NX-Alpha over Earth.
The NX-Alpha, along with the NX-Beta, was one of two test vehicles for used by Earth Starfleet's NX Program.
Several Commanders in Starfleet competed to be chosen as the first to fly the NX-Alpha to break the Warp 2 barrier. After several weeks, it became clear the competition was down to Commander Jonathan Archer and Commander A.G. Robinson. Although Archer had logged more flight hours in the simulator, and it was his father's engine, Commodore Forrest selected A.G. Robinson. Robinson believed it was because they didn't want someone who could follow the rules perfectly of a simulator, but someone who could make the tough decisions.
Cockpit of the NX-Alpha
In 2143, Commander Robinson flew the NX-Alpha in an attempt to break the warp 2 barrier. While Commander Archer monitored from Starfleet command, they ran several diagnostics on the NX-Alpha's systems. Initially, there was an imbalance in the power systems, causing them to keep the NX-Alpha in orbit. When they finally gave him the okay, he 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 farther. After attaining warp 2.2, the NX-Alpha broke up just outside of orbit of Jupiter. Luckily, Robinson was able to escape in an escape pod that was retrieved and brought back to Earth.
The destruction of NX-Alpha
Afterwards, the Vulcans 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, where as several other officers believed it may have been pilot error. The results of the NX-Alpha's mission eventually led to the unapproved flight of the NX-Beta. (ENT: "First Flight")
- The command module of the NX-Alpha (identical to that of the NX-Beta) was a redressed version of the Phoenix's command module from Star Trek: First Contact.
Template:NXClassStarships