that ship and the Enterprise. The same full backrest was used on the set re-dress of the bridge for the mirror universe ISS Enterprise in the episode TOS: "Mirror, Mirror".
Captain's chair controls

The captain's chair controls

The command chair also had buttons on either of the arm rests used to operate the command console. The left side contained the button for companel, and the right side contained buttons for manually placing the ship on red or yellow alert, as well as one to jettison pod. (TOS: "Court Martial") The gooseneck viewer was eliminated by 2266, but the other console controls remained. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")

Bridge stations

The command chair was position was equidistant from all the control consoles that operated specific bridge stations.

Piloting and navigation functions were carried out at the helm console, located in the center of the room, positioned in front of the command chair. This panel consisted of three main sections.

On the left was a compartment which opened automatically to permit operation of the targeting scanner. Next to this was the main control panel, which operated maneuvering thrusters, impulse engines, and fired the ship's weapons. Directly below this panel was a row of eight flip-switches provided to set warp flight speeds.

The central section of the conn panel was fitted with a number of sensor monitor lights and was dominated by two main features: the alert indicator and the astrogator, which was used for long-range course plotting. The navigation console had a control panel for entering the course and heading data and the flight path indicator and supplied information on any deviations or course corrections in progress. It also had controls for the weapons systems.

Constitution class bridge console, 2258

A duotronic-based data-input bridge console

Other stations on the bridge were provided for communications station, engineering station, weapons control, gravity control, damage control, environmental engineering, science and library computer, and internal security. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise", "The Ultimate Computer", et al.) All computer systems aboard the Constitution-class were duotronic-based. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations") During the mid-2260s, these consoles were 203-R compatible. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")

Additional features

USS Enterprise viewscreen, 2259

The viewscreen aboard the USS Enterprise in 2259

Mounted into the room's forward bulkhead was the main viewscreen. Visual sensor pickups located at various points on the Constitution-class' outer hull were capable of image magnification and allowed a varied choice of viewing angles. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", "Balance of Terror", et al.)

Automatic bridge defense system

The automatic bridge defense system deployed

In the late 2260s, along with the added turbolift, the bridge design changed from a segmented flat-panel peripheral station configuration to a completely circular design, including curved overhead viewscreens, and railings and steps which matched the arc of the circumference. At the same time, an automatic bridge defense system was also installed atop the ceiling. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star")

According to production designer Matt Jefferies, dramatic necessity required the turbolift to be moved from its planned center-line position (as seen on the Enterprise model). This offset placement allowed characters to walk onto the bridge and enter scenes without being blocked by actors sitting in the command chair.

Main engineering

USS Enterprise Engineering 2259
USS Enterprise main engineering, 2259
Constitution class engineering, 2266 Constitution class engineering, 2268
main engineering, 2266
main engineering, 2268
Constitution class warp core, 2269 Constitution class main engineering dilithium chamber
main engineering, 2269
Dilithium chamber in engineering in 2269

Main engineering was from where the ship's warp was controlled. All thrust and power systems were primarily controlled from this site, and it is also where the main dilithium crystal reactor/warp core was located for most of the ship's life. Life support was controlled separately from Deck 6. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer", "The Corbomite Maneuver", "The Naked Time", "The Enemy Within", "The Conscience of the King", "Day of the Dove")

In 2259, the warp core was located in main engineering. The matter and antimatter were directed down into the reaction chamber where the dilithium crystals were and then the resulting electro-plasma was directed through unseen conduits into the warp conduits on the walls in the back of the engineering room to the warp nacelles. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds", "Ghosts of Illyria")

In 2266, the warp core was moved to a separate room called the dilithium crystal energizer room, where the main warp reaction occurred horizontally. The warp plasma conduits to the nacelles remained in main engineering but were secured being a grate. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor") In 2268, the warp core was moved back to Engineering, with the dilithium crystals and main reaction occurring in a dilithium crystal converter. The matter anti-matter reaction still happened horizontally at this time and was still directed into unseen conduits beneath the engineering deck. In late 2269, a new vertical component of the warp core was added to the dilithium crystal converter. (TAS: "The Terratin Incident")

Transporter rooms

Extravehicular transporter to and from the ship could be accomplished by a number of transporter systems besides the airlocks, which allowed personnel or equipment to be transported over large ranges. The transporter platform featured six small pads, which were numbered clockwise, beginning with the right front. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds", TOS: "The Cage", "Where No Man Has Gone Before") A large section in the middle of the transporter could be used to transport large cargo. (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind")

A door in the standard transporter room wall led to a staging area where landing parties prepared for transporter. (TOS: "The Cage")

The transporter room was also outfitted with a food slot. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

Landing bay and cargo facilities

The aft landing bay provided personnel in small craft with a means of entering or exiting the vessel.

The 2260s configuration of the Constitution-class carried a standard complement of 4 shuttlecraft, some of which were Class F. (TOS: "The Omega Glory")

The class contained at least five cargo holds. (TAS: "Beyond the Farthest Star")

This may have varied per ship, as while the USS Exeter was specifically stated to just have four, the USS Enterprise was seen with one Class F and three other shuttles in its shuttlebay in TAS: "Mudd's Passion". The same ship was also seen to have at least two Class F shuttles earlier in TOS: "The Galileo Seven", so its shuttle configuration may have varied over time as well.

Sickbay

Constitution class sickbay, 2259

Constitution-class sickbay in 2259

Constitution class sickbay, 2270

Biobeds in sickbay

On the Constitution-class starships in the late 2260s, a sickbay facility was located on Deck 6, which featured an examination room, a nursery, the chief medical officer's office and a medical lab. At least one other medical lab was located elsewhere on the vessel, and was used for biopsy, among other things. Sickbay was considered the safest place to be on the ship during combat. (TOS: "The Naked Time", "Elaan of Troyius") Many of the tools used in the Sickbay aboard the USS Enterprise, following her launch, were designed by her first medical officer, Doctor Sarah April, as life aboard required frequent improvisation. (TAS: "The Counter-Clock Incident")

The sickbay set of the pilot episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" underwent considerable changes following the shooting of the episode for the remainder of the series.

Crew lounge and recreation facilities

The crew/officers lounge on Constitution-class starships offered an officers' lounge, adored by multiple viewpoints and with tables and a seating area.

In the late 2260s, the crew lounge was located at the front of the saucer section, just above the three windows below it. (SNW: "Strange New Worlds")

In the late 2260s, there were at least six recreation rooms, which included three-dimensional chess and card game tables. There was also a holographic rec room, which was the predecessor of the holodeck. Also aboard were an arboretum, galley, gymnasium, a bowling alley, a theater, and a chapel. (TOS: "Charlie X", "The Naked Time", "The Conscience of the King", "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

Crew quarters

Crew quarters were located throughout the saucer section – keeping with Starfleet tradition, Deck 5 housed the senior officers' quarters.

From the 2250s to at least 2265, officers' quarters on a Constitution-class were larger than in latter half of the 2260s and later due to an increase in a Constitution-class' crew compliment size from 203 to 450. (TOS: "The Cage"; DIS: "Brother", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"; SNW: "Strange New Worlds", "Children of the Comet", "Spock Amok"; TOS: "The Enemy Within")

In "The Cage", Pike claims to be responsible for 203 lives. In "Brother", set three years later, scans still show 203 crew members, which was explicitly called the vessel's "entire complement." This crew count originated from Gene Roddenberry's original March 1964 Star Trek is... pitch (p. 9), whereas he had revised the number upwards to 430, "approximately one-third of them female", in the 17 April 1967 third draft of the series' "The Writer's Bible", aka The Star Trek Guide (p. 7).
The number of personnel assigned to the ship, as noted in numerous TOS episodes, including "The Ultimate Computer", which was set a decade later, establihsed a crew compliment of 430. This number was later adopted by Franz Joseph for his 1975 Technical Manual, whose "Class I Heavy Cruiser – Constitution Class Starships" specifications in turn became the source a display graphic that was erroneously featured in "Brother", stating the larger crew size found under Kirk's command, specifically a crew compliment of 430 (43 officers, 387 enlisted).

For most of a Constitution-class starship's life, the officers' quarters featured two areas, separated partly by a wall fragment. One area was allocated as sleeping area, featuring a comfortable bed, and another as work area, including a desk and computer terminal. Entrance to a bathroom was provided through the quarter's sleeping area. Both areas could be configured to personal preference. (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II"; TOS: "The Enemy Within")

On the original series, several "different" crew quarters were seen, but always the same set was used, changed by different lighting designs and furniture configuration.

Ships commissioned

Certain3
Alternate
Unnamed
Fictional
Uncertain

Appendices

Appearances

The Constitution-class Enterprise appeared in every episode of SNW, TOS, and TAS (except for "The Slaver Weapon"). Episodes featuring other Constitution-class vessels, or the Enterprise for other series, are listed below.

Background information

Name

For information on the origin of the Constitution-class designation, please see Starship-class.

Interiors

Size

USS Enterprise NCC-1701 finalized plan
Jefferies' detailed size plan views he created for AMT
D7-class and Enterprise scale drawings Constitution-D7 class comparisonConstitution-D7 class comparison 2
Jefferies' size comparison graphics production art…
…as featured in "The Enterprise Incident"

The length of the Constitution-class had for over half a century been accepted as being 947 feet (289 meters) long, a figure once propagated across nearly all contemporaneous reference works dealing with the subject, beginning with Stephen Edward Poe's reference book, The Making of Star Trek, p. 178. The origin of the graphic used was designer Matt Jefferies, who had originally produced the graphic in 1967 not for the actual Original Series production, but as a reference for Poe's employer, model kit company Aluminum Metal Toys (AMT) for their 1968 second edition retooled USS Enterprise model kit, No. S951 – where the graphic was displayed on the side of the box. Prior to this, a specific length for the starship had not been solidly defined as producer Gene Roddenberry's memo of 24 August 1964 evidenced, "We anticipate a final design might see the ship as 200 feet in length, and thus even a 1½-inch scale would give us quite a huge miniature." This early estimate, initially accompanied with an intended crew complement of 203, would more or less stand until Jefferies utilized his engineering background to recalculate the figures for his design three years later (The Making of Star Trek, pp. 89, 134).

The first brief onscreen indication of scale occurred when two ship size comparison graphics were featured in the Original Series third season episode "The Enterprise Incident". The two computer console graphics, also created by Jefferies, showed a Constitution-class vessel in comparison with the D7-class, along with a barely discernible yardstick. Careful measurement of the production art using that yardstick produces a figure close to but not entirely congruent with other sources, placing the Constitution-class vessel as depicted here at 900 feet (274 meters). Jefferies later sold this original art, including that created for AMT, in the Profiles in History The Star Trek Auction of 12 December 2001, in order to raise funding for the Motion Picture & Television Fund charity.

With the return of the class to the limelight as redesigned for its Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds appearances, a new set of specific dimensions were established onscreen in a recurring manner for the first time. Most easily seen during SNW: "Memento Mori", a length of 442 meters (1450 feet), width of 201 meters, and height of 93 meters can be identified on the dedication plaque of the Constitution-class USS Enterprise as it was in 2259. Of the 53% increase from the prior reference material figures, Discovery Production Designer Tamara Deverell said following its debut, "Overall, I think we expanded the length of it to be within the world of our Discovery, which is bigger, so we did cheat it as a larger ship." [2] In the redesign's debut episode "Brother", Deverall intended to leave behind what she called an "Easter egg for the fans" in the form of a USS Discovery bridge display screen which stated the prior reference dimensions of 288.6 meters long, 127.1 meters wide, and 72.6 meters high, taken from Franz Joseph's Star Fleet Technical Manual. A full view establishing shot of the complete graphic on a freestanding bridge monitor screen, featuring these figures, was filmed but eventually trimmed from the episode as aired. However, the graphic remained partially visible on two other Discovery bridge station computer screens; Joann Owosekun's ops station and Paul Stamets' engineering station, [3] legible in the latter case.

USS Cayuga CGI Wireframe

The Constitution-class USS Cayuga

The revised class dimensions continue to be referenced in later appearances, such as in SNW: "All Those Who Wander" on a graphic for the Sombra-class derivative, which used the same space frame as the Constitution. On 12 August 2023, the database graphic appearing in SNW: "Hegemony" for the USS Cayuga was posted with clarity by Motion Graphics Designer Tim Peel on his Twitter account, establishing that Constitution-class ship as being 442 meters long, 192 meters wide and 93 meters high. [4] A length of 442.06 meters for the USS Enterprise was cited within the Eaglemoss Collections reference publications as well.

Ships of the class

After the first season had concluded its run, it dawned upon Original Series producers Robert H. Justman and D.C. Fontana that a need had arisen to keep track of the already mentioned Constitution-class starships for future production reference. After some corresponding with suggestions to and fro, a definitive name list of vessels belonging to the, then still called Starship-class, was agreed upon by the producers (dutifully carried over to the decal sheet of AMT's 1968 re-issue USS Enterprise model kit) at the start of the series' second season, and comprised the following vessels (The Making of Star Trek, pp. 163-165),

D.C. Fontana's[1] proposal 8 August 1967
  • Enterprise
  • Exeter
  • Essex
  • Excalibur
  • Lexington
  • Yorktown
  • Endeavor
  • El Dorado
  • Excelsior
  • Saratoga
  • Constellation (destroyed in "Doomsday Machine." Presume she would be replaced by Starfleet)
  • Hornet
  • Wasp
  • Farragut (mentioned as destroyed in "Obsession")
  • Hood
  • Bonhomme Richard
  • Monitor or Merrimac, depending upon your loyalties
  • Tori ("bird" [note: in Japanese])
  • Lafayette
  • Ari ("lion" [note: in Hebrew])
  • Krieger ("warrior" [note: in German])
Justman's[2] proposal 9 August 1967
  • Enterprise
  • Essex[3]
  • Excalibur
  • Lexington
  • Yorktown
  • Endeavor
  • Eagle[3]
  • Constellation
  • Hornet
  • Wasp
  • Lafayette
Definitive list as utilized at the start of Season 2
  • Enterprise
  • Exeter
  • Excalibur
  • Lexington
  • Yorktown
  • Potemkin
  • Republic
  • Hood
  • Constitution[4]
  • Kongo[4]
  • Constellation
  • Farragut[5]
  • Valiant
  • Intrepid
  1. Aside from the remarks behind several of the names, Fontana further annotated on her memo, "Alternates include the names of some famous fighting ships of the past, plus a couple of international variations we might consider, Star Fleet being composed of a united service."
  2. Justman noted in his memo, "I think there would be several other candidates, such as Saratoga and perhaps another English carrier, a French carrier, a Russian carrier and certainly a Japanese carrier [note: though the ultimately chosen Kongo was in reality a World War I and II -era Japanese battleship, as were the British HMS Hood and Russian Potemkin, whereas, with the exception of the Excalibur and the Endeavor, all other by Justman proposed names were those of World War II aircraft carriers, the Constellation being an at the time recent US post-war carrier]. In addition, I think a name ought to be made up that would be of Vulcan origin [note: though not adopted, some of Justman's notion was carried over to having the Intrepid a crew that was almost entirely composed of Vulcans]."
  3. 3.0 3.1 Remarkably, the vessel nearly made the final cut as it was already referenced to in first script draft dialogue treatment, dated 30 September 1967, page 64, for the second season episode "Journey to Babel", which contained a line having Lieutenant Uhura state, "Starfleet Command confirms alien attack on the other starships, sir. The enemy was defeated. Starships Essex and Eagle suffered heavy damage, but will make base." The reference to the Essex and the Eagle though, was dropped from the episode as aired, indicating that it was not until after September 1967 that the final list was composed. [1] USS Eagle however, resurfaced as a Constitution II-class vessel a quarter of a century later in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, referenced on the "Operation Retrieve" briefing charts, courtesy of Michael Okuda.
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Constitution and Kongo were the only vessels on the final list that have not been referenced to in any form or format in the Original/Animated Series beyond their inclusion on the list and, obviously, besides the class designation itself. However, a "NCC-1700" registry, presumed to be Constitution's as the class vessel by fanon ever since (most conspicuously by Gregory Jein in his influential "The Case of Jonathan Doe Starship" article), had been referenced in the prior episode "Court Martial", but the name/registry combination has never been established in canon.
  5. It was until 2022 generally assumed by both production staff and reference book authors alike (Michael Okuda among them in all editions of his Star Trek Encyclopedia) that Farragut was a class member. That notion became ultimately dispelled in canon in 2022 when the Farragut-type USS Farragut was shown as belonging to an altogether different starship class in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds first season episode "A Quality of Mercy". Incidentally, after having been featured in later Star Trek live-action productions, the Cayuga, Defiant and New Jersey became subsequent confirmed class additions in canon, as was NCC-1700 for that matter – albeit without a corresponding name in the latter case.

Saucer separation

A saucer separation capability for the Constitution-class was suggested as early as the second season of the Original Series in the original script of its episode "The Apple", but was never produced as no Original Series script has ever actually called for one. The capability was however envisioned by the producers, "Designed to operate separately from the rest of the ship, the saucer therefore contains all elements necessary for independent operation." (The Making of Star Trek, p. 171) The intent made it even into the official series' internal writer's guide, The Star Trek Guide (third revision, page 15 of the supplement and generally dubbed the "Writer's Bible"), where the saucer section was described to be "in fact a completely self-sustaining unit which can detach itself from the galaxy drive units and operate on atomic impulse power for short range solar system exploration." [5]

Retconned design

USS Enterprise profile view, 2254-R

The Constitution-class as it appears in TOS-R "The Cage"

There have been three different renditions of the original design:

The first model, used in the original pilot "The Cage", featured a larger bridge dome and sensor/deflector dish, and spikes on the Bussard collectors, among other minor differences. The second configuration, used in the second pilot, and throughout the rest of the series due to footage being reused, was similar to the first version, with the addition of running lights, additional markings, and a grille pattern on the rear of each engine nacelle.

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), ENT

The Constitution-class as it appears in TOS-R

The version used for the production of the regular series had a smaller bridge dome, a smaller sensor/deflector dish, and lighting effects in the Bussard collectors, which had their antenna spikes removed. The remastered edition of TOS replaced the anomalous stock shots in later episodes with the proper configuration.

USS Enterprise, 2257

The Constitution-class as it appears in DIS

A new, more radically redesigned model for the Constitution-class USS Enterprise was introduced in "Will You Take My Hand?". After briefly considering a radical departure from previous depictions, the designers of this new model instead aimed "to get as close as possible to the original", yet add "the sleek, unique Discovery look to it." While Discovery used this new model for all "current" depictions of the class, the "previously on" opening sequence of the Discovery episode "If Memory Serves" however, utilized an original shot of the Original Series version (instead of the actual pilot version) for the events of "The Cage" and not the newly redesigned one. A holographic image of the Discovery version of the Enterprise was later featured in the Star Trek: Picard episode "Maps and Legends" as well.

The Enterprise was redesigned for Star Trek: Discovery to look more up to date for a modern television audience. The designers first increased the size of the ship to better match with the Discovery so it wouldn't look too small. The team then began redesigning by drawing ten sketches of the ship to show how the ship could be altered. The final product was an Enterprise that fitted with the new aesthetic of Discovery, but kept close to the original.

The two Star Trek veteran re-designers of the new Enterprise, John Eaves and Scott Schneider, theorized that their new Enterprise could be refitted to become the original, as they had designed the new ship to look less advanced than the TOS series production version from the 1960s. [6]

While the Discovery series itself has shied away from explaining in canon the in-universe visual configuration differences of Enterprise between "The Cage" and the Original Series, an attempt was made to do so in the 2019 officially licensed in-universe reference book Star Trek: The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 & 1701-A Illustrated Handbook, where it followed the reasoning of the two co-redesigners by implying that the upgrades were a temporary measure to meet the crisis situation if the ship was called upon to perform as a "last resort" in the Federation-Klingon War. Page 34 had it stated that "[m]any of the Enterprise's systems had been augmented and enhanced for the mission, to ensure the ship was capable of withstanding any exceptional and extreme conditions in the extreme regions it was exploring," continuing to explain the alterations. Page 54 further implied – rather implausibly, as Kirk's mission was every bit as "exceptional" and "extreme" as Pike's had been – that these alterations were no longer deemed necessary for the subsequent five-year mission under Kirk, and that the ship was therefore returned to the "The Cage"-era configuration, though some upgrades under Pike were "retained", which included the dispensing with of the "spikes" on the Bussard collector caps and the smaller deflector dish.

Shortly before its introduction in the season one closing episode "Will You Take My Hand?" though, Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman implied that, despite the canon appearances of the classic design in both DIS: "Despite Yourself", "If Memory Serves" (albeit as a mirror universe adapted wireframe graphic only in the former case), the redesigned Constitution-class was henceforth the canonnical one and therefore intended as the definitive replacement of Matt Jefferies' classic design

Obviously [Discovery] looks more modern than The Original Series, because we are in a modern world now and if we made the show look that way people would not feel that it was worth the money. That being said, every prop and costume design is filtered through what existed at the time. And do we create the new version of it or do we augment the original design in very subtle ways or do we just leave it alone? And when I say every prop and design choice I mean every [note: "every" emphasized] prop and design choice. So, I think you will see a lot of tips of the hat to devices to The Original Series and the timeline. But, obviously we wanted to create a more modern experience and that necessitated certain adjustments. [7]

Ephraim and the USS Enterprise

Kirk's retconned ship in "Ephraim and Dot"

Pursuant the introduction Production Designer Tamara Deverell has added more specifically, "For the Enterprise, we based it initially off of The Original Series. We were really drawing a lot of our materials from that. And then we particularly went to more of the Star Trek movies, which is a little bit fatter, a little bit bigger. Overall, I think we expanded the length of it to be within the world of our Discovery, which is bigger, so we did cheat it as a larger ship." [8] The showrunner's implied intent had already accrued credence when the redesign appeared as Kirk's Original Series ship in the Star Trek: Short Treks episode "Ephraim and Dot" shortly before its holographic reappearance, for all intent and purposes the first actual retconning of the ship in canon – which, incidentally, was all the more remarkable as the interiors shown in that episode adhered more closely to the ones as seen in The Original Series.

When redesigning the Enterprise for Strange New Worlds, the designers overhauled the windows on the saucer section because at the end of Star Trek: Discovery the front of the saucer section had been destroyed during the battle against Control. The overall majority of the model was kept the same, though the bridge window was reduced in size to not be so big and exposed. [9]

Yet, it were the season three showrunners of Star Trek: Picard, staunch Original Series fans to a man, who rendered moot whatever intentions there might have been, if any, for the classic Original Series Jefferies design, by visually inserting it into the episodes PIC: "The Bounty", "Võx", "The Last Generation" in the guise of USS New Jersey. By doing so, they effectively validated the theory retcon designers Eaves (who had worked in a similar capacity on Picard as well) and Schneider had put forward four years earlier.

Studio models

For further information on both original, and retcon redesign Constitution-class studio models, please see respectively,

Apocrypha

Star Trek blueprints, sheet 1

Joseph's alternatives for the 14 Original Series "Connies"

Although not considered canon, several sources have produced a long list of Constitution-class starships. The main source was Franz Joseph's aforementioned Star Fleet Technical Manual, which listed over one hundred Constitution-class ships divided into subclasses: Constitution, Bonhomme Richard, Achernar, and Tikopai. Ships of the class were later expanded by other publications such as Ships of the Star Fleet which included the Endeavour, Enterprise, and Enterprise (II) subclasses. It should be noted that Joseph incorporated all the ship names the Original Series producers had originally proposed at the start of the second season, and had only these listed in his Star Trek Blueprints companion publication.

Constitution-class vessels are prominently featured in fan film productions like Star Trek: Phase II, Starship Exeter (where the USS Kongo has actually performed a saucer separation in its second episode), Starship Farragut, and Of Gods and Men.

External links

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