USS Enterprise was the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth American naval vessel to bear that name. Commissioned in 1961, she was built at Newport News Shipbuilding, became the longest naval vessel ever built, and stood alone in her class when rising costs ended plans for sister ships. Her unusual design included eight nuclear reactors, four rudders, and the experimental SCANFAR radar system. Early in service she supported John Glenn’s Friendship 7 flight, joined the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine, and circled the globe with the first all-nuclear task force. In the Vietnam War, she became the first nuclear-powered warship to engage in combat before serving more than 55 years.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Newport News, Virginia · USA