NASA had initially planned to name the first Space Shuttle Constitution . Now , declassified White House documents uncover what convinced President Gerald Ford to overrule that decision and flush Star Trek fans by calling it Enterprise .
( Photo : NASA )
On September 3 , 1976 , William Gorog , a aged economic consultant to Ford , get off the president adecision memorandum :
Next Wednesday you will meet with Dr. James Fletcher of NASA for a substantial confluence at which clock time you will be presented with a mock - up of the space shuttle , the full scale version of which will be rolled out in California later this month . NASA has not announced a name as of yet for the bird , and they are view as this promulgation until your coming together with Fletcher .
Dr. Fletcher is not adverse to the name “ endeavor ” for the space shuttle , and I hint that you take that it be so name for the following cause :
NASA has receive century of thousands of letters from the space - orient “ Star Trek ” group asking that the name “ enterprisingness ” be give to the craft . This grouping comprises millions of mortal who are deep interested in our quad program .
The name “ Enterprise ” is tied in with the scheme on which the Nation ’s economic structure is built .
Use of the name would provide a substantial human - stake solicitation to the rollout ceremonies schedule for this month in California , where the aeronautic industry is of critical importance .
In short , this state of affairs could supply the same public interest group as the CB receiving set provided for Mrs. Ford .
The CB wireless that Gorog refers to was a PR achiever for the White House . Betty Ford ( in addition to donning a mood ring ) cover the 1970s course , chit-chat on her CB with the hold “ First Mama . ” Gorog himself was a tech - savvy entrepreneur . Before mould at the White House , he was a founding father and primary executive director of the Data Corporation , which create the computerized information retrieval system that later became LexisNexis . From his position the name Enterprise was a win - win , since it was both a pa - culture ikon and a reference to America ’s can - do flavor .
Four day later , a follow - upmemorandumwas sent from James Connor , the Secretary of the Cabinet , to President Ford , resume the public opinion of White House officials .
Jim Cannon , the Domestic Policy Advisor to the President , said :
“ It seems to me “ Enterprise ” is an first-class name for the space shuttlecock .
It would be personally gratifying to several million followers of the television show “ Star Trek ” , one of the most dedicated constituency in the country .
Moreover , the name “ Enterprise ” is a hallowed Navy tradition . An “ go-ahead ” was in action against the Barbary pirates in 1803 . During World War II , an “ Enterprise ” served with the Wasp and the Hornet in the carrier fleet in the Pacific . And the Navy ’s current “ Enterprise ” is the first atomic carrier wave . ”
Robert Hartmann , counsellor to the president , disagreed : “ This is an peculiarly hallowed Naval name – go back to the Revolution – I suppose Navy should keep it . ”
And Jack Marsh , a national security measures adviser , pass on his reluctant indorsement :
“ I have no dissent to this pick of a name , however , I am not enthusiastic about the rationale for the selection . “ Enterprise ” is a notable name for vessels since the early days of the Republic . I think that is a far better reason than appeal to a T.V. fad . ”
Ten days later , NASA unveiled the first space bird , the initiative .
NASASpaceSpace ShuttleStar Trek
Daily Newsletter
Get the good tech , scientific discipline , and culture news in your inbox day by day .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
Please take your desired newssheet and submit your electronic mail to upgrade your inbox .
You May Also Like
