NX-Alpha

AT: "xx"

NX-Alpha over Earth

NX-Alpha was one of three test vehicles, along with the NX-Beta and the NX-Delta, used in Starfleet's NX Project, the effort to test and refine the warp five engine designed by Henry Archer. As such, it was a predecessor of the NX-class starship.

Several commanders in Starfleet competed to be chosen as the first to fly NX-Alpha in the effort to break the warp 2 barrier. After several weeks, it became clear the competition was down to Jonathan Archer, Henry Archer's son, and A.G. Robinson. Although Archer had logged more flight hours in the simulator, Commodore Forrest selected Commander Robinson.

Cockpit of NX-Alpha

The destruction of NX-Alpha

In 2143, Commander Robinson flew NX-Alpha while Commander Archer monitored from Starfleet Command. Initially, there was an imbalance in the power systems, causing them to keep NX-Alpha in orbit. When they finally gave him the okay, Robinson jumped to warp 1.

The ship successfully attained warp 2, but the power systems began rapidly overloading. Command ordered him to drop to sublight, but Robinson believed it could be pushed a little further. After attaining warp 2.2, NX-Alpha broke up just outside of orbit of Jupiter. Luckily, Robinson was able to eject in an escape pod that was retrieved and brought back to Earth.

Afterward, the Vulcan Advisory Council insisted on pausing the program until the Human scientists could figure out what had gone wrong, and run more simulations. Robinson told the inquiry that it was a design flaw in the engine, although Commander Archer and Lieutenant Charles Tucker asserted that it was actually pilot error. The results of NX-Alpha's mission eventually led to the unapproved flight of the NX-Beta. (ENT: "First Flight")

The command module of NX-Alpha (identical to that of the NX-Beta) was a redressed version of the Phoenix's command module from Star Trek: First Contact.

A model of NX-Alpha

In 2259 of the alternate reality, a small model of this ship was displayed on Admiral Marcus' desk, together with other historical spacecraft. (Star Trek Into Darkness)

In the final draft script of "First Flight", NX-Alpha was described thus; "It's a small, shuttle-sized spacecraft fitted with two old-style warp nacelles." The script referred to the craft's interior as "NX-Cockpit" and described the area as "Cramped and somewhat primitive by [NX-class starship] standards (and perhaps similar in appearance to Zephram Cochrane's [sic] 'Phoenix']." The cockpit was additionally scripted to include a pilot's seat, many "controls, including a sophisticated joystick," and a "small front viewport". The craft's destruction was described in the script as "a spectacular blast!"

The Artisan prop and model shop of Quantum Mechanix, QMx FX Cinema Arts, was asked to illustrate the history of space flight with models for the film Star Trek Into Darkness. NX-Alpha was included in the models constructed, of which there were fourteen different classes in total. On the organization's website, there was a picture of the NX-Alpha model. [1]

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