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Science fiction is a beloved genre worldwide, with spaceships playing a key role in its appeal. From interstellar exploration to epic battles, these vessels make space travel possible. Whether they are transport ships, battle cruisers, or exploration crafts, these spaceships are iconic for their sleek designs and groundbreaking capabilities.
Throughout the history of science fiction, audiences have encountered a vast array of ships—from those traveling at faster-than-light speeds to those equipped with powerful weapons and advanced cloaking technologies. The debate over which ship reigns supreme has sparked endless discussions: Could the USS Enterprise defeat a Star Destroyer? Could Serenity outpace the Rocinante? In this article, we settle the score by presenting the ten greatest ships in the genre.
10. The Executor – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Darth Vader’s flagship, the Executor, is a Super Star Destroyer, classified as an Executor-Class Star Dreadnought. This class, created by designer Lira Wessex, was the most formidable in the Imperial fleet. At a length of 62,335 feet (19,000 meters), it could reach speeds of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) before even calculating its hyperdrive route. The Executor-Class ships had a crew of 280,784 and could transport 38,000 soldiers and staff. They also boasted long-range sensors and a self-sustaining supply system for up to six years.
Vader killed Grand General Cassio Tagge, who had been leading the Executer and had opposed the creation of a second Death Star. Afterward, Vader assumed command of the ship and Tagge's fleet. Rebel Alliance intelligence soon uncovered the Empire's efforts to build more than a dozen Executer-Class ships by the time of the Battle of Endor. The ships captured after the Empire’s fall were subsequently dismantled by the New Republic for parts.
9. The Razorback – The Expanse
The Razorback, also called the Screaming Firehawk, stands as one of the fastest vessels in the Expanse universe. A wedge-shaped, modified Series 6 Sunflare ship, it is a racing craft with large engines designed for maximum speed, and it’s most famously piloted by Julie Mao. Measuring around 82 feet (25 meters) in length, this ship is built for speed and accommodates only two passengers.
Chrisjen Avasarala and Bobbie Draper once used the Razorback to flee from Jules-Pierre Mao’s luxury yacht. Later, Bobbie and Alex Kamal piloted the ship for several daring missions. The ship's oversized engines grant it a tactical edge. However, this speed comes at a cost, as the pilot must take a special drug cocktail to endure the high-gravity maneuvers, which ultimately leads to Kamal’s death. While the Razorback’s speed often puts its crew at risk, it has also proven essential in escaping perilous situations.
8. NCC 1701-D The Enterprise – Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek stands as one of the most influential science fiction series of all time, having captivated audiences since the 1960s. Among the numerous Starfleet ships and others named Enterprise, the “D” version remains the most iconic. It boasted 42 decks and could house a crew and passengers totaling 1,014 individuals. With the ability to sustain Warp 9.6 for up to twelve hours, it was a formidable force. Equipped with twelve phaser arrays, two torpedo launchers, 250 photon torpedoes, and hundreds of antimatter mines, it was a powerful vessel.
The ship featured a robust high-capacity shield system, capable of functioning across multiple frequencies. The Enterprise was also designed with the ability to separate its saucer section in times of emergency, offering a variety of tactical possibilities that a single unit could not provide. One of its most remarkable features was the holodecks, which allowed crew members to experience any time, place, or narrative ever conceived. The stories of the crew and their adventures aboard this Enterprise have become legendary in Starfleet lore and science fiction history.
7. Serenity — Firefly
Taking place in the 26th century, this series follows the nine-member crew of the Firefly-class vessel Serenity, a small transport ship operating in a post-Civil War galaxy, earning their livelihood through both lawful and unlawful means. Created by Joss Whedon, the series showcases the ship, which was crafted meticulously from front to back. Owned by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, it is piloted by Hoban “Wash” Washburne, who is married to the ship’s first mate, Zoe Alleyne.
In this universe, technology and interstellar travel are impressive but slow, reminiscent of steamship travel from the Victorian era. Captain Reynolds modified the cargo holds with concealed smuggling compartments that could bypass most scanners. However, it wasn’t just the hidden spaces or comforts that made the Serenity special. With a full tank of fuel and an empty cargo hold, the Serenity could journey as far as 400 A.U. before requiring a refuel—an impressive feat for an outlaw ship in the Verse.
6. Millennium Falcon – Star Wars
Perhaps the most iconic spaceship ever designed, the Millennium Falcon was piloted by Han Solo. Originally dismissed as a ‘hunk of junk,’ the Falcon proved its worth in countless ways. Initially designated YT 492727ZED and known previously as the Stellar Envoy, it was a Corellian YT-1300 light freighter constructed roughly 60 years before it played a pivotal role in destroying the Death Star. Both Han Solo and Lando Calrissian made significant modifications to enhance its comfort, combat effectiveness, and even added hidden smuggling compartments.
The Falcon is legendary not only for completing the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs but also for its direct involvement in the destruction of both Death Stars. Revered as a symbol of resistance and freedom, it has become a staple of galactic lore. Its appearances span across two film trilogies, numerous novels, comic books, and TV series. As one of the fastest and most iconic ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon continues to captivate audiences everywhere.
5. The Battlestar Galactica – Battlestar Galactica
Widely celebrated for its incredibly successful sci-fi reboot, the Battlestar Galactica is an immense generational starship on a quest to find a new home—Earth. This mighty Colonial capital ship merges the roles of an aircraft carrier and a battleship. Deployed amidst the war between the Cylons and the Colonials, the ship became a symbol of resilience. Under the leadership of Commander (later Admiral) Adama, the Galactica survives a devastating nuclear strike, which nearly wipes out humanity.
Adama commands a diverse and resilient fleet of human survivors in their search for the mythical 13th colony—Earth. Aboard the Galactica, the crew includes a full complement of Raptors (military transports) and Vipers (single-pilot fighters), with approximately 5,000 people on board. The Galactica made history as the first and only Colonial ship to execute a faster-than-light jump into and out of a planet's atmosphere. The crew's trials and triumphs aboard the Galactica are as epic as any in science fiction.
4. NCC 75633 The Defiant – Star Trek
The original Defiant, designated NX-74205, was crafted by Starfleet to face the Borg threat. By 2370, the Borg menace had been temporarily neutralized, but tensions with the Dominion were rising. After the devastating Battle of Wolf 359, Captain Benjamin L. Sisko, who had recently been promoted, played a key role in its design and called for its reactivation to confront the impending Dominion conflict.
Although officially categorized as an escort ship, the Defiant earned its reputation as Starfleet's first true warship, heavily fortified for battle. Initially, the ship's excessive armor caused issues, almost tearing itself apart during its early tests. The Defiant boasted an impressive arsenal: four phaser cannons, three phaser emitters, and a total of six photon/quantum torpedo launchers—four forward and two aft.
On top of its formidable weaponry, the Defiant featured ablative armor to complement its energy shields, and it could reach a maximum warp speed of 9.6. The original Defiant met its end during the final season of DS9, but was replaced by the USS Sao Paulo, which was subsequently renamed Defiant NCC 75633. As Commander Riker famously remarked, “That’s one tough little ship!”
3. Old Bessie (The Planet Express Ship) – Futurama
Owned by Professor Farnsworth and painted in a vibrant shade of electric mucus green, Old Bessie has ventured across the vast galaxy, braving black holes, maneuvering through asteroid belts, and exploring uncharted worlds. Unlike conventional ships, she manipulates dark matter and utilizes a dark matter accelerator to bend the universe itself, rather than propelling the ship forward. Well-armored, she features a laser cannon and dual torpedo tubes, though four are depicted inside the ship. Despite her formidable defenses, including resistance to missiles, Old Bessie has been undone by the most unlikely of forces, such as rocks while stationary—thanks to the whims of cartoon logic.
In certain episodes, Bessie takes on a personality of her own, transforming into a self-sufficient, robotic vessel. However, this trait is short-lived. Despite this, Old Bessie remains a powerhouse of technology, equipped with an endless array of gadgets and weapons to aid her crew in completing their complex missions. Her track record of never failing to deliver makes her one of the most iconic spaceships in the science fiction universe.
2. The Rocinante – The Expanse
Initially known as the MCRN Tachi, this ship served on the Martian flagship, the MCRN Donnager, until it was attacked by an unknown enemy. After the assault, a group of prisoners managed to escape aboard the Tachi. Now fugitives of both the Martian and Earth governments, they rebranded their vessel as the Rocinante (Roci).
The ship has a tall and slender design, structured with a floor-by-floor arrangement that begins at the drive cone and reactor, stretching upwards toward the flight deck and sensor systems. Inside, it features a machine shop, galley, crew quarters, medical bay, storage, command center, and flight deck. As a gunship, Roci is armed with a formidable arsenal, including a railgun capable of launching 1-kilogram UNN tungsten rounds at a speed of about 32,742 feet per second (9,980 meters per second). Roci also has six cannons, two torpedo launchers, and four reconnaissance drones, three of which are named Pearl, Lee, and Lifeson.
1. The Tardis – Doctor Who
The TARDIS is best known for one crucial feature: it's much larger inside than outside. Since its debut in 1963, Doctor Who has maintained a lasting legacy through two versions of the Doctor and continues to capture audiences today. TARDIS stands for 'Time and Relative Dimension in Space.' Throughout its journey across time and space, The Doctor and their companions have piloted the TARDIS, making it one of the most iconic time machines in sci-fi history.
The TARDIS is equipped with a 'chameleon circuit,' a technology that alters the ship’s exterior to blend seamlessly into any environment, adjusting to whatever time or place it lands. While the Doctor's TARDIS typically appears as a 1960s-era London police box—a reflection of its British roots—it serves additional functions, like acting as a universal translator.
The TARDIS is famously durable, capable of towing entire ships or even planets and withstanding the immense gravitational forces of black holes. It can also create a 'perception filter' that causes people to overlook its presence. The ship can generate a large, invisible air bubble around its exterior to allow its passengers to survive in environments devoid of oxygen. Additionally, the TARDIS can create bridge-tunnels, providing a safe passage to other ships or space stations.
