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Published Aug 23, 2023

The Starfleet Insignia Explained

No Star Trek symbol captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta.

StarTrek.com

"The Starfleet Symbol." "The Arrowhead." "The Delta."

Star Trek uses symbols to convey a lot of things, but none captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta. In the years since The Original Series first aired, fans have tried to determine the meaning behind the various insignia shapes we see in the show. To most, it seems that the iconic delta shape is some sort of ship assignment patch meant to represent the U.S.S. Enterprise .

Some arrive at this conclusion because they see various Starfleet personnel wearing a number of different insignia. However, like any puzzle without a key, it’s impossible to precisely interpret the meaning of these other insignia.

The hidden key to the puzzle was finally uncovered a few years ago. The discovery was a memorandum written by producer Robert H. (Bob) Justman to  costume designer William Ware (Bill) Theiss . The subject? STARSHIP EMBLEMS.

A copy of that memorandum has been digitized from the Gene Roddenberry  Star Trek  Television Series Collection (held in the Library Special Collections division of the Young Research Library at UCLA in Irvine, California) and is shown below:

This memo, written during the production of the episode "The Omega Glory," and referencing Captain Ron Tracey, nullifies the long-held assumption that Starfleet assigned different insignia shapes to starships during TOS. Theiss’ inclusion of an alternate insignia for the  Exeter 's captain and chief medical officer, unfortunately, downplays how genuinely ubiquitous the delta insignia is within the  Star Trek  universe. As a result, fans of the series are left with conflicting visual information regarding the meaning of the insignia worn throughout the original series.

Nearly 50 years after Bob Justman wrote his memo, we now have the opportunity to clarify the use of each and every Starfleet uniform insignia used in   TOS. With a wee bit of Scotty's ingenuity, and a pinch of Vulcan logic, the complete picture of what Gene Roddenberry envisioned for the delta insignia should snap into focus.

There are six Starfleet duty insignia used in The Original Series:

• Starship Duty Insignia (Fleet personnel emblem)
• Spacecraft Duty Insignia (Auxiliary Fleet/ Merchant Marine personnel emblem)
• Outpost Duty Insignia (Outpost and Colony personnel emblem)
• Cadet Duty Insignia (Starfleet Academy student emblem)
• Starbase Duty Insignia (Headquarters,  Space stations, Drydocks, and Ground installation personnel emblem)
• Fleet Command Insignia (Senior field commander personnel emblem)

In the  Star Trek  universe, the delta emblem is a direct descendant of the vector component of the old NASA (and later UESPA) logos in use during Earth’s space programs of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Those symbols were worn by some of the first space explorers and adorned uniforms and ships during humanity’s first steps into the final frontier.

United Earth Space Probe Agency integrated with Starfleet as the leading United Earth space exploration service.

The delta insignia was first drawn in 1964 by costume designer William Ware Theiss with input from series creator Gene Roddenberry. The delta — or “Arrowhead” as Bill Theiss called it — has evolved into a revered symbol and one that's synonymous with  Star Trek  today.

The delta also conveys information about the wearer’s duties aboard ship using a series of division symbols. When paired with a distinctive, elongated “star,” the insignia represents someone assigned to the Command division aboard ship. When it displays the “planet” symbol, it represents the Sciences division, a stylized “e” stands for Engineering (later Operations), and a red “Swiss Cross” is worn by starship personnel assigned to the Nursing Corps.

Captain James T. Kirk wearing the Starship Duty Insignia, Command Division.

Let’s continue our study of  Star Trek ’s insignia with personnel assigned to other starships that are wearing the delta insignia.

Before we knew about this memo, we assumed that each ship had its own unique insignia, but there are problems that theory doesn't account for. For instance, does it bother you, or at least seem odd to see the surly guys in Starbase 11’s Officer's Club (in the episode "Court Martial") giving “their captain” a hard time over the presumed death of their mutual friend Ben Finney? Or, to see deceased crew members aboard the  U.S.S. Defiant  (in the episode "The Tholian Web") wearing the delta insignia?

If different starships had different symbols, why weren't they wearing them? Simple. The memo makes it clear that those Starfleet officers are not assigned to the  Enterprise ; they are simply wearing Starfleet’s standard-issue Starship Duty Insignia.

Non-Enterprise Starfleet personnel in Starbase 11’s Officer’s Club in Court Martial, and Below: Deceased U.S.S. Defiant crew member wearing the Starship Duty Insignia in "The Tholian Web."

By now, you might be saying, “What about U.S.S. Exeter ’s Captain Ron Tracey and his chief surgeon, Dr. Carter?” As these two insignia patches are the error being addressed in the memo, they need no further explanation. They alone are the anomaly (an anomaly Theiss never repeated), which led to the misconception that every ship has its own assignment insignia.

Above: Captain Ron Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter, and Below: his CMO, Dr. Carter.

As you can see here, Theiss thoughtfully, if erroneously, provided both officers with unique assignment insignia patches, and in keeping with his fastidious reputation, insured both patches included their appropriate division symbols.

Early in TOS, we get our first look at non-delta insignia. In the episode "Charlie X,"  Antares ’ Captain Rampart and his first officer are wearing the Spacecraft Duty Insignia, which indicates that they are assigned to an auxiliary spacecraft serving in Starfleet's Merchant Marine Corps — just as Justman points out in his memo. 

Antares' Captain Rampart, and his XO wearing the Merchant Marine Spacecraft Duty Insignia.

Not long after that, we get a look at another new insignia. The Outpost Duty Insignia is worn by Starfleet personnel assigned to outposts on the very edge of Federation space, the frontier. This emblem is characterized by a gold spikelet against a black background. Warning: Do not put yourself in a situation where this insignia goes on your uniform. Personnel wearing this badge never seem to live happily ever after.

Outpost Crew from "Balance of Terror" & "Arena" pictured wearing the Outpost Duty Insignia.

A few episodes later, the Enterprise takes shore leave and Kirk reminisces about his days at the Academy. Worn by students attending Starfleet Academy, the Cadet Duty Insignia is characterized by a pewter colored, smaller version of the Starbase Duty Insignia.

Second Class Midshipman Finnegan wearing the Cadet Duty Insignia.

First seen in "The Menagerie," the Starbase Duty Insignia is worn by personnel assigned to Federation Starbases, which include Starfleet Headquarters, space stations, drydocks, and other ground installations. The emblem, which is devoid of any departmental symbol, is a stylized representation of an “Evening Starflower” (a flowering plant native to the western hemisphere of Earth).

Above: Admiral James Komack of Starfleet Command - Sector 9, and Below: Admiral Fitzpatrick.

Miss Piper, assistant to Commodore Mendez, and Lt. Areel Shaw Starbase 11 JAG Officer wearing the Starbase Duty Insignia.

So how does Commodore Wesley in "The Ultimate Computer," or Commodore Decker in "The Doomsday Machine," fit into the spectrum of Starfleet insignia?

Well, let’s talk about commodores for a moment. A commodore is a flag officer rank, one position above captain. A starship captain usually commands a single vessel, but a commodore ordinarily commands more than one ship. Usually, commodores command a group of ships (either close to their flagship or distant), or in the case of TOS, they normally command a starbase.

In charge of evaluating the operational performance of the M5 computer while it's in total control of a starship, Commodore Wesley sits in temporary command of the  U.S.S. Lexington  to lead a battle fleet in war games against the  Enterprise . Throughout the episode, Commodore Wesley continues to wear his Starbase Duty Insignia, while the  Lexington  crew would have been wearing the delta.

Commodore Bob Wesley in the transporter room briefing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock about the M5 computer.

Finally, we come to one of my favorite characters ever — Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." We saved him for last because we could only properly discuss his insignia and what it means after we talked about Starfleet’s other symbols first.

William Windom as Commodore Matt Decker

Unlike Commodore Bob Wesley, who was only in temporary command of the  Lexington , Matt Decker is a Flag Officer with permanent field command of a starship. In fact, he's the only Flag Officer we see in  Star Trek  with a field command. As a consequence of Commodore Decker's rank and status as Commander of the  U.S.S. Constellation  (his flagship), he wears the Fleet Command Insignia denoting his status as a Flag Officer in the field. If we had seen Commodore Decker's crew (may they rest in peace), we would have seen the delta shape insignia in use on their uniforms. Commodore Decker's own first officer would have held the rank of Captain and worn the Starship Duty Insignia.

It should be noted that "The Doomsday Machine," which was filmed early in Season 2, is not referenced in Bob Justman’s memo. Some speculate that Decker’s absence from the memo is further indication of the inconsistent use of emblems in  Star Trek , but that presupposes that the production staff missed that detail. However, the very existence of the Justman memo, and a whole forest of others just like it, demonstrates that the opposite is true.

The production team of  Star Trek  worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the future they were busy creating held up under scrutiny. Gene Roddenberry was notoriously rewriting scripts himself to ensure no less than exactly what he wanted ended up on-screen, and that fastidious nature permeated the entire production staff. That Decker’s unique emblem is not mentioned in the production memo indicates that his particular insignia isn't an error at all; but represents something else.

Check out Commodore Decker's insignia. Remember that when Theiss created the insignia for Captain Ron Tracey, he went out of his way to ensure it was emblazoned with a Command Star department symbol. Commodore Decker has no such departmental symbol in his insignia patch, which places it in the same design lineage as the Starbase Duty Insignia, which is also devoid of any departmental symbol.

At this point in  Star Trek , we’ve seen a number of flag officers; but they have all worn the Starflower shape, which indicates assignment to a starbase, while Matt Decker alone in TOS series serves as a flag officer in permanent command of a starship. He is wearing an insignia that conveys his unique status, the Fleet Command Insignia, and if you look closely, you'll see that Matt Decker’s emblem is visually related to the Starbase Duty Insignia. Decker’s insignia is a stylized representation of an individual petal from the same “Evening Starflower” emblem that comprises the starbase symbol. This insignia isn't mentioned in the production memo because it's not an error at all.

Hopefully, by now, you can see how consistent the  Star Trek  costume department really was in their use of insignia, and that Bill Thiess never repeated the error he made during "The Omega Glory" after it was pointed out by the memo.

Returning to the delta, Roddenberry and Justman intended it to be a very special symbol that communicates something important. The insignia worn on Starfleet uniforms is the equivalent of the badges worn by U.S. Service members — to show how they serve, not where they serve. Both men served with distinction in World War II. Roddenberry was an Army Air Corps pilot and Justman was a radio operator in the Navy. In the air and at sea, they understood the value of visual communication. In uniform, they themselves carried those values on their chests, on their collars, and on their sleeves. Twenty years after they wore their own various insignia, they helped to create something new — a symbol to inspire others. In the 1960s, the Starfleet delta had far more in common with the golden pin awarded to a NASA astronaut than a simple mission patch, and it was intended to equal that proud emblem in both use and sentiment.

The NASA Astronaut Pin. There are two versions of this pin, a silver pin awarded to those who complete their training, and a gold pin awarded only to astronauts who have flown in space.

The delta proclaims that the person wearing it has achieved the goal of every cadet entering the Academy, and the dream of many a devoted fan — to serve aboard a starship and set sail in an endless sea of stars.

Starfleet Insignia Badge, Command Division from Star Trek Discovery

They used to say if man could fly, he'd have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.

Captain James T. Kirk

I am grateful to have an experienced and learned group of expert Star Trek fans who helped with the research on this article — Steve Fronczek, Creative Services Manager, ANOVOS; Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Quigley, United States Navy; and Dayton Ward, Star Trek author.

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This article was originally published on October 7, 2018

John Cooley is a lifelong Star Trek fan.

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Star Trek Timeline

Monday, October 2, 2017

Starfleet insignia explained.

Starfleet Starship Duty Insignia, Command Division from Star Trek: The Original Series .

"The Starfleet Symbol." "The Arrowhead." "The Delta."

Star Trek uses symbols to convey a lot of things, but none captures the eye or imagination quite like the delta. In the years since The Original Series first aired, fans have tried to determine the meaning behind the various insignia shapes we see in the show. To most it seems that the iconic delta shape is some sort of ship assignment patch meant to represent the U.S.S. Enterprise .

Some arrive at this conclusion because they see various Starfleet personnel wearing a number of different insignia. However, like any puzzle without a key, it's impossible to precisely interpret the meaning of these other insignia.

The hidden key to the puzzle was finally uncovered a few years ago.

The discovery was a memorandum written by producer Robert H. (Bob) Justman to costume designer William Ware (Bill) Theiss. The subject? STARSHIP EMBLEMS.

A copy of that memorandum has been digitized from the Gene Roddenberry Star Trek Television Series Collection (held in the Library Special Collections division of the Young Research Library at UCLA in Irvine, California) and is shown below:

This memo, written during the production of the episode " The Omega Glory " and referencing Captain Ron Tracey, nullifies the long-held assumption that Starfleet assigned different insignia shapes to starships during TOS . Theiss' inclusion of an alternate insignia for the Exeter's captain, and chief medical officer unfortunately downplays how genuinely ubiquitous the delta insignia is within the Star Trek universe. As a result, fans of the series are left with conflicting visual information regarding the meaning of the insignia worn throughout the original series.

Nearly 50 years after Bob Justman wrote his memo, we now have the opportunity to clarify the use of each and every Starfleet uniform insignia used in TOS . With a wee bit of Scottish ingenuity, and a pinch of Vulcan logic, the complete picture of what Gene Roddenberry envisioned for the delta insignia should snap into focus.

There are six Starfleet duty insignia used in TOS :

• Starship Duty Insignia (Fleet personnel emblem)
• Spacecraft Duty Insignia (Auxiliary Fleet/ Merchant Marine personnel emblem)
• Outpost Duty Insignia (Outpost and Colony personnel emblem)
• Cadet Duty Insignia (Starfleet Academy student emblem)
• Starbase Duty Insignia (Headquarters,  Space stations, Drydocks, and Ground installation personnel emblem)
• Fleet Command Insignia (Senior field commander personnel emblem)

In the Star Trek universe, the delta emblem is a direct descendant of the vector component of the old NASA (and later UESPA) logos in use during Earth's space programs of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Those symbols were worn by some of the first space explorers and adorned uniforms and ships during humanity's first steps into the final frontier.

United Earth Space Probe Agency integrated with Starfleet as the leading United Earth space exploration service.

The delta insignia was first drawn in 1964 by costume designer William Ware Theiss with input from series creator Gene Roddenberry. The delta -- or "Arrowhead" as Bill Theiss called it -- has evolved into a revered symbol and one that's synonymous with Star Trek today.

The delta also conveys information about the wearer's duties aboard ship using a series of division symbols. When paired with a distinctive, elongated "star" the insignia represents someone assigned to the Command division aboard ship. When it displays the "planet" symbol, it represents the Sciences division, a stylized "e" stands for Engineering (later Operations), and a red "Swiss Cross" is worn by starship personnel assigned to the Nursing Corps.

Captain James T. Kirk wearing the Starship Duty Insignia, Command Division.

Let's continue our study of Star Trek 's insignia with personnel assigned to other starships that are wearing the delta insignia.

Before we knew about this memo, we assumed that each ship had its own unique insignia, but there are problems that theory doesn't account for. For instance, does it bother you, or at least seem odd to see the surly guys in Starbase 11's Officer's Club (in the episode " Court Martial ") giving "their captain" a hard time over the presumed death of their mutual friend Ben Finney? Or, to see deceased crew members aboard the U.S.S. Defiant (in the episode " The Tholian Web ") wearing the delta insignia?

If different starships had different symbols, why weren't they wearing them? Simple. The memo makes it clear that those Starfleet officers are not assigned to the Enterprise ; they are simply wearing Starfleet's standard-issue Starship Duty Insignia.

Above: Non- Enterprise Starfleet personnel in Starbase 11's Officer's Club in Court Martial, and Below: Deceased U.S.S. Defiant crew member wearing the Starship Duty Insignia in "The Tholian Web."

By now you might be saying "What about U.S.S. Exeter's Captain Ron Tracey and his chief surgeon, Doctor Carter?" As these two insignia patches are the error being addressed in the memo, they need no further explanation. They alone are the anomaly (an anomaly Theiss never repeated), which led to the misconception that every ship has its own assignment insignia.

Above: Captain Ron Tracey of the U.S.S. Exeter , and Below: his CMO, Dr. Carter.

As you can see here, Theiss thoughtfully, if erroneously, provided both officers with unique assignment insignia patches, and in keeping with his fastidious reputation insured both patches included their appropriate division symbols.

Early in TOS , we get our first look at non-delta insignia. In the episode " Charlie X ," Antares ' Captain Rampart and his first officer are wearing the Spacecraft Duty Insignia, which indicates that they are assigned to an auxiliary spacecraft serving in Starfleet's Merchant Marine Corps -- just as Justman points out in his memo. 

Antares ' Captain Rampart, and his XO wearing the Merchant Marine Spacecraft Duty Insignia.

Not long after that, we get a look at another new insignia. The Outpost Duty Insignia is worn by Starfleet personnel assigned to outposts on the very edge of Federation space, the frontier. This emblem is characterized by a gold spikelet against a black background. Warning: Do not put yourself in a situation where this insignia goes on your uniform. Personnel wearing this badge never seem to live happily ever after.

Outpost Crew from " Balance of Terror " & " Arena " pictured wearing the Outpost Duty Insignia.

A few episodes later, the Enterprise takes shore leave and Kirk reminisces about his days at the Academy. Worn by students attending Starfleet Academy, the Cadet Duty Insignia is characterized by a pewter colored, smaller version of the Starbase Duty Insignia.

Second Class Midshipman Finnegan wearing the Cadet Duty Insignia.

First seen in "The Menagerie," the Starbase Duty Insignia is worn by personnel assigned to Federation Starbases, which include Starfleet Headquarters, space stations, drydocks and other ground installations. The emblem, which is devoid of any departmental symbol, is a stylized representation of an "Evening Starflower" (a flowering plant native to the western hemisphere of Earth).

Above: Admiral James Komack of Starfleet Command - Sector 9, and Below: Admiral Fitzpatrick.

Miss Piper, assistant to Commodore Mendez, and Lt. Areel Shaw Starbase 11 JAG Officer wearing the Starbase Duty Insignia.

So how does Commodore Wesley in " The Ultimate Computer ," or Commodore Decker in " The Doomsday Machine " fit into the spectrum of Starfleet insignia?

Well, let's talk about Commodores for a moment. A Commodore is a flag officer rank, one position above Captain. A starship captain usually commands a single vessel, but a Commodore ordinarily commands more than one ship. Usually Commodores command a group of ships (either close to their flagship or distant), or in the case of TOS , they normally command a starbase.

In charge of evaluating the operational performance of the M5 computer while it's in total control of a starship, Commodore Wesley sits in temporary command of the U.S.S. Lexington to lead a battle fleet in war games against the Enterprise. Throughout the episode Commodore Wesley continues to wear his Starbase Duty Insignia, while the Lexington crew would have been wearing the delta.

Commodore Bob Wesley in the transporter room briefing Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock about the M5 computer.

Finally, we come to one of my favorite characters ever, Commodore Matt Decker in "The Doomsday Machine." We saved him for last because we could only properly discuss his insignia and what it means after we talked about Starfleet's other symbols first.

The steely glare of William Windom as Commodore Matt Decker.

Unlike Commodore Bob Wesley, who was only in temporary command of the Lexington, Matt Decker is a Flag Officer with permanent field command of a starship. In fact, he's the only Flag Officer we see in Star Trek with a field command. As a consequence of Commodore Decker's rank and status as Commander of the U.S.S. Constellation (his Flagship), he wears the Fleet Command Insignia denoting his status as a Flag Officer in the field. If we had seen Commodore Decker's crew (may they Rest In Peace), we would have seen the delta shape insignia in use on their uniforms. Commodore Decker's own first officer would have held the rank of Captain and worn the Starship Duty Insignia.

It should be noted that "The Doomsday Machine," which was filmed early in season two, is not referenced in Bob Justman's memo. Some speculate that Decker's absence from the memo is further indication of the inconsistent use of emblems in Star Trek , but that presupposes that the production staff missed that detail. However, the very existence of the Justman memo, and a whole forest of others just like, it demonstrates that the opposite is true. The production team of Star Trek worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the future they were busy creating held up under scrutiny. Gene Roddenberry was notoriously rewriting scripts himself to ensure no less than exactly what he wanted ended up on screen, and that fastidious nature permeated the entire production staff. That Decker's unique emblem is not mentioned in the production memo indicates that his particular insignia isn't an error at all, but represents something else.

Check out Commodore Decker's insignia. Remember that when Theiss created the insignia for Captain Ron Tracey, he went out of his way to ensure it was emblazoned with a Command Star department symbol. Commodore Decker has no such departmental symbol in his insignia patch, which places it in the same design lineage as the Starbase Duty Insignia, which is also devoid of any departmental symbol.

At this point in Star Trek we've seen a number of flag officers, but they have all worn the Starflower shape, which indicates assignment to a starbase, while Matt Decker alone in TOS series serves as a flag officer in permanent command of a starship. He is wearing an insignia that conveys his unique status, the Fleet Command Insignia, and if you look closely you'll see that Matt Decker's emblem is visually related to the Starbase Duty Insignia. Decker's insignia is a stylized representation of an individual petal from the same "Evening Starflower" emblem that comprises the Starbase symbol. This insignia isn't mentioned in the production memo because it's not an error at all.

Hopefully by now you can see how consistent the Star Trek costume department really was in their use of insignia, and that Bill Thiess never repeated the error he made during "The Omega Glory" after it was pointed out by the memo.

Returning to the delta, Roddenberry, and Justman intended it to be a very special symbol that communicates something important. The insignia worn on Starfleet uniforms is the equivalent of the badges worn by U.S. Service members -- to show how they serve, not where they serve. Both men served with distinction in World War II. Roddenberry was an Army Air Corps pilot and Justman was a radio operator in the Navy. In the air and at sea, they understood the value of visual communication. In uniform once themselves they carried those values on their chests, on their collars, and on their sleeves. Twenty years after they wore their own various insignia, they  helped to create something new, a symbol to inspire others. In the 1960s, the Starfleet delta had far more in common with the golden pin awarded to a NASA astronaut than a simple mission patch, and it was intended to equal that proud emblem in both use and sentiment.

The NASA Astronaut Pin. There are two versions of this pin, a silver pin awarded to those who complete their training, and a gold pin awarded only to astronauts who have flown in space.

The delta proclaims that the person wearing it has achieved the goal of every cadet entering the academy, and the dream of many a devoted fan: to serve aboard a Starship and set sail in an endless sea of stars.

Starfleet Insignia Badge, Command Division from Star Trek Discovery.

"They used to say if man could fly, he'd have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to." - Captain James T. Kirk

I am grateful to have an experienced and learned group of expert Star Trek fans who helped with the research on this article: Steve Fronczek, Creative Services Manager, ANOVOS; Lieutenant Commander Michael J. Quigley, United States Navy; and Dayton Ward, Star Trek author.

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Starfleet Command

• View history

Starfleet Command , Space Central , Space Command or Spacefleet Command , was the operating authority of Starfleet , the exploratory, scientific, and military department of United Earth before being integrated into the United Federation of Planets in 2161 . The organization's primary management center was located at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco , Earth until the 31st Century. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; DS9 : " Homefront ", " Paradise Lost "; VOY : " Endgame "; DIS : " People of Earth ")

• 1.1 Pre-Federation
• 1.2 Federation
• 2.1 22nd century
• 2.2 23rd century
• 2.3 24th century
• 2.4 25th century
• 3.1 Background information
• 3.2 External link

History [ ]

During the 22nd century and through the 23rd century , Starfleet Command was under the jurisdiction of the UESPA , notably during Captain James T. Kirk 's era.

Pre-Federation [ ]

Assignment patch for Starfleet Command in the 22nd century

Starfleet Command of the Starfleet in the 2150s

Starfleet Command seen from orbit

In 2151 , Enterprise NX-01 Captain Jonathan Archer met with Admiral Maxwell Forrest , Admiral Daniel Leonard , Commander Williams , and other Human and Vulcan officials at Starfleet Command to decide how to proceed with delivering the wounded Klingon Klaang back to Qo'noS . ( ENT : " Broken Bow ")

In 2152 , Archer was forced to return to Starfleet Command in order to decide how to proceed after Enterprise apparently destroyed the Paraagan II mining colony . ( ENT : " Shockwave ")

That same year, Malcolm Reed , under the influence of mind-altering radiation from a trinary star system , threatened to go to Starfleet Command if he could not get Captain Archer interested in approving his tactical alert protocol and other recommended changes to security procedures. ( ENT : " Singularity ")

In March 2153 , Forrest and Williams used Starfleet Command to coordinate the response to the crisis caused by re-activated Borg drones . ( ENT : " Regeneration ")

Later that month , Enterprise was recalled after the Xindi attack on Earth, and Archer went to Starfleet Command to discuss the attack, plan a response, and gain clearance to search for the Xindi weapon . ( ENT : " The Expanse ")

After destroying the Xindi weapon in February 2154 , Archer was debriefed by Forrest, Soval , and Williams about his actions in the Delphic Expanse at Starfleet Command. ( ENT : " Home ")

During shore leave later that year , Archer visited Starfleet Command again. ( ENT : " Affliction ")

Starfleet Command also housed a prison facility in the 22nd century. Arik Soong was incarcerated here for stealing Augment embryos from Cold Station 12 . ( ENT : " Borderland ")

Starfleet Command was also host to the conference Nathan Samuels conducted to form the Coalition of Planets . The xenophobic organization Terra Prime planned to destroy the complex with a blast from the hijacked verteron array on Mars . The leader of Terra Prime, John Frederick Paxton , managed to fire the array after Archer, Malcolm Reed , Travis Mayweather , and Phlox launched a raid. However, thanks to sabotage by Enterprise chief engineer Charles Tucker III , the blast was redirected into San Francisco Bay . After the crisis passed, the conference resumed. ( ENT : " Demons ", " Terra Prime ")

Federation [ ]

Insignia used on starships and starbases in the mid-24th century

Starfleet Command was overseen by the Federation Council and run by a chief of staff , a position held by Admiral Jonathan Archer in the late-22nd century.

Besides the fleet, Starfleet Command also oversaw the various other branches of Starfleet.

Because of the time delays involved in many subspace communications , Starfleet Command also included a network of administrative and support outposts known as starbases throughout the Federation. Starfleet's starships operated out of these starbases under the supervision of various admirals, the senior officers of the fleet.

In 2286 , Starfleet Command, along with the rest of Earth, was threatened by the Whale Probe until Admiral Kirk and the crew of the late starship USS Enterprise stole a Klingon Bird-of-Prey , which was renamed HMS Bounty by Doctor Leonard McCoy . Kirk and his crew brought aboard a pair of Humpback whales called George and Gracie . These whales were the prized attraction of the Cetacean Institute in Sausalito , California . Also brought aboard was marine biologist Gillian Taylor , an employee of the institute in 1986 . Kirk brought his new passengers back to 2286, at which point the whales communicated with the probe; it presumably returned to its place of origin.

Starfleet Command under the influence of neural parasites in 2364

By 2364 , Starfleet Command had been infiltrated by parasitic being aliens , who had physically taken control of the bodies of several high-ranking Starfleet officials, including Admirals Gregory Quinn , Aaron , and Savar . The parasitic mother creature resided in the body of Lieutenant Commander Dexter Remmick . The aliens were prevented from taking over Starfleet Command by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William T. Riker of the USS Enterprise -D , who, by destroying the mother creature, killed all alien parasites on the planet . ( TNG : " Conspiracy ")

In 2369 , while under the telepathic influence of a Saltah'na energy sphere , Kira Nerys suggested that Jadzia Dax might talk to Starfleet Command about Benjamin Sisko 's handling of a Valerian transport docked at Deep Space 9 which Kira believed was transporting weapons-grade dolamide . ( DS9 : " Dramatis Personae ")

In late 2373 , Starfleet Command made a decision that would change the Federation forever. They agreed with Benjamin Sisko that no more Dominion ships could be allowed into the Alpha Quadrant . The mining of the Bajoran wormhole became the catalyst of the Dominion War . ( DS9 : " Call to Arms ")

In 2374 , Starfleet Command approved of Sisko's radical plan to bring the Romulan Star Empire into the Dominion War. ( DS9 : " In the Pale Moonlight ")

Later that year, Starfleet Command honored Captain Sisko with the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor for his planning and successful operation retaking Deep Space 9. ( DS9 : " Tears of the Prophets ")

After Captain Sisko contacted Starfleet Command about Section 31 , Starfleet Command did not acknowledge its existence, but did not deny it, either. Sisko was informed by Starfleet Command that they would look into it. The Starfleet Command investigation into Section 31 was later shelved. ( DS9 : " Inquisition ", " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges ")

The order to quarantine a ship or station came from Starfleet Command. ( TNG : " Unnatural Selection ")

Due to the possibility of further threat from the Burn, both Starfleet and the Federation left Earth where they had been stationed for centuries. By the 32nd century , Starfleet Command, and the Federation government, resided on a space station located in the Alpha Quadrant. ( DIS : " People of Earth ", " Die Trying ", " Scavengers ")

In the alternate reality , Starfleet Command included an Office of Special Plans . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Personnel [ ]

22nd century [ ].

• R. Berman ( Enterprise NX-01 and Columbia NX-02 dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Bormanis ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• B. Braga ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• M. Coto ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• F. Decker ( Enterprise (NX-01), dedication plaque personnel)
• J.P. Farrell ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• M. Howard ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Jacque-Metton ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• M. Jacque-Metton ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• P. Lauritson ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• T. Matalas ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• D. Mirabello ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• S. Rissmiller ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• D. Rooney ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• D. Rossi ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Stella ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• P. Strong ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• M. Sussman ( Enterprise (NX-01) dedication plaque personnel)
• D. Velazquez ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• S. Welke ( Enterprise (NX-01) and Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)
• B. Yacobian ( Columbia (NX-02) dedication plaque personnel)

23rd century [ ]

• J. Alexander ( USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• C. Audrey ( USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Baiers (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Beattie (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• G. Berg (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• Rick K. Berman ( USS Enterprise -B dedication plaque personnel)
• K. Beyer (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• S. Cochran (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Coleite (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Colville (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Duff (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• D. Dworkin (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• C. Fisher (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• B. Fuller (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Goldsman (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Harberts (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Haufler (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• R. Johnson (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• H. Kadin (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• B. Kim (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• B.Y. Kim (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Kurtzman (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• Peter Lauritson (USS Enterprise -B dedication plaque personnel)
• E. Lippoldt (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Lumet (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• A. McElroy (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Menosky (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• N. Meyer (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• H. Alonso Meyers (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• O. Osunsanmi (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• M. Paradise (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• K. Powers (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• T. Pretak (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• A. Raffaghello (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• G. Roddenberry (USS Enterprise -B dedication plaque personnel)
• E. Sampson (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• F. Siracusa (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• T. Sullivan (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• C. Sweeny (USS Shenzhou and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Swope (USS Enterprise dedication plaque personnel)
• J. Weber (USS Shenzhou , USS Enterprise , and USS Discovery dedication plaque personnel)
• Bernie Williams (USS Enterprise -B dedication plaque personnel)

24th century [ ]

• Ahn-Ahn ( Facilities )
• Ira Steven Behr ( USS Defiant , USS Valiant , and USS Sao Paulo dedication plaque personnel)
• Hans Beimler (USS Valiant dedication plaque personnel)
• Rick Berman ( USS Enterprise -D , USS Defiant , USS Voyager , USS Enterprise -E , USS Valiant , USS Prometheus , USS Sao Paulo , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• Ken Biller (USS Prometheus dedication plaque personnel)
• Brannon Braga (USS Voyager , USS Enterprise -E, and USS Prometheus dedication plaque personnel)
• Daneeka (Facilities)
• René Echevarria (USS Defiant , USS Valiant , and USS Sao Paulo dedication plaque personnel)
• J.P. Farrell (USS Prometheus dedication plaque personnel)
• Jerry Fleck (USS Enterprise -E dedication plaque personnel)
• Jonathan Frakes (USS Enterprise -E dedication plaque personnel)
• Marty Hornstein (USS Enterprise -E dedication plaque personnel)
• Merri Howard (USS Voyager , USS Prometheus , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• Robert H. Justman (USS Enterprise -D dedication plaque personnel)
• Peter Lauritson (USS Enterprise -D, USS Defiant , USS Voyager , USS Valiant , USS Prometheus , USS Sao Paulo , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• David Livingston (USS Enterprise -D, USS Defiant , USS Enterprise -E, USS Sao Paulo , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• Joe Menosky (USS Prometheus dedication plaque personnel)
• Ronald D. Moore (USS Defiant , USS Enterprise -E, USS Valiant , and USS Sao Paulo dedication plaque personnel) dedication plaque personnel)
• Wendy Neuss (USS Voyager dedication plaque personnel)
• Steve Oster (USS Defiant , USS Valiant , and USS Sao Paulo dedication plaque personnel)
• Michael Piller (USS Enterprise -D, USS Defiant , USS Voyager , USS Valiant , USS Sao Paulo , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• Gene Roddenberry (USS Enterprise -D and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• David Rossi (USS Enterprise -E dedication plaque personnel)
• R. Roto (Facilities)
• Susan Sackett (USS Enterprise -D dedication plaque personnel)
• Debbie Schwab (USS Enterprise -E dedication plaque personnel)
• Jeri Taylor (USS Voyager , USS Prometheus , and USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)
• Brad Yacobian (USS Pasteur dedication plaque personnel)

25th century [ ]

• Doug Aarniokoski ( USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Cindy Appel (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Aaron Baiers (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Kirsten Beyer (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Michael Chabon (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Nicole Falsetti (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Akiva Goldsman (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Grace Gregory (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Heather Kadin (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Alex Kurtzman (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Jane Maggs (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Dylan Massin (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Terry Matalas (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Chris Monfette (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)
• Matt Okumura (USS Stargazer dedication plaque personnel)

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

The Star Trek Sticker Book (p. 10) indicates that the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -era "Starfleet Command seal" first appeared in DS9 : " Homefront ", thought its actual first appearance on screen appears to be on a flag in DS9 : " Rules of Engagement ". [1]

A similar insignia for Star Trek: Discovery was introduced on Michael Burnham 's environmental suit in DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ".

Another design used for Star Trek: Picard was introduced in PIC : " Remembrance " set in 2399 , and was later used in PIC : " The End is the Beginning " set earlier in 2385 .

External link [ ]

• Starfleet Command at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 2 Jamaharon

The Emblems of Earth Starfleet and Earth Starfleet Command

by Bernd Schneider, Jörg Hillebrand and Brad Wilder

Earth Starfleet Emblem Earth Starfleet Command Emblem Related Emblems

At the beginning of Star Trek Enterprise there was a distinct patch for Enterprise NX-01 but no other logos of Earth Starfleet or Starfleet Command. We could see the blue flag of Starfleet in an often reused CGI shot of Starfleet Headquarters since "Shadows of P'Jem", but props based on this design were created as late as for ENT: "First Flight", an episode consisting of flashbacks of the NX warp drive development for the most part.

Mike Okuda designed the emblems for Earth Starfleet and for Starfleet Command. Both emblems have the arrowhead (or boomerang) in common. The Earth Starfleet emblem shows this symbol on a seal with a star background, whereas Starfleet Command uses a simplified logo, consisting of the arrowhead with a crescent planet and a star. Both designs appear standalone as well as on flags. This article shows all variations of the two logo designs in their various incarnations as uniform patches, on monitors, on walls and floors, on flags and as sculptures.

Earth Starfleet Emblem

Ent: shadows of p'jem.

Only in the Blu-ray version, and most clearly in "Shadows of P'Jem", we can recognize that there is a lettering "STARFLEET" across the emblem. It appears that there is no yellow boomerang or arrowhead yet, but the combination of the letters and a thinner "flight trajectory" just evoke the symbol that can be seen on the later emblem. Also, there appear to be stars outside the emblem too. So this is an early variation of the flag that deviates considerably from the familiar one as it can be seen up close in Forrest's office and on other occasions.

ENT: Regeneration

The emblem consists of a yellow arrowhead on a blue round star background, which is enframed by a thick gray inner border and a thin red outer border. Inside the gray border, there are more white stars and the Latin lettering "Ad astra per aspera" ("To the stars, through hardship"). With one exception, the design and lettering will remain consistent until the end of the fourth season.

ENT: First Flight

In "First Flight", we can spot the Starfleet emblem many times. It can be seen in the form of patches on Archer's sweater, on standard uniforms as well as on the orange spacesuits. It also appears on the flag in Forrest's office, on the wall of the hangar for the Warp 5 prototype and on the hull of the ship itself.

ENT: The Expanse

"The Expanse" shows the emblem above the entrance to the Fleet Operations Center building (in the front of which a Starfleet Command emblem is located, see below). We can also see it as a big black-and-white version on the Starfleet Headquarters building, as well as on a monitor.

ENT: Similitude

The flag can be seen again in "Similitude", at Sim's funeral service.

ENT: The Forge

Another appearance of the blue Starfleet flag is in ENT: "The Forge", inside the United Earth embassy on Vulcan, here together with the yellow Starfleet Command flag.

ENT: Storm Front II

In ENT: "Storm Front II" we can see the Starfleet Academy diploma of Ensign Patricia F. O'Malley, a crew member killed in the war with the Xindi. It is adorned by the emblem of Earth Starfleet. The existence of an institution of that name at that time (2153 according to the certificate text) may be rated as an error, knowing that the Starfleet Academy emblem clearly establishes the foundation date of 2161. On the other hand, just like Earth Starfleet became the Federation Starfleet, the name may have been passed on to the new academy.

ENT: "Home" shows the emblem on a shuttle and on the floor and the walls of the Bay Stadium. We can also see it on Starfleet Headquarters and on a flag in front of the building, and once again on a monitor, in a close shot that allows to recognize all details.

ENT: Affliction

We can see the individual ship emblem as well as the Starfleet emblem on the wall of the captain's mess hall aboard Columbia NX-02 in ENT: "Affliction".

ENT: Demons / Terra Prime

Besides this unusual variation, "Demons" and "Terra Prime" show us the blue flag with the standard Starfleet emblem, together with the yellow Starfleet Command flag (see below).

ENT: These Are The Voyages

We can see the Starfleet patch for the last time in "These Are The Voyages", now worn on the right sleeves of all Enterprise uniforms.

Earth Starfleet Command Emblem

After no appearance in Season 3, the flag is seen again, in digital form, in the San Francisco Bay Stadium scene at the beginning of "Home". The logo, taken from the sign seen in "The Expanse", appears on the wall behind the main door to Admiral Forrest's office in the same episode.

The yellow flag is then seen again in "The Forge" in the United Earth embassy on Vulcan.

The Starfleet Command logo was also turned into a glass sculpture that can be seen in Agent Harris's office in "Affliction" standing on his desk. This further links his Section 31 activities formally with Starfleet Command.

The flag is then seen again in the two-parter "Demons" and "Terra Prime" in the council chamber on the Starfleet Command grounds. In this episode the text underneath the logo, "Semper Exploro", can be read almost completely. Finally, the logo is also visible as a decorative wall-piece in the same council chamber above the large painting. It can only be seen in its entirety in "Terra Prime" though.

The following image summarizes the appearances of the simple Starfleet Command emblem in its various forms.

Related Emblems

Starfleet mission operations emblem.

Security Division emblem

Intrepid emblem

The Emblem of Starfleet Command - exhaustive survey of all variants

Earth Starfleet and Other Space Service Emblems - ship and space program logos of the 22nd century

The Evolution of the Federation Emblem - exhaustive survey of all variants

Earth and Federation Emblems Gallery

Some screen caps from TrekCore . The Starfleet Command flag was reconstructed by Shisma for Memory Alpha .

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/earth_starfleet_emblem.htm

Last modified: 16 Sep 2023

© Ex Astris Scientia 1998-2024, Legal Terms

This website is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with CBS Studios Inc. or the Star Trek franchise.

Fleet Yards

Star Trek Emblems: Pre-Federation Era

Artwork by Kris Trigwell

Who Created The Star Trek Logo & What Do Its Variations Represent?

"Star Trek" has some of the most recognizable iconography in all of sci-fi, from the hulking image of the Starship Enterprise to the pointy ears of the Vulcans. Even just one look at the "Star Trek" logo — that basic arrowhead-esque shape containing a star with one elongated point inside — is enough to conjure countless memories of the adventures seen throughout the franchise. In fact, it's such an iconic component that some fans may have never stopped to wonder where exactly it comes from and what it's supposed to represent.

The "Star Trek" logo that everyone knows and loves — also commonly referred to as the "Delta" — was created in 1964 by the costume designer for the original series, William Ware Theiss. Theiss contributed a lot to the look of early "Star Trek," and his development of the "Delta" insignia to denote members of Starfleet on their uniforms quickly became the franchise's most enduring symbol. In the years since, the insignia has evolved and shifted into several distinct variations, each of which carry their own in-universe meaning.

There are a couple major Starfleet insignia variations

While the exact look of the Starfleet insignia has changed with just about each new entry into the "Star Trek" canon, it has just about always retained its core arrowhead shape. However, even dating back as far as the original series from the 1960s, the symbol contained within each variation of the arrowhead has actually been used to denote the specific division of Starfleet that the corresponding individual is a part of.

Of course, the most popular variation and the one most commonly seen today is the logo with the star inside. This version is commonly used to denote a Starfleet employee who is a member of the command division. Most of the major characters who make up the crew of various starships, from Spock to Captain Picard, are part of the command division, hence why it's the most common variation.

"Star Trek: The Original Series" further introduces three other major variations. The one with two overlapping circles signifies a member of Starfleet's sciences division, the one with a spiral inside represents the operations division, and, finally, the one with a red cross contained inside belongs to medical personnel. Other "Star Trek" projects have introduced the occasional new variant, but these four comprise the most well-known versions in canon.

The Starfleet insignia takes inspiration from a surprising place

It's been established that William Ware Theiss developed the Starfleet logo for "Star Trek: The Original Series," but some fans may still be wondering about its canonical origin. Where did the arrowhead symbol come from in-universe and why does it represent Starfleet? As it happens, the in-universe history of the Starfleet symbol and some of the pieces of inspiration Theiss drew from in the real world are one and the same.

The bulk of the "Star Trek" timeline that fans see takes place far into the future beyond the real-world present day. As such, it's frequently suggested that Starfleet as an organization grew out of Earth's space-based initiatives and programs from our real-world history. Indeed, there's a clever link between NASA and Starfleet in terms of their logos. Simply take the NASA logo and focus solely on the diagonal-pointing red "V" shape. Adjust it slightly so that the "V" is pointing upwards, and the resulting shape resembles the basic outline of the Starfleet symbol. To make this connection stronger, the franchise's United Earth insignia hews even closer to the NASA design in terms of composition.

US Space Force explains why its logo isn’t a Star Trek ripoff

Similar symbols have been in use long before the tv show.

By Jon Porter , a reporter with five years of experience covering consumer tech releases, EU tech policy, online platforms, and mechanical keyboards.

Share this story

An official logo and motto for the United States Space Force have been revealed , following the announcement of its official seal back in January , and flag in May . The organization’s motto is “Semper Supra,” which is Latin for “Always Above,” while the logo itself is based around a delta shape that’s been the focus of some mockery thanks to its similarity to Starfleet’s logo from Star Trek.

Defenders of Space Force’s seal were quick to point out that its actual inspiration appears to be the shield for Air Force Space Command . The official US Space Force Twitter account points out that the shape has been been in use by space organizations as far back as 1961. Star Trek, meanwhile, debuted in 1966. 

So what about the other elements of the logo? The star in the middle is meant to symbolize Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, the core values and guiding light for the organization. The two spires are meant to look like a rocket launch, while the four beveled elements at the bottom represent the four armed forces supporting the space mission. Around the edge there’s a silver border, signifying “defense and protection,” and the black background is the blackness of space, obviously. 

“The black area embodies the vast darkness of deep space,” Space Force’s official Twitter account cheerfully notes , “Some feel fear and dread but we prefer to be inspired and stand up to the challenge.”

Space Force is the sixth branch of the US military alongside the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

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U.S. Space Force says its new seal is not a Starfleet knockoff

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WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday evening unveiled on Twitter the seal of the U.S. Space Force.

“After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!” Trump tweeted.

The image of the U.S. Space Force seal drew instant mockery on Twitter because of its striking resemblance to Star Trek’s emblem for the fictional Starfleet space force organization.

Several commenters with military backgrounds pointed out the that the U.S. Space Force seal, with the use of the delta symbol, appears to be inspired by the real-life space organization U.S. Air Force Space Command, and that it’s likely the creators of Starfleet drew inspiration from AFSPC, not the other way around.

Trump on Dec. 20 signed the law the created the U.S. Space Force by renaming the U.S. Air Force Space Command and making it a separate military service.

Social media posts noted that the design of the U.S. Space Force deal is a nod to the tradition of retaining a linkage to the organizational emblem from which the new unit was derived.

A spokesman for the U.S. Space Force said in a statement Friday evening that the seal “pays tribute to the newest armed service that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force.”

In response to critics calling it a Star Trek ripoff, the spokesman said that the U.S. Space Force seal “honors the Department of the Air Force’s proud history” in providing space capabilities.

The delta symbol, the central design element in the seal, was first used as early as 1942 by the U.S. Army Air Forces and was used in early Air Force space organization emblems dating back to 1961, the spokesman said. “Since then, the delta symbol has been a prominent feature in military space community emblems.”

Star Trek made its television debut in 1966.

Sandra Erwin

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense... More by Sandra Erwin

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Space Force unveils official motto and Star Trek-ish logo

Semper supra.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Space Force symbol, but were afraid to ask.

Starting up a new branch of the US military requires some attention to pageantry. Space Force already revealed its seal and flag , and has now moved on to its official logo and motto . 

"Today we are proud to showcase the Space Force logo to the world," the organization tweeted on Wednesday along with a graphic explaining the symbol.

Today we are proud to showcase the Space Force logo to the world. Over the next few hours, we will share the history and legacy of our new logo. pic.twitter.com/tKe8QCWEiG — United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) July 22, 2020

Star Trek comparisons have dogged Space Force ever since it unveiled its official seal, which resembles the logo for Starfleet Command. This deep dive into the history and symbolism behind Space Force's new logo might help dispel a little of that.  

Here are the highlights: 

• The overall symbol is known as a delta. 
• The silver outer border stands for defense and protection.
• The black interior embodies deep space.
• Two spires pointing upward inside the delta are stylized rocket launches.
• The four beveled shapes inside represent the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. (Sorry, Coast Guard.)
• The star at the center stands for Polaris the North Star), "which symbolizes how the core values guide the Space Force mission."

The military branch pointed out that the delta is a nod to the heritage of the US Air Force and Space Command and was first used in 1961. Yes, that's a few years prior to the debut of the original Star Trek series.

Space Force also showed off its new Latin motto "semper supra," which it said translates to "always above." "It represents our role in establishing, maintaining, and preserving US freedom of operations in the space domain," the branch tweeted.

‘Semper Supra’ (Always Above) is our official motto and it represents our role in establishing, maintaining, and preserving U.S. freedom of operations in the space domain. pic.twitter.com/S6cW3ZbHQR — United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) July 22, 2020

Space Force came into existence under the direction of President Donald Trump, becoming the sixth branch of the US military. It has already been the subject of a Netflix comedy send-up starring Steve Carell . 

Space Force probably won't be able to quell the Star Trek talk even after advertising the history of the logo. Now if only the US Navy's for-real Captain James Kirk would transfer to Space Force, our Trekkie lives would be complete.

The Mirror Universe

Q: What is the Mirror Universe and how do I get there? A: This is a brand new alternative Universe where the Terran Empire reigns supreme. You will be able to warp into MU space by spending Mirror Vouchers to travel through Interphasic Rifts. There will be around 50 new systems in MU space and traveling deeper into the Universe will require Rift Keys. You cannot travel freely in and out of this new Universe. Q: Where do I go to find an Interphasic Entry Rift to get into the MU? A: Locations for the Warp will include Mirror Alpha Centauri, Mirror Wolf, and Mirror Sirius.

Q: Do I need to use one voucher per ship that enters the MU? A: The entry cost is 300 vouchers per ship that enters the MU. You can take more than one ship, but the costs will add up.

Q: What is the voucher duration? A: They will have 20 minutes of base duration at launch. When time runs out, your Ships active in the MU will be auto-extracted, keeping everything gained while in the MU.

Q: How long can I stay in the MU and how do I leave? A: You can remain there until you are destroyed or the voucher expires. While in Mirror space you cannot recall your ships, to escape you’ll need to find an Extract Rift and use it to warp to safety. Extract Rifts never have a cost to use!

Q: Can my Alliance travel with me and cooperate while we’re there? A: If you each spend vouchers individually, yes you can play together. You won’t be able to use either disco jumping or gorn wormholes to enter the MU.

Q: Can I travel to the MU with any Ship, at any level? Any restrictions? A: This area of space is available for players of Ops level 40+ with Ships having a minimum warp range of 50.

Q: What can I find in Mirror Universe space only? A: Trellium is a substance exclusive to this universe. There will be mines of raw Trellium scattered around the systems and you will also be able to collect Trellium by destroying hostiles. There are not any uses for it raw, but when you refine it you get Liquid Trellium.

Q: What is Trellium and how many types of it are available? A: There will be two types of raw Trellium, A and D. From refining them you will get Liquid Trellium. Liquid Trellium-D is essential to upgrade Officers from the Mirror Universe (like Picard and Data at launch) as well as using it in the Store.

Q: When can I get the Refinery for the Mirror Universe? How does it work? A: You unlock it at Ops level 40. To transform raw Trellium you will need a Refinery. The MU refinery also offers Mirror Universe Free Entry Vouchers, for example, among many other valuable items and materials. However, one of the most important items that you can get from it is Mirror Dust: this is the new currency for the brand new and powerful Mirror Research Tree.

Q: How many new Researches are available and which ones are the best to survive in the MU? A: There will be around 70 (!) new Research nodes. The Mirror Research tree comes with unparalleled power and survivability bonuses. It’s an integral part of your Mirror Universe exploits. This is the only research tree in the game to offer Apex Barrier and will significantly improve your chances at survival in both PVP and PVE battles.

Q: Does the Mirror Tree research work only for MU? A: MU research is sourced from the MU but its effects apply everywhere in the game.

Q: Is the Apex Barrier useful in the Mirror Universe? Why should I get it? A: The Apex Barrier is a brand new modifier, essential for raising your chances of survivability. The Barrier provides true damage mitigation from all damage sources after all other bonuses. For example, every 10,000 points of an active Apex Barrier will reduce damage taken equivalent to +100% effective health (meaning that the damage you can take goes up by 100%).

Q: Is the Mirror Universe dangerous? What type of hostiles can I find there? A: It’s not a friendly place - remember: there is no protected cargo in the MU. If your ships are destroyed, everything will be gone. Do your best to exit it safely. Inside the MU you will fight the new Terran hostiles. Their Abilities are the following: Dismantlement : At the start of the round, if the enemy player is hull breached, this ship increases its standard damage by a percentage for 1 round.

Deadlock : At combat start, Hull breach to the enemy player for the duration of combat.

Photophobia : At the start of the round, if the enemy player is hull breached, this ship increases its Isolytic damage by a percentage for 1 round.

Q: Can other players hit you inside the Warp Zone or MU systems? Can players hit you in the Extract Zone? A: Players can hit you everywhere in the MU.

Q: What kind of Officers and Ships should I bring with me, to increase my chance of survival? A: You can challenge the MU any way you want, but whatever you do, make sure that your Apex Barrier is active. It will be very difficult to explore every corner of the Mirror Universe without it. 

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The Space Force Logo Is Basically a 'Star Trek' Reference and Twitter's Loving It

Jan. 25 2020, Updated 5:58 p.m. ET

President Donald Trump's Space Force has been a long-running joke — and people had tons to say about the aesthetic of the original uniform and the fact that it's camouflage . Because if we are sending soldiers into outer space and want them to blend in with their surroundings, maybe making them look like a woodland painting is a bad idea.

Now Twitter's having a field day with yet another Space Force announcement: the reveal of the branch's official logo.

The Space Force logo is hilariously similar to the Star Fleet Command's logo.

Many folks have noticed a striking similarity between the design of the Space Force's crest and the one for Star Trek's fictional Star Fleet Command. And by striking similarity, I mean that it literally looks like they straight up copied it.

I'm going to play devil's advocate and say that life often imitates art, nor can you blame anyone for copying the Star Fleet Command sigil either, because it's awesome.

That doesn't mean people aren't already meme-ing the heck out of it, however, after Donald Trump had presented the logo on his Twitter feed, extolling the "Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!"

There's no word as to whether or not CBS already has a serious Space Force TV show starring David Boreanaz, but expect it to go into production soon.

Here's Trump's announcement of the logo below.

After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military! pic.twitter.com/TC8pT4yHFT — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

And here's the Space Force logo put side by side with the Star Fleet Command.

While there are tons of jokes circulating the internet comparing soldiers who sign up for the Space Force as basically the cast of Starship Troopers fighting big gross bugs on some distant planet, the Air Force has actually had to do a lot of work to explain exactly what the branch's job is.

Trump just announced the new logo for the Space Force. The other is Star Trek Starfleet Command. pic.twitter.com/S7NeYdjR4C — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 24, 2020

I have a question. If Space Force is an independent 6th service branch, why is the USAF on this logo? https://t.co/VNrowLtPtT — Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) January 24, 2020

Namely, U.S. Air Force officials are dispelling the widespread notion that SF personnel will be dictating space policies — because they won't. Paving the way for cosmic business ventures and exploring the vast worlds beyond our own isn't what the Space Force is about, either. So even though the logo may look a lot like Star Fleet Command's, Space Force's function couldn't be more different.

Lmao wow the new Space Force logo is a complete rip off of Star Trek’s Starfleet logo pic.twitter.com/coykUYs67q — Rich Homie Svi (@aaamackay) January 24, 2020

BREAKING: Trump unveils logo for Space Force pic.twitter.com/eHTv3MjC8a — yoshi (@fmtovvns) January 24, 2020

Lieutenant General David "DT" Thompson, who is the vice commander of Air Force Space Command, says that the primary function of the new unit is strictly about defense. "There’s a discussion about this grand vision that the Space Force is going to orchestrate economics, and civil and all kinds of other sectors of the economy to take us to the moon and Mars," he told SpaceNews in September . "That’s not the way the American system works."

Regarding US Space Force emblem: Even if it was "inspired by," it does not necessarily equal "stole from." I don't think we need a new military branch for this mission, but that's a whole different issue. I designed the Starfleet Command seal, and the USSF logo doesn't bother me. — Michael Okuda (@MikeOkuda) January 25, 2020

my dad, avid star trek lover, absolutely hates the space force logo pic.twitter.com/vLpcEwyiYN — ☼ evie ☼ (@evieseIIers) January 25, 2020

He continued by saying one of the primary goals of Space Force is to defend U.S. satellites against hostile missile or laser attacks. Which is nowhere near as cool as a bunch of astronauts with guns duking it out on the moon, but still kinda cool.

So they really just ripped off the Starfleet logo for Space Force, huh? pic.twitter.com/hIGTR1ZPve — Brad Denny (@BDenny29) January 24, 2020

The White House has just revealed the Space Force logo they rejected... pic.twitter.com/ijozItsK5w — Paul Cowland ⏩ (@PaulCowland_) January 24, 2020

"We have a lot of policy and guidance and direction about what the Space Force should be. It’s going to be a sixth branch of the armed services. The job of a service is to organize, train and equip forces for combatant commanders," Thompson said.

Although the lieutenant general has said that defense is the only thing that Space Force is about, some literature that his own command released seems to contradict that statement.

Trump’s new ‘Spaceforce’ logo is obviously intended to resemble the Star Trek Federation badge, but I suspect it’s more like... pic.twitter.com/4fwlzQJrM7 — Paul_Cornell (@Paul_Cornell) January 25, 2020

1959: Origins of NASA seal and meatball logo https://t.co/1Wm2QqYbAT 1964: Star Trek's Starfleet delta insignia first designed by William Ware Theiss and Gene Roddenberry https://t.co/8OMhjcMlpY 1982: Air Force Space Command 2020: U.S. Space Force pic.twitter.com/Kr97zQzL8g — Ferris Jabr (@ferrisjabr) January 24, 2020

"The Future of Space 2060 and Implications for U.S. Strategy" clearly delineates initiatives that have to do with colonizing and potentially monetizing space exploration.

But maybe he just means the Space Force battalions will work hard to ensure that astro-nerds are protected while pursuing those interests.

What I'm wondering is, what happened to this Space Force logo?

Seriously, they should've just went with that.

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Begin Your Journey–Get a Free Unlock of an Epic Officer

By rebekah 8 March 2024

Greetings, New Commanders!

Set your phasers to excitement because you’ve just embarked on an epic journey in Star Trek Fleet Command!

Starfleet is rolling out the red carpet for you with daily welcome gifts. Don’t forget to log in each day and snag those rewards before they vanish into deep space.

These gifts are carefully curated to give your early command journey a boost. We’re talking resources, tech, and more to help you boldly go where no one has gone before.

On Day 1, players can unlock Ship XP, Explorer Parts, Station Materials, Recruit Tokens, and Epic Nero Shards.

On Day 2, players can look forward to Officer XP, Battleship Parts, Recruit Tokens, an SNW Badge Avatar, and progress towards their Epic Nero unlock.

Logging into Day 3 will get you Build and Repair Speedups, Survey Parts, and Epic Nero shards.

Look forward to Build Speedups, Officer XP, Parsteel, and Epic Nero shards on Day 4.

On Day 5, the unlocks will be Premium Recruit tokens, Repair Speedups, Ship XP, and Epic Nero shards.

Making it to Day 6, players can look forward to Build Speedups, Survey Parts, Interceptor Parts, and Epic Nero shards.

And if you’re diligent, you’ll unlock your very own Epic Romulan Captain Nero in just 7 days. Miss a day, and you’ll be stuck in spacedock a bit longer.

Take the conn–the final frontier awaits!

-The Star Trek Team

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Take the conn, download star trek fleet command today.

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