The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, laid down in 1958, launched and christened in 1960, and commissioned in 1961, by the United States of America .
Enterprise is scheduled for inactivation on 1 December 2012 at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia, with her decommissioning scheduled no later than 15 March 2013
The Enterprise is the longest aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet. It is also the oldest, a distinction that brings pride as well as plenty of headaches for the ship’s more than 4,000 crew members. The ship is effectively a small city that frequently needs repairs because of its age. It was originally designed to last 25 years, but a major overhaul in 1979 and other improvements have extended its life.
In 1986, the Enterprise was featured in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home where it was to be docked at the Alameda Naval Base in Alameda, California. Commander Pavel Chekov is captured for breaching security and held as a Soviet spy. The ship was unavailable for filming, so scenes depicting Enterprise were filmed aboard USS Ranger.
The name Enterprise has inspired a generation of ships, the carrier is slated to be scrapped, as the process of removing the ship’s nuclear fuel will do costly damage to the ship itself. Though its demise is assured, the Enterprise has already secured its place in history.
