Post by Niemz on Nov 10, 2006 20:07:11 GMT -6
Starfleet's early history was left obscure, until the series Star Trek: Enterprise demonstrated that an Earth Starfleet had been operating at least 18 years prior to the founding of the Federation (according to the episode "First Flight"), as Starfleet conducted the Warp 2 and 3 tests and several high-ranking officers referred to graduating from Starfleet Academy.
It is possible Starfleet is a branch of the United Earth Space Probe Agency, or is in fact the same organization. During production of early episodes of the original series, several details of the makeup of the Star Trek universe had yet to be worked out, including the operating authority for the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). Several episodes refer to UESPA as the Enterprise's operating authority before the term 'Starfleet' became widespread.
References to UESPA in the Star Trek universe can be dated back as far as 2067, as the Friendship One probe was marked with the letters UESPA-1, implying the organization began shortly after Zefram Cochrane's first Warp flight in 2063 (Phoenix). Other background props included UESPA references as well, such as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard's family album in Star Trek: Generations.
During the production of Enterprise, some larger Starfleet insignia designs included the script "United Earth Space Probe Agency" to pay homage to the original series and explain away the contradiction of competing agencies by implying they are, in fact, the same organization, which serves as the exploration arm of the United Federation of Planets.
Since Cochrane's first warp flight in 2063, Earth had founded a few colonies in nearby star systems and established trade routes with a few species, such as the Vulcans and Denobulans, the latter serving as administrators of an asteroid medical research complex that housed the remaining Augment embryos from the days of the Eugenics Wars. Soon after, the first attempts of deep-space exploration were conducted (USS Valiant). It was under Starfleet's auspices that humanity expanded upon Cochrane's vision of instellar warp flight. Incorporating research begun by Cochrane and Henry Archer in 2119, Starfleet research led to the first successful flight of Warp 3 engines in the 2140s. The NX program greatly expanded the reach of humanity across the stars.
Starfleet was responsible for launching the first Human Warp 5-capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01 in 2151, followed by Columbia in 2155, and other vessels.
The Romulan Wars of 2156-60 likely saw an expansion of Starfleet's military role. Most of Earth's overtly military functions to this point, such as the counterstrike against the Xindi of 2153-54, had been handled by the Military Assault Command (MACO), using Starfleet vessels for transport.
With the signing of the Federation charter in 2161, Starfleet became the lead exploratory and military wing of the United Federation of Planets, and alien crewmembers became more common though it is possible that member planets, such as Vulcan, continued to conduct independent fleet operations. Over time, design integrations from the various member worlds would lead to a more homogenized fleet design, and it was not uncommon for fully alien crews, such as Vulcans, to serve on Starfleet-designed ships by the 24th century. Some pacifists within Starfleet's ranks would debate its military function, but an objective reading of Starfleet history cannot rule out its military role.
Eventually, Starfleet would adopt its Prime Directive of non-interference with developing worlds. This was not a human construct, but stemmed from policies originally implemented by the Vulcans, who used the attainment of warp speed as a barometer for making first contact with a civilization. The prime directive and Starfleet's first contact policies would evolve over the first two centuries of the Federation's existence to the point where many legal scholars and Starfleet officers interpreted the prime directive not to apply to warp-capable civilizations in terms of providing aid, but still prevented overt interference in a planet's internal governmental affairs, regardless of technological level.
Many of Starfleet's Headquarters buildings on Earth are concentrated just North-east of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Fort Baker area. Starfleet's Academy is located in the Presidio of San Francisco, a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, with some buildings being further inland.
With Earth's expansion of influence following the deployment of Warp 5 vessels, Starfleet began establishing a series of starbases throughout what would become Federation territory. Within 200 years, Starfleet would have hundreds of bases, which would serve as regional headquarters, supply depots and ports of call for Starfleet crews. Starbases were built either as planetside facilities, an offshoot of existing embassies, or as orbital docking stations.
It is possible Starfleet is a branch of the United Earth Space Probe Agency, or is in fact the same organization. During production of early episodes of the original series, several details of the makeup of the Star Trek universe had yet to be worked out, including the operating authority for the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). Several episodes refer to UESPA as the Enterprise's operating authority before the term 'Starfleet' became widespread.
References to UESPA in the Star Trek universe can be dated back as far as 2067, as the Friendship One probe was marked with the letters UESPA-1, implying the organization began shortly after Zefram Cochrane's first Warp flight in 2063 (Phoenix). Other background props included UESPA references as well, such as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard's family album in Star Trek: Generations.
During the production of Enterprise, some larger Starfleet insignia designs included the script "United Earth Space Probe Agency" to pay homage to the original series and explain away the contradiction of competing agencies by implying they are, in fact, the same organization, which serves as the exploration arm of the United Federation of Planets.
Since Cochrane's first warp flight in 2063, Earth had founded a few colonies in nearby star systems and established trade routes with a few species, such as the Vulcans and Denobulans, the latter serving as administrators of an asteroid medical research complex that housed the remaining Augment embryos from the days of the Eugenics Wars. Soon after, the first attempts of deep-space exploration were conducted (USS Valiant). It was under Starfleet's auspices that humanity expanded upon Cochrane's vision of instellar warp flight. Incorporating research begun by Cochrane and Henry Archer in 2119, Starfleet research led to the first successful flight of Warp 3 engines in the 2140s. The NX program greatly expanded the reach of humanity across the stars.
Starfleet was responsible for launching the first Human Warp 5-capable starship, the Enterprise NX-01 in 2151, followed by Columbia in 2155, and other vessels.
The Romulan Wars of 2156-60 likely saw an expansion of Starfleet's military role. Most of Earth's overtly military functions to this point, such as the counterstrike against the Xindi of 2153-54, had been handled by the Military Assault Command (MACO), using Starfleet vessels for transport.
With the signing of the Federation charter in 2161, Starfleet became the lead exploratory and military wing of the United Federation of Planets, and alien crewmembers became more common though it is possible that member planets, such as Vulcan, continued to conduct independent fleet operations. Over time, design integrations from the various member worlds would lead to a more homogenized fleet design, and it was not uncommon for fully alien crews, such as Vulcans, to serve on Starfleet-designed ships by the 24th century. Some pacifists within Starfleet's ranks would debate its military function, but an objective reading of Starfleet history cannot rule out its military role.
Eventually, Starfleet would adopt its Prime Directive of non-interference with developing worlds. This was not a human construct, but stemmed from policies originally implemented by the Vulcans, who used the attainment of warp speed as a barometer for making first contact with a civilization. The prime directive and Starfleet's first contact policies would evolve over the first two centuries of the Federation's existence to the point where many legal scholars and Starfleet officers interpreted the prime directive not to apply to warp-capable civilizations in terms of providing aid, but still prevented overt interference in a planet's internal governmental affairs, regardless of technological level.
Many of Starfleet's Headquarters buildings on Earth are concentrated just North-east of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Fort Baker area. Starfleet's Academy is located in the Presidio of San Francisco, a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, with some buildings being further inland.
With Earth's expansion of influence following the deployment of Warp 5 vessels, Starfleet began establishing a series of starbases throughout what would become Federation territory. Within 200 years, Starfleet would have hundreds of bases, which would serve as regional headquarters, supply depots and ports of call for Starfleet crews. Starbases were built either as planetside facilities, an offshoot of existing embassies, or as orbital docking stations.