Long-lost starship Enterprise model found
What an important week this was in the history of Star Trek, and science fiction, fandom.
First, the good news. The best news: Something once thought forever lost was found.
The Constitution-class starship U.S.S. Enterprise. NCC-1701 — “no bloody A, B, C or D,” as a certain Scot engineer would say.
Not the real thing, of course. It’s just a model. But a very important model. Smaller than the 11-foot studio model now restored in the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, the latest find is a nearly 3-foot model, the first filming model ever built based on Matt Jeffries’ iconic design. Used in the 1966-69 TV series’ opening title sequence, it later appeared in a publicity photograph in the hands of Spock himself, actor Leonard Nimoy, and famously sat on the desk of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry — until it was loaned out during the production of the first Star Trek feature film, never to be seen again. (Suggestions that Roddenberry’s son threw it in a swimming pool are now thankfully proved false.)
It’s not clear what really did happen to this Enterprise, but after spending who-knows-how-long in some storage unit and showing up briefly on eBay it was authenticated by Heritage Auctions and a gallant crew of Star Trek production experts, then returned to Roddenberry Entertainment CEO Eugene “Rod’ Roddenberry — the aforementioned Great Bird of the Galaxy’s son — who says it will be restored and shared with the world. (With sagging warp nacelles and worn hull markings at the very least, it’s clear this Enterprise model, as beautiful as she is, has seen better days.) You can read more about the details from ABC News.
What a joyous development for fandom to celebrate. More widely, Star Trek designs have influenced real-life explorers, engineers, doctors, inventors and the vast array of gadgets we now take for granted. It’s only fitting this original Enterprise model should be shared with the world.
R.I.P. John Trimble, savior of Star Trek
Unfortunately, the week closed on a more somber note, with the news of the passing of John Trimble. With his wife Bjo, he is remembered for organizing a grassroots letter-writing campaign to “Save Star Trek” when it faced cancellation after two seasons, prompting a wave of support that got the show a reprieve in syndication for a third season and likely forever in reruns; syndication would become the default home of spin-offs The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine decades later. The past, present and future of Roddenberry’s vision owes the Trimbles an enormous debt.
Perhaps it’s fitting to remember a man responsible for “saving” Star Trek while celebrating the safe return of such an iconic part of its history and cultural influence as Roddenberry’s beloved U.S.S. Enterprise model.
StarTrek.com has posted a fitting tribute to John Trimble.
