Star Trek Fans Changed NASA's First Shuttle Name
It was first set to be called Constitution, honoring the centenary of the US Constitution. Everything changed when a group of dedicated Star Trek fans launched a powerful letter-writing campaign to have it renamed.
At the event, famous faces from NASA, the US government, and even the cast of Star Trek gathered to witness the unveiling. The name Enterprise became a symbol of the connection between science fiction dreams and real-world space exploration.
The Campaign That Made History
The movement to rename the shuttle was led by Bjo Trimble, a well-known figure in the science fiction community. Along with her husband, John Trimble, Bjo had already built a reputation after leading a campaign to save Star Trek from cancellation. They used the same strategy of connecting fan clubs, conventions, and newsletters across the world.
Letters soon reached President Gerald Ford. A memo to the President suggested that naming the shuttle Enterprise would excite millions of space enthusiasts, tie in with American naval history, and serve as good public relations.
NASA's chief James Fletcher and presidential advisor Jim Cannon supported the idea, and on September 3, 1976, President Ford approved the change.
Enterprise and the Shuttle Legacy
The shuttle Enterprise was mainly used for early testing, including glide and landing trials. While it never flew in space, it laid the foundation for the operational Space Shuttle missions. Later shuttles—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—were named after famous ships of exploration.
During the unveiling in Palmdale, the US Air Force band played the Star Trek theme, celebrating the fans' victory. Years later, in 2012, surviving Star Trek cast members watched the retired Enterprise arrive at its final home, the Intrepid Museum in New York.
Though other fandoms, like Star Wars, tried similar campaigns—such as naming a shuttle Millennium Falcon—they were unsuccessful. Still, the story of Enterprise remains a powerful example of how fans helped shape space history, ensuring a link between popular culture and NASA's journey into space.
