December 5, 2015 | Awake & Dreaming

The big cahuna! The original icon and the most famous starship of them all – the TOS era USS Enterprise NCC-1701 as seen in the 3 seasons of Star Trek : The Original Series. There are spaceships and there is the Enterprise. This one is in a class of her own. The Constitution-class starships, which were also known as Starship-class1 or Class I Heavy Cruisers, were the premier front-line Starfleet vessels in the latter half of the 23rd century. They were designed for long duration missions with minimal outside support and are best known for their celebrated missions of galactic exploration and diplomacy which typically lasted up to five years.

The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) was a 23rd century Federation Constitution-class starship operated by Starfleet. In the course of her career, the Enterprise became the most celebrated starship of her time. In her forty years of service and discovery, through upgrades and at least two refits, she took part in numerous first contacts, military engagements, and time-travels. She achieved her most lasting fame from the five-year mission (2265-2270) under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. In the early to mid-23rd century, at least twelve heavy cruiser-type starships, the Constitution-class, were commissioned by the Federation Starfleet. The vessel registered NCC-1701, which was constructed in San Francisco, was christened the Enterprise. Larry Marvick was stated to be one of the designers of the Enterprise, Dr. Richard Daystrom designed her computer systems, and Captain Robert April oversaw construction of her components, then commanded her during her trial runs and early missions. Sarah April served as the chief medical officer and designed several tools for the ship’s sickbay.

Captain Christopher Pike commanded the Enterprise from the early 2250s into the 2260s. His missions included voyages to the Rigel, Vega, and Talos systems. Pike’s half-Vulcan science officer, Spock, who served under him for over eleven years, would become the starship’s longest-serving officer. In 2265, the Enterprise was assigned to a five-year mission of deep-space exploration, and command passed to James T. Kirk. The ship’s primary goal during this mission was to seek out and contact alien life. Captain Kirk’s standing orders also included the investigation of all quasars and quasar-like phenomena. Beyond her primary mission, the Enterprise defended Federation territories from aggression, aided member worlds in crisis, and provided scientific expeditions and colonies in her patrol area with annual examinations and support.

Service aboard the Enterprise proved to be hazardous duty. At least fifty-eight officers and crew were killed between 2265 and 2269 – 13.5% of the standard complement of 430. Incidents with multiple fatalities included four security guards killed by Nomad in 2267 as well as five security guards killed by the dikironium cloud creature on Argus X in 2268. An outbreak of Rigelian fever, in 2269, killed three crewmen and imperiled the rest until a source of ryetalyn could be obtained.

The Constitution-class featured the saucer section-engineering section-warp nacelle layout common to most Starfleet vessels. All ships of the class of the same level of refit appeared to be identical at first glance, but closer inspection revealed minor detail differences on certain vessels. Various science labs, numbering fourteen in all, (TOS: “Operation — Annihilate!”) were located in the primary hull in the class’ original configuration. There were at least seven turbolifts that serviced the primary and secondary hulls. (TOS: “The Man Trap”) The modular design of the Constitution-class allowed for component separation in times of crisis. The primary and secondary hulls could separate where the connecting “neck” joined the saucer, allowing either section to serve as a lifeboat if the other was too badly damaged.

The Eaglemoss model is very good and beautiful to look at though I do wish it were a bit more bigger and the details were fleshned out. It’s still a must have for any Trekkie who wants to collect the ships. Enjoy the photos and I hope you take a look at my video.

Robert Loggia, an Academy Award-nominated actor who embodied both swagger and mischievous charm, notably as a too-trusting Miami crime boss in “Scarface,” died Friday at his home in Los Angeles from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 85. He could portray an everyman’s understanding and a con-man’s cleverness to roles ranging from the owner of a toy company opposite Tom Hanks in “Big” to his Oscar-nominated turn as sordid private detective Sam Ransom in “Jagged Edge,” written by Joe Eszterhas and starring Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges. Loggia also played a violent mobster named Feech La Manna on a few episodes of the series The Sopranos.

He was born in Staten Island, N.Y., on Jan. 3 1930, played in memorable dramas and comedies during the 1980s and ‘90s. His resume included “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Prizzi’s Honor”, “Independence Day” and “The Ninth Configuration.” Though he was nominated for a lead actor in a drama Emmy for his portrayal of a nonconformist investigator in “Mancuso, F.B.I.,” Loggia was less than pleased with the experience. The son of Italian immigrants, Loggia was raised in Manhattan’s Little Italy. As a student at the University of Missouri, he studied journalism, but that passion faded when he returned to New York and enrolled at the Actors Studio. In his first film ,in 1956, he played a mobster opposite Paul Newman in “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” based on the life of boxer Rocky Graziano.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey Loggia, and children.

Salvatore Loggia aka Robert Loggia (January 3, 1930 – December 4, 2015)