Another Enterprise is retirering

[Banekane]

they want to name the cariers after former presidents so most likely entiprise will be a NASA shuttle thats in development

[specter177]

Doubt it. NASA would probably call the next shuttle the Constitution, like they originally wanted. However, the first Virgin Galactic spaceship is called the Enterprise, so there's that.

[EricDuckman]

I'm not all that disappointed in seeing our Carriers named after great Presidents like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower (see my sig!), John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

And to steal a line from Star Trek: "There'll always be another Enterprise."

[Delwyn]

I'm fine with the Navy waiting before using the Enterprise name again....it should be reserved for something new and groundbreaking (just like this Enterprise was the first Nuclear powered carrier).

[Mike]

Sad news...

Had a poster of this ship in my room since I was 8 years old...
Made a few models of her to...

Doubt they will make her into a museum, U.S.S. Ranger ( Ship used in Voyage Home ) will probably be turned into one, Just like the last U.S.S. Kenedy.
And they can't scuttle her, because of her nuclear reactors.

Here's to hoping they don't wait to long to use the name Enterprise again!

[soonerjrj]

She's had a long good life, time for the kids to break their teeth on missions now.

[farragut79]

Since the more recent naming conventions for the gator carriers (LHAs and LHDs) are historic USN vessels, the new Enterprise would probably be one of the new America-class LHA or if there is enough petitions, the new CVN-80 could become the new Enterprise.

[Mike]

Signed all petitions to name CVN 79 Enterprise...
But think one of the new America class ships will be named Enterprise.

[Fitzgerald]

A future USS Enterprise will, more than likely, be a carrier as well. The name has become synonymous with them. Like a poster above, seems logical they'll name a future Ford-class supercarrier Enterprise. Certainly as long as there will be a USN there will be a ship called...Enterprise.

As for the USN's curious tradition of ships being named after people, I think it started for two reasons: 1) to make the USN seem different than its parent, the Royal Navy, and 2) to honor particular sailors whose actions are worth emulating, like, in a random example, the USS Samuel G. Roberts (FFG-58) named after a sailor who died while helping save the lives of others.

That's all well and good - honoring and remembering the heroes of the past - but it doesn't make for a very intimidating sounding ship. I mean, what would concern you more, "Sir, the USS Englebert Humperdink is opening fire!" Or, "Sir! The HMS Invincible is on an attack run!"

Oh well. A fighting sailor would say, "Call my ship the USS Lollipop, for all I care, so long as she can fight!"

[specter177]

Oh well. A fighting sailor would say, "Call my ship the USS Lollipop, for all I care, so long as she can fight!"

Hey, don't knock the Lollipop! It's a good ship!