Science fiction is one of the most beloved entertainment genres worldwide, and spaceships are an essential part of its appeal. After all, space exploration wouldn’t be possible without some kind of vehicle. Whether designed for transport, warfare, or discovery, these ships make interstellar adventures possible. Many of them boast sleek designs and incredible capabilities, capturing the imagination of fans everywhere.
Sci-fi enthusiasts have encountered countless iconic ships across the galaxy and beyond, from vessels equipped with lightspeed travel and phaser cannons to those with cloaking technology. The debate over which ship reigns supreme has raged for decades—could the Enterprise go head-to-head with a Star Destroyer? Would Serenity outmaneuver the Rocinante? It’s time to settle the argument once and for all. Here are the ten greatest spaceships in science fiction!
7. The Executer – Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi
Darth Vader’s personal flagship, the Executor, is a Super Star Destroyer (also classified as an Executor-Class Star Dreadnought). Designed by Lira Wessex, this was the most formidable vessel in the Imperial fleet. Stretching an astonishing 19,000 meters (62,335 feet) in length, it could reach speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) before making a hyperdrive jump. With a crew of 280,784 and room for 38,000 troops, the Executor was a powerhouse of destruction.
Initially commanded by Grand General Cassio Tagge, Vader seized control of the ship after Tagge voiced opposition to constructing a second Death Star. By the Battle of Endor, intelligence suggested that over a dozen Executor-class ships had been built, though those that survived the Empire’s downfall were later dismantled for parts by the New Republic.
6. The Razorback – The Expanse
Also known as the Screaming Firehawk, the Razorback is one of the fastest ships in The Expanse universe. A wedge-shaped, heavily modified Series 6 Sunflare racing vessel, it was optimized for speed and famously piloted by Julie Mao. At just 25 meters (82 feet) in length, it had room for only two passengers but excelled in high-speed maneuverability.
Chrisjen Avasarala and Bobbie Draper once used the Razorback to escape Jules-Pierre Mao’s yacht, and later, Bobbie and Alex Kamal piloted it on several missions. However, its high-speed capabilities came with a price—pilots needed to inject themselves with a drug cocktail to withstand the G-forces, a factor that ultimately led to Kamal’s death. The Razorback might be too fast for its own good, but it has helped its crew survive some dire situations.
5. NCC-1701-D The Enterprise – Star Trek: The Next Generation
As one of the most iconic ships in science fiction, the Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation was a technological marvel. With 42 decks and a crew complement of 1,014, this Galaxy-class starship could maintain Warp 9.6 for up to twelve hours. It was armed with twelve phaser arrays, two torpedo launchers, 250 photon torpedoes, and hundreds of antimatter mines.
Its high-capacity shield grid could operate across multiple frequencies, and its ability to separate the saucer section provided tactical advantages in emergencies. Perhaps one of its most fascinating features was the holodeck, which allowed crew members to fully immerse themselves in any simulated environment. The adventures of the Enterprise-D and its crew remain legendary within the Star Trek universe.
4. Serenity – Firefly
In the Firefly universe, interstellar travel is reminiscent of the Victorian-era steamship age—slow and treacherous. The Firefly-class vessel Serenity is a small but reliable transport ship, home to a crew of nine misfits led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds.
Designed by series creator Joss Whedon, Serenity is piloted by Hoban “Wash” Washburne and outfitted with hidden smuggling compartments capable of evading most scanners. Despite its modest size, the ship can travel up to 400 astronomical units on a full tank—an impressive range for an outlaw ship trying to stay under the radar.
3. Millennium Falcon – Star Wars
Arguably the most famous spaceship in sci-fi history, the Millennium Falcon is the beloved YT-1300 Corellian light freighter piloted by Han Solo. Though dismissed as a “hunk of junk,” it has repeatedly proven its worth.
Once known as the Stellar Envoy, the Falcon was modified by both Lando Calrissian and Han Solo for speed, comfort, and smuggling. It famously made the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs and played a critical role in the destruction of both Death Stars. A symbol of freedom across the galaxy, the Falcon remains one of sci-fi’s fastest and most recognizable ships.
2. Battlestar Galactica – Battlestar Galactica
In Battlestar Galactica, this Colonial capital ship functions as both an aircraft carrier and a battleship, surviving a near-genocidal nuclear attack by the Cylons. Under the command of Admiral Adama, the Galactica leads a ragtag fleet of human survivors in search of the fabled 13th colony—Earth.
Equipped with both Raptor transport ships and Viper starfighters, the Galactica remains one of the only Colonial vessels capable of executing a faster-than-light (FTL) jump into and out of a planet’s atmosphere, cementing its place in sci-fi history.
1. NCC-75633 The Defiant – Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Originally designated NX-74205, The Defiant was developed by Starfleet as a response to the Borg threat but was later repurposed to combat the Dominion. Heavily armored and classified as an escort ship, it became Starfleet’s first dedicated warship.
Armed with four phaser cannons, quantum torpedoes, and ablative armor, the Defiant was one of the most formidable ships in Starfleet. Though the original was destroyed, it was later replaced by the USS Sao Paulo, renamed Defiant NCC-75633 in honor of its predecessor.
