Why are Star Trek ships prefixed "USS"?

posted on July 13th, 2011, 1:22 pm

It's just been bugging me....   

None of the former manned space missions (Mercury, Gemini, & Apollo) or the current (soon to be retired) shuttles have the "USS" prefix, and neither did the Phoenix. 

I know it supposedly stands for "United Star Ship" or "United Space Ship"...but that seems kinda silly within the historical context.

[Tyler]

posted on July 13th, 2011, 1:26 pm

Last edited by Tyler on July 13th, 2011, 1:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Starfleet is based on the various Navies of Earth, both in real life and probably in-universe, it's only natural there would be a prefix included.

Phoenix was a purely civilian ship with nothing to imply a connection to any agency, and I don't think the Space Shuttles are Naval vessels.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 1:50 pm

The space shuttles are built by a government-funded company, but they are not military.  Only military vessels get the "USS" prefix.

PS:  I kind of like to think of the space shuttle as an Enterprise Class vessel because of what the prototype was named.  Unfortunately, there is already an "Enterprise" Class.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 4:47 pm

That's funny about the Enterprise...because technically both of the existing ones are one-of-a-kind prototypes.  It just so happens that one of them is a comissioned ship, the other is not.

I guess I should have added the Enterprise (NX-01) to my initial argument....no "USS".

 

I guess what it comes down to is the "comissioned" part...but why the "USS".    UFPS, or FS makes much more sense.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 4:51 pm

well star trek was written in the early days of space travel and mainly for an american audience. back then americans only wanted to hear about americans in space. probably explains why uss was used in the beginning. and its just something thats never got changed.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 4:57 pm

We still only want to hear about americans in space unless they are female.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 5:18 pm

well star trek was written in the early days of space travel and mainly for an american audience. back then americans only wanted to hear about americans in space. probably explains why uss was used in the beginning. and its just something thats never got changed.

Strictly speaking, this. USans were "winning" the space race, so they only wanted to hear about US exploits in space.

But if it bothers you, just think the acronym stands for "UFP Star Ship" and leave it be.

posted on July 13th, 2011, 5:30 pm

No need to pretend; it's canon that the prefix stands for United Space Ship, although United Star Ship was also used.