Star Trek: The Original Series did not establish the existence of the United Federation of Planets until late in the show's first season. Following the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the USS Enterprise, Star Trek: The Original Series laid the groundwork for every Star Trek series and film that followed. When he first created Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry had no way of knowing how massive the franchise would become, and the series was not overly concerned with establishing an official canon.
In part because of the television landscape of the 1960s, Star Trek: The Original Series told mostly standalone stories. Very few plotlines carried over from one episode to another, and the show even occasionally contradicted itself in minor ways. Nevertheless, TOS did establish the existence of Starfleet and the Federation, but it took several episodes before these organizations were finalized. The organization now known as Starfleet initially went through several different names, and the Federation was not even mentioned until TOS season 1, episode 18, "Arena."
Star Trek: The Original Series Didn't Mention The Federation Until "Arena"
The Full Name Of The United Federation Of Planets Came Even Later
"Arena" is a particularly iconic episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, thanks to the memorable battle between Captain Kirk and the Gorn Captain. The episode follows Kirk and his crew as they investigate the Cestus III Outpost and find it completely destroyed. When the unknown attacker begins firing on the Enterprise, Kirk realizes that the Gorn have lured his ship there. He remarks that "the Enterprise is the only protection in this section of the Federation," suggesting that the Gorn attack could be a prelude to invasion.
Captain Kirk mentions the Federation again later, noting that if they do not retaliate against the Gorn, the aliens could continue "attacking other Federation installations." "Arena" does not define the Federation, but the way Kirk talks about it suggests it is an interstellar organization of planets that includes Earth. Kirk only refers to the organization as "the Federation." Its full name of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is not established until several episodes later, in TOS season 1, episode 23, "A Taste of Armageddon."
What Did The Enterprise Represent Before Star Trek Mentioned The Federation?
Presumably, It Was Assumed The Enterprise Was Representing Earth And/Or Starfleet
Within the Star Trek universe, the Enterprise always represented the Federation, as the UFP was formally established in 2161, per Star Trek: Enterprise. In reality, of course, TOS aired first, and it took several episodes for the show to establish what organization the Enterprise was representing. Although the Federation was not mentioned until late in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, Starfleet pops up a couple of episodes earlier. The term Starfleet Command was first used in TOS season 1, episodes 11 and 12, "The Menagerie," although the organization is also referred to by several other names.As most of the crew members aboard the Enterprise were human, it was likely assumed that the ship was representing Earth. In Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 13, "The Conscience of the King," Starfleet is referred to as "Star Service" and "Spacefleet Command." In episode 11, "Miri," the organization is referred to as "Space Central," and is also called "Space Command" and "Space Service" in other season 1 episodes. Gene Roddenberry and the writers of Star Trek: The Original Series tried out several variations before they settled on Starfleet, and then established the Federation a few episodes later.
