The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum has decided to remind us of what's to come by displaying the newly-restored USS Enterprise, the Constitution-class starship first featured in a 1960s documentary about the 23rd-Century. Built in 2245, she was captained by Robert April and Christopher Pike before famously coming under the command of Kirk and embarking on her five-year mission, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations etc. Later she was recommissioned as a training vessel under Captain Spock (son of Sarek), before returning back to (now Admiral) Kirk's command in his definitive encounter with genetically enhanced soldier Khan Noonien Singh, before being hijacked by her own crew to search for the aforementioned Spock, before...well, let's just say this ship has enjoyed a long and storied history.
I have to admit, the vessel was a little smaller than I'd anticipated, being only 11ft long, but maybe humans in the future are a lot shorter. The restoration means that the starship's running lights are only powered on three times a day, to conserve the dilithium crystals no doubt, but luckily I'd chosen to boldly go at the right time.
You remind me of a young William Shatner...
One of the nacelles. You do not want to be standing here when this baby generates its warp bubble.
Yes, there was even a touchscreen where you could make the Star Trek music play.
Obligatory commercialisation, including a baby grow that reads "I Just Boldly Went". Disrespectful!
It's an older code, sir, but it checks out. Oh, sorry, wrong franchise.
Beautiful.
Outside, admiring the soon-to-be-renamed-to "Trump Tower".
