What does NCC stand for?
Steve Piazza
This may be common knowledge in this newsgroup, but I couldn't find it
in the FAQ. I am trying to find out what "NCC" stands for, as in NCC
1701-D. I didn't find this information in several reference books I
checked. Maybe it stands for nothing; I'd like to know if this is the
case.
Thanks,
Steve Piazza
pia...@merle.acns.nwu.edu
Prince Aladdin
>
>
> This may be common knowledge in this newsgroup, but I couldn't find it
>in the FAQ. I am trying to find out what "NCC" stands for, as in NCC
>1701-D. I didn't find this information in several reference books I
>checked. Maybe it stands for nothing; I'd like to know if this is the
>case.
NCC - Navy Construction Contract.
I think...
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Sean K Reynolds
a.k.a "Veggie Boy"
skr...@watserv.ucr.edu
"... anybody want a peanut?"
Captain
According to the book "The Final Frontier", Capt. Robert April, first Captain
of the first starship (not named 'Enterprise' until the end of the book)
NCC stands for Naval Construction Contract. Enterprise was supposed to be
NCC-1700, but so many changes were made, they had to give it a new number
because it was a totally different idea. BTW--while I'm at it, Robert April
also wrote the whole "space...the final frontier" shpiel as part of a speech.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@ YOU MAY FIND THAT HAVING A THING IS NOT, @ E-MAIL AT: @
@ AFTER ALL, SO SATISFYING A THING AS @ >>--CAPTAIN--> @
@ WANTING. IT IS NOT LOGICAL, BUT IT IS @ A3...@CUNYVM.BITNET @
@ OFTEN TRUE. -SPOCK, 'AMOK TIME' @ @
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Dana L. Cadman
Garry J. Garrett
Construction Contract. Also some rubbish about the Enterprise orginally
being NCC-1700]
Wasn't NCC-1700 the Contitution or Constellation? I think that this is even
canon (i.e. on film from paramount). "The Doomsday Machine" comes to mind.
The Enterprise is a Constellation class crusier, named after NCC-1700, the
first one in the class to be built.
Don't get me wrong, I like Robert April. I think he was even mentioned in the
cartoon series (TAS). I would like to see him mentioned in TNG.
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Jay Windley
>in the FAQ. I am trying to find out what "NCC" stands for, as in NCC
>1701-D. I didn't find this information in several reference books I
>checked. Maybe it stands for nothing; I'd like to know if this is the
>case.
There is no Paramount canon for what NCC means.
A few non-canon sources claim it stands for "Naval Construction
Contract," and you can believe that if you want. I don't, and I've
all-too-often subjected the readers of RAST to my reasons for not
accepting it. I won't do so now.
The scoop is that GR wanted some official-sounding identification
number for the starship. One of the senior production staff owned a
private airplane whose FAA registration was NC-1701. Gene added
another C and adopted it. There has never been an explanation given
about what NCC is supposed to mean, and I doubt Gene initially
intended for it to mean anything.
Here are a few observations:
1. There is a distinction in designation between prototypes and active
starships. USS EXCELSIOR was NX-2000 in ST3 and NCC-2000 in ST6.
2. It applies only to Starfleet vessels. In ST2 KOBAYASHI MARU did
not have an NCC number. In "Yesterday's Enterprise," Tasha Yar
examines "Starfleet registry" and comes up with "NCC-1701C."
3. All ships we've seen are designated with NCC, except for EXCELSIOR
as described above. This precludes a naming system such as that used
by the US Navy. (i.e., It doesn't seem to change according to the
ship's function.)
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay Windley * University of Utah * Salt Lake City
jwin...@asylum.cs.utah.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------
P Atcliffe
Joseph Miles Minarik
>
> This may be common knowledge in this newsgroup, but I couldn't find it
>in the FAQ. I am trying to find out what "NCC" stands for, as in NCC
>1701-D. I didn't find this information in several reference books I
>checked. Maybe it stands for nothing; I'd like to know if this is the
>case.
This is a dim memory, but I recall hearing that the 'NCC' didn't really
mean anything...It is from the modern day practice of numbering
aircraft (look at the underside of the next pipercub you see...it probably
will have some big bold lettering like NCC-1701). I guess they (Gene)
thought the ships should have a number....(I think NX is one of those common
plane numbers too)
Then again, maybe I've killed too many brain cells over the years....*sigh*
Joe
=============================================================================
Joseph M. Minarik jmin...@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu
Senior Consultant, Drexel University (215) 895-1575
Garry J. Garrett
>>In article <piazza-01...@hazel.acns.nwu.edu> pia...@merle.acns.nwu.edu (Steve Piazza) writes:
>>I am trying to find out what "NCC" stands for
>This is a dim memory, but I recall hearing that the 'NCC' didn't really
>mean anything...It is from the modern day practice of numbering
>aircraft (look at the underside of the next pipercub you see...it probably
>will have some big bold lettering like NCC-1701). I guess they (Gene)
>thought the ships should have a number....(I think NX is one of those common
>plane numbers too)
Actually, I think that NCC was made up to parrallel U.S.S. (United States Ship)
or H.M.S. (His/Her Majesty's Ship) type abbreviations common on warships today.
As for plane numbers, they do have a purpose & pattern. You will notice that
US ones all begin with 'N'. I believe that they are internationally registered
and they do follow some internationally agreed upon naming conventions, but
you are right that the 'N' doesn't "stand for" anything. The popular notion
on the net is that NCC stands for "Naval Construction Contract" (Implying
contracts exist, thus implying that money might also exist), and it seems to
be backed up by many non-cannon sources (some of the sources used the other
sources as reference material, no doubt).
Gene Forrer
>mean anything...It is from the modern day practice of numbering
>aircraft (look at the underside of the next pipercub you see...it probably
>will have some big bold lettering like NCC-1701). I guess they (Gene)
>thought the ships should have a number....(I think NX is one of those common
>plane numbers too)
If I recall correctly I remeber someone saying that in the Trek-Verse NCC
stood for Naval Construction Contract. Where it came from was a different
story. Seems on Gene's Carrier there was a small plane (a Piper Cub I
think) whose registration was NCC-1701. So he imortalized it. The
explanation of what it meant in the Trek-Verse came later.
Gene Forrer
Radiation Specialist
Oregon State University
For...@ccMail.osrt.edu
The opinions expressed here are my own,
unless proven wrong then they are someone else's.
Daniel Gilbert
> [ according to non-canon source "The Final Frontier", NCC stands for
Naval
> Construction Contract. Also some rubbish about the Enterprise orginally
> being NCC-1700]
>
> Wasn't NCC-1700 the Contitution or Constellation? I think that this is
even
> canon (i.e. on film from paramount). "The Doomsday Machine" comes to
mind.
> The Enterprise is a Constellation class crusier, named after NCC-1700,
the
> first one in the class to be built.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I like Robert April. I think he was even mentioned
in the
> cartoon series (TAS). I would like to see him mentioned in TNG.
>
enter service until the STNG era. The Stargazer is a Constellation.
-Dan
Prince Aladdin
>
>In article 77...@netnews.noc.drexel.edu, jmin...@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu (Joseph Miles Minarik) writes:
[Text once removed]
>you are right that the 'N' doesn't "stand for" anything. The popular notion
>on the net is that NCC stands for "Naval Construction Contract" (Implying
>contracts exist, thus implying that money might also exist), and it seems to
>be backed up by many non-cannon sources (some of the sources used the other
>sources as reference material, no doubt).
In a capitalistic environment, contracts would probably have some connection
with money. However, in the true sense of "contract":
A document containing the terms of an agreement.
So... the idea of a Naval Construction Contract can exists in that time
period with the use of money. Starfleet has other things to offer than
money. I'm not saying that NCC standing for Naval Construction Contract
is canon, but your reasonining is incorrect. That's all..
So as it goes...
George Chastain
[Stuff deleted]
>on the net is that NCC stands for "Naval Construction Contract" (Implying
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
True. I believe my set of NCC-1701 Enterprise blueprints spell this out.
Or maybe the original tech manual. But I do know this for a fact.
Demetri
Galaxy class, correct?! Maybe they should make it Nebula! :')
Dana L. Cadman
Naval Construction Contract, it would appear NCC stands for Nobody Can
Concur.
Kuo-Sheng (Kasey) Chang
>Wasn't NCC-1700 the Contitution or Constellation? I think that this is even
>canon (i.e. on film from paramount). "The Doomsday Machine" comes to mind.
>The Enterprise is a Constellation class crusier, named after NCC-1700, the
>first one in the class to be built.
If my memory serves me right, Constellation is NCC-1017. Supposedly
NCC-1700 is Constitution, which supposedly was never built. There's
another "Constitution-class" starship having a number lower than 1701:
USS_REPUBLIC, NCC-1371. Which supports the idea that there was a
predecessor to our illustrious Constitution-class which could be refitted
into a Constitution-class.
>Don't get me wrong, I like Robert April. I think he was even mentioned
>in the cartoon series (TAS). I would like to see him mentioned in TNG.
Not just mentioned, but appeared. TAS:"The Counter-Clock Incident".
Of course, I'd like him to appear in TNG too, but the main problem is who
will play him? With the "photo" that appeared in STChronology, you'll
have to find a relative of the Great Bird to get a good likeness... :-)
But back to the subject... What does NCC stands for?
Answer: The original intent was "nothing, it just looks good". The
actual origin was one of the production crew's private plane (Matt
Jeffries?) has the registration number NC-1701. Gene decided that the
number looks good, so he put that on the ship under design. Then they
decided that it looks too contemporary, so they tacked up another C, thus
NCC-1701.
As for the Treknological definition, there are two camps. The larger camp
claims (N)aval (C)onstruction (C)ontract, of which the meaning is rather
obvious, that Starfleet contracts civilian companies to build the ships,
and the ship bears the contract number. The definition gained a boost
from the recent hardback novel "Best Destiny", in which the defintion was
used prominently.
The smaller camp claims NCC stands for (N)avigational (C)ontact (C)ode,
since each ship have a unique NCC number. Somehow, to me at least, it
does not make as much sense as the first definition. :-\ Sorry!
--Kasey Chang, amateur treknologist
Kuo-Sheng (Kasey) Chang
jwindley%cheap.cs...@cs.utah.edu (Jay Windley) writes:
>Here are a few observations:
[1 and 2 deleted]
>3. All ships we've seen are designated with NCC, except for EXCELSIOR
>as described above. This precludes a naming system such as that used
>by the US Navy. (i.e., It doesn't seem to change according to the
>ship's function.)
There are two exceptions.
USS Bradbury, which was mentioned in TNG several times, has an NX number,
which escapes me at the moment...
In TNG:"Realm of Fear", where Barclay fears the transporter, I believe
that "ghost ship" have an NAR registry number, as in NAR-xxxx.
--Kasey Chang, amateur treknologist
Jay Windley
ksc...@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Kuo-Sheng (Kasey) Chang) writes:
>There are two exceptions [to the NCC rule].
>
>USS Bradbury
[...]
>In TNG:"Realm of Fear",
You may be right. I don't have tapes of those episodes, and I don't
check the registry for every ship. We could check the list of ships
that gets posted here every so often.
My gripe with the idea that NCC means Naval Construction Contract has
two major points.
1. The word "naval" is out of place in Star Trek. It's obviously
true that they use a great deal of naval terminology, and that
Starfleet is organized like a navy, but every time you would expect to
hear the word "naval" (or any word derived from "navy") you hear the
word "Starfleet." It's Starfleet This and Starfleet That, not Naval
This or Naval That. And so if Starfleet contracts with civilian
organizations to build its starships (an idea I don't really have a
problem with, but which doesn't seem supportable from the information
in the TNG Tech Manual), then there ought to be Starfleet Construction
Contracts, not Naval Construction Contracts.
2. USS EXCELSIOR had two canonically established designations. It
was introduced as NX-2000 and later became NCC-2000. Under the former
it was clearly established as a full-scale transwarp prototype in an
experimental stage. Under the latter it was apparently on active
duty. This suggests that however the letters are mapped to words (do
they have to?), NX means "not in active service" and that NCC means
"in active service."
No, I do not favor that NX means "Naval eXperiment," primarily for
reason number 1. Further, does NX-2000 mean "the 2000th naval
experiment?" If so, it seems unlikely that it would correspond to
NCC-2000, "the 2000th naval construction contract." One would hope
Starfleet had fewer experiments than construction contracts :-).
Presumably construction contracts are approved and numbered before
construction begins. So EXCELSIOR would have had a construction
contract number, an NCC so to speak, even before its keel was laid.
And we should have seen that contract number from the start, not after
it was inducted into regular service.
Obviously the numerical portion is some sort of sequential numbering
system. And EXCELSIOR's behavior indicates that the number alone
uniquely identifies a starship. I am forced to conclude, however,
that the alphabetic portion somehow describes the vessel's
participation in Starfleet.
P Atcliffe
a) NCC definitely stands for Naval Construction Contract, and
b) the whole idea of NCC is Roddenberry's homage to the USN's "NC" series
of aircraft designations. The most notable of these was the NC-4 flying boat,
a group of which (4?) were the first aircraft to fly around the world,
sometime in the early 1920's. NCC just continues the series.
The Great Bird has spoken!
Drew Justin Asson
Being that everyone is going on about NCC and stuff, I thought I'd drop
in a bit of trivia [non trek] regarding names for war equipment.
The SR-71 Blackbird (spy plane), was originally designated RS-71. It was
a S-71 bird made for Reconnisance, hence the R on the front. However, whichever
president officially announced this plane, he made a mistake reading the cue
cards. He said " ... SR-71 ...". Now, last I checked, you don't tell the
president he made a mistake in the designation after he's just official
announced it.
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P Atcliffe
>
>Being that everyone is going on about NCC and stuff, I thought I'd drop
>in a bit of trivia [non trek] regarding names for war equipment.
>
>The SR-71 Blackbird (spy plane), was originally designated RS-71. It was
>a S-71 bird made for Reconnisance, hence the R on the front. However, whichever
>president officially announced this plane, he made a mistake reading the cue
>cards. He said " ... SR-71 ...". Now, last I checked, you don't tell the
>president he made a mistake in the designation after he's just official
>announced it.
>--
It was LBJ. Not only that, but there is a story (of dubious validity)
that he also messed up the original designation of the initial version of
the Blackbird used by the CIA, the A-11. Or, rather, that's what it was called
after Johnson misread "AI-1" -- allegedly. I don't believe the latter because
A-11 is a Lockheed company designation, but it goes to show that designations
can be tricky...