Columbia (Star Trek)

In the "Star Trek" fictional universe, there have been three space vessels named "Columbia".

"Columbia" (NX-02)

Infobox Fictional Spacecraft
name = "Columbia"


first = Home
last = Bound
launched = 2154
class = NX
registry = NX-02
armaments = Pulsed phase cannons
Photonic torpedoes
defense = Polarized hull plating
primeref = HomeThe "Columbia" (NX-02) is a 22nd century Earth Starfleet NX class starship featured in several episodes of the science fiction television series "".

History

Construction of the vessel began in 2151 after the launch of "Enterprise" ("Ent": "Fortunate Son") and is shown on screen for the first time, albeit without a name, in the second season's "The Expanse". The vessel receives its moniker in the following season's "E²". The naming of Starfleet's first two NX class ships as "Enterprise" and "Columbia" follows NASA's pattern of giving the same names to its first two space shuttles.

The ship's first commanding officer is Captain Erika Hernandez ("Ent": "Home"). The vessel, which has improved weapons and hull plating compared to its older sister ship, was launched in late 2154, after numerous construction-related delays. "Columbia"'s official motto, seen on the mission patches worn on crew's uniforms, is "Audentes Fortuna Juvat" (Fortune Favors the Bold).

When Klingon sabotage prevents "Enterprise" from dropping out of warp, forcing it to travel at dangerously high speeds in order to avoid catastrophic engine failure, Commander Trip Tucker makes a risky maneuver by traveling along a tether from "Columbia" to "Enterprise" while both vessels were travelling at warp. Tucker subsequently receives temporary reassignment to "Enterprise" in order to assist in repairing major damage experienced due to the Klingon incident ("Ent": "Affliction" and "Divergence").

Tucker's transfer to "Columbia" is brief, and he eventually requests and receives transfer back to "Enterprise" ("Ent": "Bound").

Appearance

Externally, the "Columbia" is virtually identical to "Enterprise", save for a larger, more rectangular deflector dish and a slight difference in the color of the hull: to distinguish between the two ships (whenever they appear onscreen together), "Columbia" is seen with a slight bluish tint to its hull, as opposed to the more reddish hue of "Enterprise".

Internally, the two ships are similar as well, except for slight differences in bridge layout, and some minor variations in computer screen readouts (on "Enterprise", the display screens use red, yellow and blue colors; on "Columbia", green is used instead of blue).

Apocrypha

According to the licensed, but non-canonical, 2006 book "Ships of the Line", which draws material from a series of "Star Trek" calendars published beginning in 2000, the "Columbia" somehow crashed in the Gamma Quadrant. Its wreckage remained undisturbed until the early months of the Dominion War in the 24th century. [ [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/galleryview?id=27555&count=1&ads=1&clicks=7&episodeid=0&expanded=true "Ships of the Line" image gallery] , StarTrek.com]

Legacy

The ship was named after the real life Space Shuttle "Columbia", which had been destroyed a few months before the "Enterprise" episode "E²" aired. [ [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/6400.html "Production Report: 'Home' Bound for Earth, Vulcan"] , StarTrek.com]

SS "Columbia"

The SS "Columbia" was a 23rd century Federation survey vessel that crashed on planet Talos IV circa 2236. Under expedition leader Dr. Theodore Haskins, it had been surveying the Talos Star Group for the American Continent Institute. The only survivor of the crash was an adult woman named Vina. In 2254, the USS "Enterprise" under the command of Captain Christopher Pike responded to a distress signal purportedly sent from the "Columbia". In reality, the signal was a ruse by the Talosians to lure a suitable mate for Vina to the planet, in order to repopulate it (TOS "The Cage").

USS "Columbia" (NCC-621)

The USS "Columbia", registry number NCC-621, was a 23rd century Federation starship. Circa 2273, it was ordered by Starfleet Commodore Probert to rendezvous with the USS "Revere". This order was relayed by station Epsilon IX shortly before the station's destruction by "V'Ger" (""). It is conjectured that reference to the USS "Columbia" in the "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" dialogue is drawn from "The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual" by Franz Joseph.

References

External links