Summary
Star Trek: The Original Seriesfeaturessome memorable quotes, uncanny aliens, and plenty of questionable fashion choices. Yet one of the show’s most important aspects is its starships, which are used to both explore the galaxy and confront its various threats.
Technical and budgetary limitations meant that manyStar Trek:TOSstarships were depicted as smears of light; luckily, the 2007–2008 remasters enhanced the show’s visual diversity. As such, the weird and wonderful vessels encountered by Captain Kirk owe as much to the artists who worked on the remasters as they do their original creators. From doomsday weapons to massive flagships,The Original Seriesis full of inventive designs.
8Lazarus' Ship
First Appearance: “The Alternative Factor” (Season 1, Episode 27)
WhileTOSfeaturessome classic episodes, not all installments can be winners, as demonstrated by “The Alternative Factor”. This first-season clunker sees theEnterprisecrew dealing with two versions of the same man, Lazarus, from different planes of existence—if the two men touch, the universe goes boom.
The silly premise is not without its silver lining. Lazarus' dimension-hopping vessel is a brilliant piece of sci-fi kitsch thanks to its bubble-dome cockpit and retrofuturistic styling. This cute starship is also one of the most technically advanced to appear in the series: theEnterprisemay travel through space (and sometimes time), but Lazarus' ship is a rare example of a craft that can move through dimensions.
7The Planet Killer
First Appearance: “The Doomsday Machine” (Season 2, Episode 6)
Long beforeStar Warstested the destructive potentialof the Death Staron Alderaan,Star Trekhad its own planet-busting superweapon. Kirk’sEnterprisecrosses paths with the so-called Planet Killer while attempting to recover a damaged Starfleet ship, the USSConstitution. The only surviving member of theConstitution’s crew, Commodore Decker, explains that he has been investigating several ruined star systems, and that the Planet Killer is responsible for their destruction.
The Planet Killer’s antiproton beam represents one of the franchise’s most devastating offensive technologies, easily disabling a top-of-the-lineConstitution-class starship. The motives of the Planet Killer are more obscure—however, variousStar Treknovels and comics have offered their own explanations for the powerful vessel. According to one questionably canon source, the Planet Killer was designed as an anti-Borg superweapon, while another novel sees the damaged ship reactivated and used to destroy an enhanced Borg cube. Whatever its purpose, it represents one of the greatest threats to the Federation.
6Tholian Starship
First Appearance: “The Tholian Web” (Season 3, Episode 9)
The Tholians are one ofStar Trek’s most mysterious races. These apparently crystalline arachnids appear in only three of the franchise’s more than nine hundred episodes, but this lack of screen time does nothing to detract from the threat posed by these xenophobic aliens.
“The Tholian Web” sees theEnterpriseinvestigating the wreckage of another starship, the USSDefiant, which appears to be phasing in and out of existence. However, theEnterprisefinds itself snared in the eponymous Tholian web whentwo alien starshipsweave an energy field around the Federation vessel. Although theEnterpriseis able to escape, narrowly avoiding capture or destruction by this bizarre alien power, fans are sure to remember the unusual vessels responsible for Kirk’s predicament.
5The Fesarius
First Appearance: “The Corbomite Maneuver” (Season 1, Episode 10)
The sphericalFesariusencountered by the Enterprise in “The Corbomite Maneuver” is the flagship of the First Federation (not to be confused with the United Federation of Planets). Its unusual, simplistic design sets it apart from the sleeker ships usually seen in the series; in many ways, it is a more rounded precursor tothe Borg cubeseen inThe Next Generation. However, luckily for Kirk and his crew, theFesariusis more interested in exploration than assimilation.
In addition to its impressive appearance, the Fesarius is also home to the alien Balok, played by Clint Howard. This was Howard’s firstTrekrole—he would go on to make frequent appearances throughout the franchise, most recently in a 2023 episode ofStrange New Worlds. TheFesariusitself would also reappear, albeit off-screen, as the ship plays a central role in a Shatner-authored novel and aStar Trek: Voyagershort story.
4Eymorg Starship
First Appearance: “Spock’s Brain” (Season 3, Episode 1)
To call “Spock’s Brain” divisive is perhaps being too kind to an episode that many fans consider as the nadir ofThe Original Series. This campy caper involves the theft of Spock’s brain (his body is turned into a robot by Doctor McCoy) and a race against time to retrieve the organ fromthe mysterious Eymorg civilization. Fred Frieburger, who helped to write the episode, is often accused of ruining Gene Roddenberry’s utopian series—based on “Spock’s Brain”, the fans might be right.
However, even the worst episodes can feature interesting starships. The Eymorg vessel responsible for abducting Spock’s brain is an inspired design that perfectly fits the show’s bold, retrofuturistic aesthetic. There are two different versions of the Eymorg ship: a rocket-shaped vessel seen in the original episode, and a more spherical design created for theTOSremasters. Of the two, the latter is more interesting, as it draws upon contemporary ion-powered spaceships while retaining the classic sixties feel.
3Romulan Bird-Of-Prey
First Appearance: “Balance of Terror” (Season 1, Episode 14)
The Next Generation’s D’deridex-class warbirds maybeStar Trek’s most memorable take on Romulan starships, but the precursors seen inThe Original Seriesare also worthy of examination. The hull and nacelles combination of the warbird recalls the design of many Federation ships—indeed, a line of dialogue cut from “Balance of Terror” suggested that the Romulans had stolen the blueprints from the Federation. The Bird-of-Prey encountered by Kirkin the Neutral Zoneis more than capable of taking on theEnteprise, and is even superior in some respects.
For example, the Bird-of-Prey possesses cloaking technology, allowing it to conceal itself from enemy vessels. This makes the starship ideal for sneak attacks and hit-and-run strikes against the Federation, a strategy perfectly suited to the scheming Romulans. Furthermore, its arsenal of nuclear warheads may be relatively old-fashioned, but it is nonetheless effective.
2Klingon D7 Cruiser
First Appearance: “Day of the Dove (Season 3, Episode 7)
Despite being one ofStar Trek’s most iconic starships, the Klingon D7 cruiser is rarely seen inThe Original Seriesas broadcast. Indeed, the recognizable model is absent until the show’s final season, as Klingon ships are instead represented by indistinct smears on theEnterprise’s screen. This shortcoming is remedied in the noughties remasters of the series, which insert CGI models of the cruiser into several earlier episodes.
The D7 is primarily associatedwith the Klingon Empire, but this well-armed vessel also sees service under the Romulan Star Empire. For instance, a D7 is one of several Romulan-aligned ships that confronts Kirk’s starship during “The Enterprise Incident”, suggesting an alliance of sorts between the Klingon and Romulan states. Like many other ships under Romulan control, the D7 possesses a cloaking device, making it a deadly threat to the Federation.
1USS Enterprise
First Appearance: “The Cage” (Unaired Pilot)
TheStarship Enterprisehas undergonenumerous redesigns and reiterationssince its debut inThe Original Series, but Kirk’s version of the Federation starship remains the most well-recognized version in popular culture. This is due, in part, to the hero ship’s innovative appearance—Gene Roddenberry’s design rules prevented the vessel from being just another generic flying saucer.
Yet few people deserve more credit for theEnterprise’s design than artist Matt Jefferies, who played a crucial role in crafting theConstitution-class starship. Jefferies' finest work has come to define the franchise, with this version of theEnterpriseappearing throughout theStar Trekcanon. Of all the ships to appear inThe Original Series(and inTrek) as a whole, none is more iconic than Kirk’s USSEnterprise.
