1. USS Enterprise (NCC-1701/-A), Star Trek, Star Trek: The Animated Series, TOS-era movies, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
I’m sure you had deduced what ship would be at Number 1 before now, but yes, the original Constitution-class USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) is the prettiest ship in the fleet. While there are obvious differences, I include both the original and refit versions of this ship, because the basic lines and proportions of the ship are effectively the same.
To quote Captain Kirk, the original Enterprise “is a beautiful lady, and we love her!” What works so well about this ship’s design, by Walter “Matt” Jeffries, is its mix of simplicity and clarity. Unlike some other ships on this list, this Enterprise looks great at any angle, which ensures that it is easily recognizable and readable no matter what a story may demand of it.
On top of this is the simple fact that this ship’s design established everything that has come after. Each Starfleet ship depicted in Star Trek is clearly in direct conversation with the original Enterprise, trying to strike a balance between uniqueness and familiarity. If this design wasn’t as good as it is, it seems likely that later designers would have taken more drastic departures for their ships.
Something wonderful about the design of Star Trek’s ships is the sheer variety that has been concocted that can all share a cohesive identity. This helps add to the realism and verisimilitude of Star Trek’s world. It also makes it so that I desperately want a bunch of little starships strewn throughout my house. While I ranked them here, almost all Star Trek ships are cool in some way.
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