The Roddenberry Vault Clip: “Enterprise Design”

NASA’s Bobak Ferdowsi and Star Trek executive producer Manny Coto discuss the futuristic design of the legendary Starship Enterprise.

Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault gives fans unprecedented access to unseen footage from the production of Star Trek: The Original Series. The collection arrives on Blu-ray December 13, 2016 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution.

[GigaTrope]

I think the simplicity of the design makes it more memorable than a lot of the over-designed stuff in sci-fi.

[komradewirelesscaller]

She was, and still is, a beautiful ship of the imagination!

[matterantimatter]

I agree. I was hooked the first time I saw the NCC-1701. I still am. Thank you Mr. Roddenberry.

[tomsmith]

I love the Enterprise from TOS but the refit in ST The Motion Picture was AMAZING!

[ajb]

But the TOS Enterprise design SO accomplished what it was meant to. Yes, it does have a 60's TV sci-fi aesthetic about it (the Refit design helped with that). But what the original accomplished was, at the time, giving us a spaceship design that WASN'T a rocket ship, or a flying saucer. It combined elements of both, in a style that told the viewer immediately THIS IS A SPACE SHIP. It operates IN SPACE, not continually entering and leaving planetary atmospheres like the aforementioned designs we were all used to. As a vehicle of the imagination it was (and is) a freaking brilliant design.

[elwoogie]

Has anyone else driven on a trafficless road at night in a snowstorm and imagined your were travelling at warp speed as snowflakes looked like stars whizzing by?

[dennisjump]

Iconic is the word for that design. But what about the sound effects? I always loved the sound of the phasers and especially the photon torpedoes! Classic.

[fractalelf]

Without question, and the Kilngon D7 while derivative, and the original Romulan Warbird, all three fantastic designs. The Galileo projected the design for mini-vans decades in advance ;)

[aerospacecadet]

Manny Coto always got Star Trek right. Too bad Enterprise was too far gone for even his input to save. I really wanted to see the Romulan War.

[Bippy]

I was in awe w the original design NCC-1701. All other Sci-Fi ships 50s & 60s looked simple finned rockets, or flying saucer-ish (Except for 2001: A Space Odyssey). Thank you for this video.

[ebt]

Somewhere I read that Matt Jefferies reasoned everything should be able to be repaired on the inside of the ship so no one would need to be exposed to the harsh environment of space.

[CP-]

From certain angles it does give you the majestic look of a sailing ship.

[Scorchy]

The very rare opening color test footage, brief as it was, still very thrilling to see.

[stardude]

It's an elegant design What is called Starfleet Clean I know Every part and what every part does
It'll never be equalled
Matt Jeffries got it Right !!

[Pimp-Master]

People who didn't know where the Bridge is on the ship are now running the franchise. Figures.

[cdname]

"Can you tell me why you crashed sir?"

"Honestly Officer, that damned Enterprise ahead of me slammed on its reverse thrust and I had to swerve to avoid it!"

"Errr...ok Sir, please blow into this bag..."

[Turboy]

In later years, the ship design itself was used as the rule for developing the warp field theory of Star Trek canonical knowledge. The theory was fitted to the ship design.

[getoutofmybrain]

TOS Enterprise has some anthropomorphism going on:

Head held high, her critical mind glowing from within, her chest below, broad and powerful breast, sturdy yet elegant neck, to a solid torso harboring all the vital organs, with legs... they go all the way up - long, intense, tireless power plants, powering this majestic mistress across the stars with assurety, ease and grace...

Once you see her like this - it kinda sticks forever, did for me.

add the horns decalring: Da da da da da da da

Oh yeh, she is proud, beautiful, brilliant and classic, beyond all assessment

[TheJMPD]

U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701, is the most beautiful ship that has ever been envisioned. To me, the design exudes grace, elegance, dignity, and strength. The refit design was also magnificent, but to me, the original is awe inspiring.

[jobfour]

For me the original design of the star ship Enterprise made watch the show, it's just awesome I hope to build one of my own in the next