The USS Grissom (NCC-638) was an Template:ShipClass science vessel (classified as a scout) in service during the late 23rd century.
The ship was commanded by Captain J.T. Esteban. In 2285, the Grissom was assigned to perform a clandestine survey of the Genesis Planet, with Genesis scientist David Marcus and Lieutenant Saavik aboard as consultants.
Shortly after discovering Spock's regenerated body on the planet, the Grissom was destroyed by a rogue Klingon Bird-of-Prey, with all hands lost, except for Marcus and Saavik, who had transported down to the planet. Marcus was later killed by a Klingon. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
The rogue Bird-of-prey was commandeered by Kruge, a renegade Klingon commander who wished to obtain the Genesis torpedo to be used as a weapon of mass destruction. A faulty order to his gunner caused the total destruction of Grissom. Furious at the annihilation of the Federation ship and the impossibility of seizing hostages, Kruge immediately disintegrated the protesting gunner, who called the destructive shot "lucky."
USS Grissom personnel
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Appendices
Background
According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, the USS Grissom was named after 20th century astronaut Gus Grissom, one of the original Mercury Seven, and the designated commander of the aborted Apollo 1 mission, who died in the tragic Apollo 1 fire.
Apocrypha
A later, Template:ShipClass USS Grissom is featured in the Star Trek: New Frontier novel Once Burned. This may be the ship mentioned destroyed during the Dominion War in DS9: "Field of Fire".
External link
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