Star Trek: 10 Secrets Of The USS Kelvin You Need To Know

According to Star Trek (2009) writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the USS Kelvin had a long legacy after her destruction by the Narada. Scans from the Kelvin's battle with the Narada would inspire Starfleet to develop far more advanced starships than in the counterpart Prime Universe and Star Trek Into Darkness would later reveal that a secret Section 31 archive was named in its honor. Star Trek Beyond also established Kelvin Pods, quick escape craft that really would've come in handy aboard the ill-fated Kelvin.

Another smaller nod to the Kelvin though, was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it bit of set dressing in Star Trek (2009)'s shipyard bar scene. After receiving an "epic beating", pre-Cadet Kirk sits at the bar and stares longingly at a salt shaker adorably made in the shape in the USS Kelvin.

According to designer Ryan Church, despite the care and attention to detail that went into the creation of the Kelvin herself, the art department was rushed to finalize the ship's design in order to allow the props department time to create the salt shakers:

I remember really early on for some reason the Kelvin shows up as a shalt shaker in a bar, so they needed the design to be locked down really early so they could get those salt and pepper shakers made.