NOVEMBER 17, 2023 - The Star Trek community is abuzz with the potential rediscovery of a significant piece of television and space exploration history. The original 3-foot prototype model of the starship Enterprise, long believed lost, has reportedly been found. In a statement issued this week, Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, confirmed his involvement in authenticating this iconic artifact through an intermediary.

This prototype model, constructed in 1964 by Richard C. Datin, played a pivotal role in the visual development of the famous starship for the original series. The model was not only a guide for the larger 12-foot version displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum but also featured in numerous visual effects shots throughout the series. It also made appearances in publicity photo shoots, often alongside the main actors, and was notably used in the episode “Requiem for Methuselah” to represent a shrunken Enterprise.

The model's history is as storied as the series itself. Gene Roddenberry held the model until about 1977, after which it disappeared during the production of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. 

The mystery of its whereabouts remained unsolved until an eBay seller recently listed a 3-foot scale model of the Enterprise. Detailed comparisons of the eBay model with historical photos and descriptions have led many to believe it is the original, noting specific features like the flat saucer, unique nacelle details, and matching wood grain.

Roddenberry expressed his conviction about the model's importance, not just as a television relic but as a symbol of the enduring ideas his father embedded in Star Trek.

“Beyond its physical value, the greater significance is this prototype Enterprise model really represents the underpinning ideas my father imbued into the series,” Roddenberry said in his statement. “That we are clever, resilient and can learn from our mistakes. We can and will move beyond archaic belief systems. And once we truly embrace the infinite diversity all around us, both in form and idea, we will then take those next step into a prosperous and unlimited future.” 

While Roddenberry did not provide information about the person in possession of the model or their plans for it, he did share his thoughts on where the piece of Star Trek history belongs.

“I firmly believe that a piece of such importance should not be confined to any private collection,” he said. “This iconic artifact should be enshrined alongside the 12-foot shooting model at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, where it can serve to help tell the story of television history, the history of space exploration, and ultimately, a beacon of hope for the future.”