FSD: Enterprise - NCC-1701-D Galaxy-class

The fifth starship Enterprise was contructed at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards orbiting Mars and was completed in late 2363 launched on stardate 40759.5. Before its first mission the Enterprise-D stopped at Earth Station McKinley to pick up crew members including Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Captain Picard assumed command of the Enterprise-D in 2364 on stardate 41148. During the first mission to Farpoint Station, Admiral Leonard McCoy arrived from the USS Hood NCC-42296 making an inspection of the Enterprise-D's medical facilities. During the Enterprise-D's first mission first known contact with the Q Continuum was made.

The Enterprise became the flagship of the Federation, serving to represent it in several dipolmatic and defensive situations. In major hostile confrontations the Enterprise-D was on the front lines. The crew of

the Enterprise have made many important scientific discoveries and its mission of exploration of space brought it to uncharted sectors of the Alpha Quadrant.

When Captain Picard was assimilated by the Borg becoming Locutus, Commander William Riker was given a field commission of captain of the Enterprise in 2367. When Picard was saved by the crew, Riker went back to his rank of commander and first officer. A few years later in 2369 Captain Jellico was given command of the Enterprise by Admiral Nechayev when Picard was sent on a secret mission to Celtris III. Jellico's experience with the Cardassians proved vital in resolving the situation and recovering Picard.

In 2371, while at Veridian III the Enterprise was attack by a Klingon Bird of Prey that gained access to the shield frequency and was able to fire several disruptor charges that caused a warp core breach. The ship

separated, the stardrive section was destroyed and the saucer section crash landed on the planet. No one was killed, however the ship was deemed a total lost.

Star Trek: Universe background information
Gene Roddenberry's initial concept for the Enterprise-D was the idea of "Technology Unchained," where science and technology would be put in the service of increased quality of life in the 24th-Century. Even though the bridge of the Enterprise seems much larger than the original Enterprise, it's 38 feet wide, the same as the original, and only two feet longer. The Enterprise was designed by Andrew Probert. Working blueprints were drafted by Greg Papalia. The original six-foot model of the ship was built under the supervision of Ease Owyeung at Lucasfilm's ILM studio. During the third season, a more detailed four-foot model was produced under the supervision of Greg Jein.

Related Links:
Designing the Enterprise-D