Captain Pike's USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is beautiful inside and out, but its looks belie the age of the ship in-universe. The latest incarnation of Star Trek's original hero ship first turned heads in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 and, along with winning portrayals of Captain Pike, Spock, and Number One, helped fuel the audience demand for the creation of Strange New Worlds. The new show is the long-delayed realization of Gene Roddenberry's original concept for Star Trek, and its first season enjoyed a remarkably enthusiastic reception.
The interior of Pike's Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds bears little resemblance to the ship in "The Cage," the original 1966 pilot for Star Trek: The Original Series, but viewers don't seem to mind. The original show with Kirk, Scotty, and Bones was considered visually stunning in its time, but the lavish Enterprise sets and exterior shots in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reflect over 50 years of technological advancement, as well as the bigger budgets of Star Trek's current era. Showrunners have made smart use of their artistic license, and the result is a feast for the eyes.
The Enterprise Is 14 Years Old In Strange New Worlds
Pike's Enterprise in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 is 14 years old. The show is set in 2259, following the 2254 events of "The Cage" but prior to Star Trek: The Original Series' five-year mission, which begins in 2266. In Star Trek's prime timeline, construction of the original NCC-1701 takes place in Earth's orbit above San Francisco, and it launches in 2245 under the command of Captain Robert April. Pike serves as April's first officer for the Enterprise's initial five-year mission, then takes over as captain in 2250.
By 2259, Captain Pike and the Enterprise have already visited Talos IV, as shown in "The Cage," and he and his crew have already been on the missions that the Talosians recreate as illusions in Pike's mind. Those missions include his fight with the giant on Rigel VII and his meeting with Orion traders. The Federation has already fought the Klingon War of 2256-2257, though the Enterprise was not involved in that conflict. Pike and the Enterprise have also already joined the battle against Section 31's Control AI alongside the USS Discovery and won, as shown in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.
Star Trek III’s Mistake About The Enterprise’s Age
Star Trek canon regarding the Enterprise is consistent across the franchise's movies and TV shows, except for one line in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock. Starfleet's Commander in Chief, Admiral Morrow, tells Kirk and the rest of the crew that the Enterprise will be decommissioned rather than repaired following the intense battle with the hijacked USS Reliant in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. His rationale is that the ship is 20 years old. However, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock takes place in 2285, so the Enterprise would actually be 40 years old at the time given its age in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 is expected to stream on Paramount+ in 2023.