View source for Starfleet

{{About|the Starfleet organization in the Star Trek universe|other uses|Starfleet (disambiguation)}}{{short description|Fictional space flight organization}}
{{morefootnotes|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Starfleet
| native_name                   = 
| image                         = 
| image_size                    = 300px
| alt                           = 
| caption                       = Starfleet Command emblem
| dates                         = 2130s–32nd century (latest date known)
| disbanded                     = 
| country                       = [[File:UFP Flag.png|23px]] [[United Federation of Planets]] (since 2161)<br/>[[Earth|United Earth]] (until 2161)
| countries                     = 
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Paramilitary]] organization<br/>[[Space force]]<br/>[[Space agency]]
| role                          = [[Military|Defense]]<br/>[[Internal security]]<br/>[[Peacekeeping]]<br/>[[Law enforcement]]<br/>[[Civil defense]]<br/>[[Space exploration]]<br/>[[Scientific research]]<br/>[[Diplomacy]]
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [[San Francisco]], [[California]], United [[Earth]] (22nd century-31st century), Federation Headquarters (32nd century-)
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = <!-- or | colours = -->
| colors_label                  = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = Xindi Conflict<br/>Earth-Romulan War<br/>Klingon-Federation Wars<br/>Federation-Tzenkethi War<br/>Federation-Cardassian War<br/>Galen border conflict<br/>Dominion War
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = <!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander             = 
| commander1                    = 
| commander1_label              = 
| commander2                    = 
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| commander4                    = 
| commander4_label              = 
| commander5                    = 
| commander5_label              = 
| commander6                    = 
| commander6_label              = 
| commander7                    = 
| commander7_label              = 
| commander8                    = 
| commander8_label              = 
| commander9                    = 
| commander9_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = 
| identification_symbol_label   = 
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Delta-shield.svg|50px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Standard Starfleet Symbol
| identification_symbol_3       = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4       = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = 
| identification_symbol_5       = 
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}}

'''Starfleet''' is a fictional organization in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' media franchise. Within this [[fictional universe]], Starfleet is a uniformed [[space force]] maintained by the [[United Federation of Planets]] ("the Federation") as the principal means for conducting deep space exploration, research, [[Military|defense]], [[peacekeeping]], and diplomacy (although Starfleet predates the Federation, having originally been an Earth organization, as shown by the television series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''). While most of Starfleet's members are human and it has been headquartered on Earth, hundreds of other species are also represented. Most of the franchise's protagonists are Starfleet [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned officers]].

==History==
During production of early episodes of the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original series]], several details of the makeup of the ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe had yet to be worked out, including the operating authority for the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']]. The terms ''Star Service'' ("[[The Conscience of the King]]"), ''Spacefleet Command'' ("[[The Squire of Gothos]]"), ''United Earth Space Probe Agency'' ("[[Charlie X]]" and "[[Tomorrow Is Yesterday]]"), and ''Space Central'' ("[[Miri (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Miri]]") were all used to refer to the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s operating authority, before the term "Starfleet" became widespread from the episode "[[Court Martial (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Court Martial]]" onwards.

However, references to the United Earth Space Probe Agency, and its abbreviation UESPA, are to be found in episodes of later series. For example, the ''Friendship One'' probe (launched, on the fictional timeline, in 2067) is marked with the letters UESPA-1 in the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode "[[Friendship One (Star Trek: Voyager)|Friendship One]]". Other background props included additional UESPA references, such as Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]]'s family album in ''[[Star Trek Generations]]''. During the production of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', some larger Starfleet insignia designs included the name "United Earth Space Probe Agency".

Multiple ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' episodes refer to Starfleet having started operation some time between 2112 and 2136, when it funded research begun by Zefram Cochrane and Henry Archer, which led to the first successful flight of Warp-3 vessels in the 2140s.<ref>According to the ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' episode "[[Twilight (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Twilight]]", Starfleet was already established when Jonathan Archer was 24 years old (2136). According to the episode "[[Horizon (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Horizon]]", Starfleet was chartered during Archer's lifetime, after he considered working for the Earth Cargo Service.</ref> This research is said to have evolved into the NX Program, which led to Starfleet launching its first Warp 5–capable starship, [[Enterprise (NX-01)|''Enterprise'' (NX-01)]], in 2151, followed by ''Columbia'' (NX-02), in 2155, as well as other vessels.

Starfleet acts under the [[Prime Directive]], a policy of non-interference with pre-warp worlds, such as interference in their internal politics. This is said not to be a human construct, but stems from policies originally implemented by the [[Vulcans]], who regarded an alien civilization's attainment of warp speed as the reason for making [[First contact (science fiction)|first contact]] with them. This was to avoid any unfortunate incidences during space travel, as well as avoiding interfering in the natural development of a civilization. The Prime Directive and Starfleet's first-contact policies are at the center of several episodes in each ''Star Trek'' series and the film ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]''.

Starfleet Headquarters is shown to be located on [[Earth]], northeast of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] in the present-day [[Fort Baker]] area. Starfleet Academy is located in the same general area.<ref>{{cite book |first=Paul |last=Ruditis |author-link=Paul Ruditis |title=The Star Trek Book: Strange New Worlds Boldly Explained |page=75 |date=2016 |edition=First American |publisher=[[DK (publisher)|DK]] |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4654-5098-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekbookstra0000rudi/page/74/mode/2up?q=golden |access-date=2024-07-29 |via=[[Internet Archive#Text collection|Internet Archive text collection]] |url-access=limited}}</ref> Additionally, various episodes show Starfleet operating a series of starbases throughout Federation territory, as ground facilities, or as [[space station]]s in planetary orbit or in deep space. One example is [[Deep Space Nine (fictional space station)|Deep Space Nine]], a station near a [[wormhole]] commanded by [[Benjamin Sisko]] after its transfer from the [[Cardassian Empire]].

==Mission==
Starfleet has been shown to handle [[scientific]], [[Military|defense]], and diplomatic missions, although its primary mandate seems to be peaceful exploration in the search for [[sentient]] life, as seen in the mission statements of different incarnations of the USS ''Enterprise''. The [[flagship]] of Starfleet is often considered to be the starship [[Starship Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']].

==Components==
Starfleet has many components, including:

===Starfleet Academy===
{{Redirect|Starfleet Academy|other uses|Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (disambiguation){{!}}Star Trek: Starfleet Academy}}
As early as the original ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', characters refer to attending '''Starfleet Academy'''. Later series establish it as an officer training facility with a four-year educational program. The main campus is located near Starfleet Headquarters in what is now [[Fort Baker]], California.

===Starfleet Command===
'''Starfleet Command''' is the headquarters/command center of Starfleet. The term "Starfleet Command" is first used in [[Star Trek: The Original Series|''TOS'']] episode "[[Court Martial (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Court Martial]]". Its headquarters are depicted as being in Fort Baker, across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, in ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' and ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]''. Overlooking the Command from the other side of the Golden Gate is the permanent site of the [[Federation Council (Star Trek)|Council of the United Federation of Planets]] in what is now the [[Presidio of San Francisco]]. Throughout the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise, the main characters' isolation from Starfleet Command compels them to make and act upon decisions without Starfleet Command's orders or information, particularly in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]'' when the main protagonists have no means of contacting Earth for several years.

===Starfleet Shipyards===
StarTrek.com notes that many of Starfleet's ships are built on [[Mare Island]] near San Francisco. It states:

:Located on San Francisco's Mare Island, with additional starship assembly facilities located in Earth orbit, Starfleet's San Francisco Navy Yards is the site where the USS ''Enterprise'' NCC-1701 was built in 2245. Captain Robert April, the ''Enterprise''{{'}}s first commanding officer, was present at the San Francisco Navy Yards when the vessel's major components were built and prepared for assembly in Starfleet's orbital drydock facilities (episode, "[[The Counter-Clock Incident]]").

The ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|Enterprise-D]]'' and [[USS Voyager (Star Trek)|USS ''Voyager'']] are depicted to have been constructed at a shipyard named [[Utopia Planitia]] in Mars orbit. Utopia Planitia served as Starfleet's main ship yards throughout a large portion of Starfleet's existence. After the ''Enterprise-D'' encountered the [[Borg]] in the episode "[[Q Who]]" the size of the Utopia Planitia shipyards was doubled out of fear of a Borg strike. They were once again doubled after the Dominion threat became more evident. A devastating attack on these shipyards is a major plot point in ''[[Star Trek: Picard]].''

In the [[Star Trek (2009 film)|2009 film]], the ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]'' is shown under construction near [[James T. Kirk]]'s home in Iowa. In the [[Star Trek Into Darkness|2013 sequel]], [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Montgomery "Scotty" Scott]] discovers a covert Starfleet facility, near Jupiter, that has built a much larger Federation warship, USS ''Vengeance''.

===Starfleet Engineering Corps===
The '''Starfleet Engineering Corps''' (also called the '''Starfleet Corps of Engineers''') is mentioned in several episodes in conjunction with projects such as hollowing out the underground laboratory complex inside the Regula I asteroid in ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', the design of the ''Yellowstone''-class Runabout in the alternate timeline in the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode "[[Non Sequitur (Star Trek: Voyager)|Non Sequitur]]", and devising a defense against the [[Breen (Star Trek)|Breen]] energy-dampening weapon in the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[When It Rains…|When It Rains...]]" As a result of these successes, Starfleet engineers gained a reputation as the undisputed masters of technological adaptation and modification. As one minion of the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] in the ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' episode, "[[Rocks and Shoals (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rocks and Shoals]]" notes, Starfleet engineers are reputed to be able to "Turn rocks into replicators."

Additionally, [[Pocket Books]] has published a series of [[eBook]]s and novels in the ''Starfleet Corps of Engineers'' series.

===Starfleet Intelligence===
'''Starfleet Intelligence''' is an [[intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] agency of the [[United Federation of Planets]]. It is entrusted with foreign and domestic espionage, counter-espionage, and state security. In the non-canon [[Star Trek: New Frontier]] novels the series main character Mackenzie Calhoun was once a Starfleet Intelligence operative. 
{{see also|Section 31 (Star Trek)}}

===Starfleet Judge Advocate General===
{{main|Law in Star Trek}}
The '''Starfleet Judge Advocate General''' (or ''JAG'') is the branch charged with overseeing legal matters within Starfleet.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia">{{cite book|last1=Okuda|first1=Michael|last2=Okuda|first2=Denise|title=[[The Star Trek Encyclopedia|The Star Trek Encyclopedia : A Reference Guide to the Future]]|date=1999|publisher=Pocket Books|location=New York|isbn=0-671-03475-8|edition=Updated and expanded}}</ref> Several episodes revolve around or involve JAG officers and procedures:<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>
* [[Captain (Star Trek)|Captain]] [[James T. Kirk]] is the defendant in the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|''TOS'']] episode "[[Court Martial (Star Trek)|Court Martial]]".<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>
* [[Data (Star Trek)|Data]] participates in a JAG hearing to determine whether he is Starfleet property in the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|''TNG'']] episode "[[The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Measure of a Man]]".<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>
* A hearing is held to decide whether to extradite [[Worf]] to the [[Klingon]]s in the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Rules of Engagement (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rules of Engagement]]".<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>
* In "[[Doctor Bashir, I Presume?]]", a JAG [[Star Trek uniforms|rear admiral]] arranges for Richard Bashir's incarceration—and his son [[Julian Bashir]]'s retention of a Starfleet commission—as punishment for the illegal [[genetic engineering|genetic enhancements]] given to Julian as a child.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>

Dialog in "Court Martial" reveals that a court-martial may be convened in the absence of any JAG officers by three presiding command-level officers.<ref name="TOS Court Martial">{{cite episode|title=The Menagerie|episode-link=The Menagerie (Star Trek: The Original Series)| series=[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]}}</ref> Additionally, dialog in "The Measure of a Man" indicates that the loss of a starship automatically leads to a JAG court-martial (this is similar to real-world military procedures, in which a court-martial is convened to enter the loss of the ship into the official record). Courts-martial were held following the loss of the USS ''Pegasus'' and USS ''Stargazer''.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/> In the ''Voyager'' episode "[[Parallax (Star Trek: Voyager)|Parallax]]", Tuvok states that [[Kathryn Janeway|the Captain]] has the authority to conduct a court-martial on the ship, given the circumstance of the ship being isolated from the Federation.

===Starfleet Medical===
'''Starfleet Medical''' is the medical branch of Starfleet.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>

[[Gates McFadden]], who played Dr. [[Beverly Crusher]], left ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' during its second season.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/> The character is described during this season, and after her return, as having been assigned to Starfleet Medical.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/>

===Starfleet Operations===
Numerous star ship dedication plaques identify other personnel associated with '''Starfleet Operations'''.<ref name="Star Trek Encyclopedia"/> [[Star Trek uniforms|Rear Admiral]] [[James T. Kirk]] served 18 months as Starfleet's Chief of Operations.<ref name="TMP">{{Cite AV media|title=Star Trek: The Motion Picture|title-link=Star Trek: The Motion Picture }}</ref>

===Starfleet Security===
'''Starfleet Security''' is an agency of Starfleet referred to in several episodes of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. Security is a branch of Starfleet first introduced in the [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original ''Star Trek'']]. Main characters in subsequent series have been security officers.

===Starfleet Tactical===
'''Starfleet Tactical''' is a rarely mentioned department in Starfleet that is responsible for planning defensive strategies, as well as engaging in weapons research and development.

==Different species in Starfleet==
Although Humans are the most-often-seen crew members onscreen, Starfleet is shown to be composed of individuals from over 150 species, with [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcans]] perhaps being the most common aliens seen.

Already in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|TOS]]'', the USS ''Enterprise'' and other ships have a mixed-species crew, although this does not appear to be an absolute rule; for instance, the episode "[[The Immunity Syndrome (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Immunity Syndrome]]" refers to the USS ''Intrepid'' as having an all-Vulcan crew. The ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Take Me Out to the Holosuite]]" also features such a crew, serving aboard the USS ''T'Kumbra''.

In keeping with this idea, ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', in its first two seasons, was the only show to have an entirely human crew, as it was set before the formation of the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]], although the vessel did carry [[Phlox (Star Trek)|Phlox]], a Denobulan serving in a medical exchange program, and [[T'Pol]], then serving as an observer from the Vulcan High Command.

''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' saw the introduction of Starfleet's first [[Klingon]] officer. Other races—such as Bolians, Betazoids, and Trill—were seen, and given more central roles, in later series; some of these, notably Klingons, had been shown as enemies in earlier episodes.

Various episodes show that [[Earth]]/Federation citizenship is not a necessary pre-condition for joining Starfleet. [[T'Pol]] of Vulcan is shown to be the first non-human Starfleet officer, receiving a commission as a commander following the [[Xindi (Star Trek)|Xindi]] mission and her resignation from the Vulcan High Command. Even after the Federation's formation citizenship was not required; several officers are from planets that are not part of the Federation. For example, ''Star Trek: TNG''{{'}}s Ensign [[Ro Laren]], a Bajoran aboard the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS ''Enterprise''-D]]; her fellow [[Bajoran]] [[Kira Nerys]], who was field-commissioned as a Starfleet commander so that she could aid the [[Cardassian]] resistance during the [[Dominion War]]; and [[Ferengi]] [[Nog (Star Trek)|Nog]], who enters Starfleet Academy in season four of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''; all were from non-member planets. In addition, Quinn and Icheb from ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' both spoke of joining Starfleet.

An example of the process imagined by the writers is given when the character [[Nog (Star Trek)|Nog]] attempts to apply to the Academy. He is told that since he is from a non-member world (Ferenginar), he requires a letter of recommendation from a command-level officer before his application can be considered, with the implication that this is the standard procedure for all non-Federation applicants to Starfleet.

In the ''Star Trek'' Expanded Universe, an example of what typically becomes of a new Federation member world's military is depicted when the [[Bajoran#Bajoran Militia|Bajoran Militia]] is integrated into Starfleet upon Bajor's entry into the Federation.

==Insignia==
The Starfleet insignia have been inspired by the [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]], which is broadly used in aeronautics, and particularly by the [[NASA insignia|insignia of NASA]].<ref name="FACT TREK 2021 c936">{{cite web | title=Emblem-atic | website=FACT TREK | date=2021-10-06 | url=https://www.facttrek.com/blog/emblematic | access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="Cooley 2023 l186">{{cite web | last=Cooley | first=John | title=The Starfleet Insignia Explained | website=Star Trek | date=2023-07-24 | url=https://www.startrek.com/news/starfleet-insignia-explained | access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref><ref name="Burrows 2020 u339">{{cite web | last=Burrows | first=Jillian Ada | title=Star Trek or US Space Force?. Let us settle this debate once and for… — Jill Burrows | website=Medium | date=2020-05-20 | url=https://medium.com/jill-burrows/star-trek-or-us-space-force-251a7494ad5f | access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref>

[[File:NASA-Mars-$tarTrekFleetLogo-20190612.jpg|thumb|125px|right|[[Martian soil|Dunes]] on [[Mars]] look like the Starfleet emblem.<ref name="CNET-20190612">{{cite news |last=Kooser |first=Amanda |title=Star Trek on Mars: NASA spots Starfleet logo in dune footprint - Beam me down to Mars, Scotty. |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/star-trek-on-mars-nasa-spots-starfleet-logo-in-dune-footprint/ |date=June 12, 2019 |work=[[CNET]] |access-date=June 16, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="TT-20190616">{{cite news |last=Samson |first=Diane |title=William Shatner Takes Playful Jab At 'Star Wars' Over 'Starfleet' Symbol Found On Mars |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/244331/20190615/william-shatner-takes-playful-jab-at-star-wars-over-starfleet-symbol-found-on-mars.htm |date=June 16, 2019 |work=TechTimes.com |access-date=June 16, 2019 }}</ref>]]

==See also==
* [[Star Trek uniforms|''Star Trek'' uniforms]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Memory Alpha|Starfleet}}

{{Star Trek}}
{{Portal bar|Speculative fiction|Television}}

[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1966]]
[[Category:Star Trek organizations]]
[[Category:Fictional military organizations]]