45

A consistent part of the Starfleet uniforms in the Star Trek shows and movies has been some version of this insignia:

starfleet logo

I originally thought this was a stylized letter "A", but that doesn't really make sense.

What is this symbol supposed to represent?

Improve this question
2

8 Answers 8

Reset to default
32

It is my understanding that the symbol is a stylized version of the NASA emblem of our time. Emblem

Memory Alpha also leans towards a connection between Star Trek and the NASA badge:

In a form of fact emulating fiction (and vice-versa), the US Air Force Space Command badges have a delta arrowhead very similar to the 1960s-designed Enterprise insignia, while the 22nd century Starfleet insignia seems to be a deliberate synthesis between the TOS era pennant and the NASA logo.

Improve this answer
72

This has been retconned over the years. This is the most current version, that I know of:

This is the NASA insignia:

NASA Insignia

This is the United Earth Starfleet insignia (in the 2150s, ENT-era):

United Earth Starfleet

These are the TNG-DS9-VOY-era Starfleet insignias:

TNG-era DS9-era Alpha Quadrant VOY-era

And one further variation from the future:

29th Century Starfleet

Originally, this was Starfleet's insignia in the TOS era (no explanation given):

TOS Starfleet

The truth is, the symbol we all know was originally the assignment patch for Kirk's Enterprise. In that era, each ship had their own symbol, and the pennant seen above was Starfleet's. The Enterprise symbol was later adopted for all of Starfleet in recognition of that five-year mission (in-universe). For alternate examples:

This is Admiral James Komack, wearing the Starfleet admiral patch/pin of that time:

James Komack

This is Commodore Matt Decker, former captain of the USS Constellation, wearing the insignia for his ship:

Matt Decker

From left to right, these are the assignment patches for the USS Exeter, the USS Defiant, and finally, the USS Enterprise:

Exeter Defiant Enterprise

And there's a whole lot more, in every era prior to TNG.

Improve this answer
7
  • 2
    Fantastic answer!
    – NikolaiDante
    Jan 3, 2013 at 15:57
  • 1
    Wow. I never realized the Defiant-class Defiant was named for a Constitution-class ship. Awesome stuff!
    – Iszi
    Jan 3, 2013 at 16:10
  • 6
    Love that shot of Spock and Bones. Looks like everyone's waiting for their appointment with Dr. Shiny Boomerang.
    – Paul D. Waite
    Sep 24, 2013 at 9:58
  • The "TNG-DS9-VOY-era Starfleet insignias" (excluding the one from the TOS movie era) represents what the communicators of that timeframe look like, which do not necessarily match the "pure emblem". For that purpose, it is interesting to look at the hull markings from the respective eras: The Enterprise 1701-D does feature the arrowhead with the oval, whereas Voyager only has the arrowhead, not the angular shape found in the communicator.
    – O. R. Mapper
    Aug 2, 2014 at 14:52
  • 1
    @O.R.Mapper No, those are the emblems. The background part has been included much of the time they appear. From Ex Astris Scientia, for example, Harry Kim's Starfleet certificate uses the third one
    – Izkata
    Aug 7, 2014 at 2:59
13

I vaguely remember a Star Trek novel named "Federation" where both the TOS and TNG Enterprises are involved with Zephram Cochrane and in that novel a decsription of the insignia was given based on the physics of the warp drive.

In that book, the insignia represents how warp drive sidesteps relativistic mass dilation. The top curve represents the energy required to continue accelerating at near-light speeds, which approaches infinity. IF you could somehow exceed the speed of light, that would then work backwards (higher energy would result in you moving slower. Time would also run in reverse.). The lower curve represents how warp drive cheats. However, being a book, this is not canon

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    In that book, the insignia represents how warp drive sidesteps relativistic mass dilation. The top curve represents the energy required to continue accelerating at near-light speeds, which approaches infinity. IF you could somehow exceed the speed of light, that would then work backwards (higher energy would result in you moving slower. Time would also run in reverse.). The lower curve represents how warp drive cheats. However, being a book, this is not canon.
    – Compro01
    Jan 3, 2013 at 20:33
  • Thank you! I realize this is an old answer, but I've been trying to think of this meaning and the novel it came from for a week now.
    – miltonaut
    Jun 13, 2016 at 11:39
2

I seem to remember reading an article back in the early '70s that attributed some influence on the emblem to the constellation Aquila, the Eagle. I can not attest to the accuracy of this, but there is some resemblance.

enter image description here

Improve this answer
0

Its the USAF Space Command insignia prior to NASA.

http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/2013/08/130821-F-AS983-002.jpgenter image description here

Improve this answer
2
  • 6
    Intriguing, but do you have any sources to back it up?
    – Lèse majesté
    Jan 3, 2014 at 5:29
  • 6
    I don't buy it. The US Air Force Space Command was not formed until 1982. So wouldn't be that this emblem seems to include some forms that resemble the UFP emblems?
    – John S.
    Jan 4, 2014 at 0:26
0

I've figured it out... it's an upside down harp. Occurred to me while watching this video.

Improve this answer
2
  • 5
    Why would it represent a harp?
    – Null ♦
    Dec 10, 2014 at 5:27
  • 5
    @Null An upside down harp. To represent the fact that they have nothing whatsoever to do with harps.
    – Misha R
    Jan 20, 2015 at 6:05
-4

I don't know why. You can't prove it and they don't mention it, but, I always thought the insignia looks like the anarchist symbol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist_symbolism#mediaviewer/File:Circle-A_red.svg Things such as, the non-interference principal, and the fact that Gene and company were looking to the future, it might be possible they saw this insignia as a mixed or hidden version of it. Purely a guess but merits pointing out. Spock's Vulcan beliefs also closely match voluntaryism. Most people won't know what that is without a little reading. Although that is totally contradicted by Gene's belief in a united earth future. Also maybe he saw the AA symbol somewhere? Now I'm being funny.

Improve this answer
1
  • It may look like the "Anarchist symbol" but unfortunately you will need to provide a source connecting the two; otherwise this is only opinion-based.
    – Möoz
    Jan 20, 2015 at 4:36
-5

The insignia also refers to the arrowhead like shape of the warp field, as initially sketched and theorized, and later proven by Zepherin Cochran.

Improve this answer
3
  • The warp fields we see on screens in TNG onwards are all either basically a distorted bubble shape or mostly conform to the ship. Do you have a reference for warp fields being arrowhead-shaped at some point?
    – Izkata
    Jun 18, 2014 at 2:31
  • I wish I could. I remember seeing the diagram in a book (perhaps a novel). The arrowhead was sideways and one arc was more distinct than the other for a specific reason, referred to in the text.
    – Dex
    Aug 7, 2014 at 2:43
  • Keith Wolvers above posted the same thing over a year ago.
    – FuzzyBoots
    Jan 20, 2015 at 4:16

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.