This article is about the guiding principle in the fictional Star Trek universe. For other uses of Prime Directive see Prime Directive (disambiguation).

In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets; The Prime Directive dictates that there be no interference with the natural development of any primitive society, chiefly meaning that no primitive culture can be given or exposed to any information regarding advanced technology or alien races. It also forbids any effort to improve or change in any way the natural course of such a society, even if that change is well-intentioned and kept completely secret. 'Primitive' is defined as any culture which has not yet attained warp drive. Starfleet allows scientific missions to investigate and move amongst pre-warp civilizations as long as no advanced technology is left behind, and there is no interference with events or no revelation of their identity. Prime Directive may refer to: Prime Directive – the guiding principle of Star Treks Starfleet Prime Directive (RPG) – a role playing game Prime Directive (album) – an album by the Dave Holland Quartet This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... Star Trek: The Animated Series is an animated science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ... List of Star Trek: The Animated Series episodes This is a list of episodes from the fictional animated television, Star Trek: The Animated Series, set in the Star Trek universe. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... The starship Enterprise (NX-01) Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ... This list of Star Trek: Enterprise episodes is accompanied by each episodes original airdate on UPN in the United States, along with its Nielsen rating, and number of viewers. ... Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Paramount Pictures, 1979; see also 1979 in film) is the first feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series and is released on Friday, December 7. ... Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures, 1982; see also 1982 in film) is the second feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Paramount Pictures, 1984; see also 1984 in film) is the third feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Paramount Pictures, 1986; see also 1986 in film) is the fourth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Paramount Pictures, 1989; see also 1989 in film) is the fifth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Paramount Pictures, 1991; see also 1991 in film) is the sixth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek: Generations (Paramount Pictures, 1994, see also 1994 in film) is the seventh feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek: Insurrection (Paramount Pictures, 1998) is the ninth Star Trek feature film. ... Star Trek Nemesis (Paramount Pictures, 2002; see also 2002 in film) is the tenth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek XI is the working title of the planned eleventh entry in the Star Trek film series, based upon Gene Roddenberrys famous science fiction franchise. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... Romulans are a fictional alien species in the Star Trek universe. ... Klingons (Klingon: tlhIngan) are a warrior race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... A Tholian (as depicted in the Original Series) Tholians are a starfaring and extremely territorial race in the Star Trek fictional universe. ... The Gorn which Captain Kirk fought in Arena In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Gorn are intelligent reptilian humanoids from the Gorn Hegemony. ... In the Star Trek universe, the Q Continuum is an extradimensional plane of existence inhabited by a race of omnipotent, immortal and omniscient hyperintelligent godlike beings known as the Q. Although they have individual, flawed personalities (they seem prone to arrogance, for instance) their power seems unlimited (I have unlimited... Ferengi on Star Trek: The Next Generation The Ferengi are a fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Kazon Emblem In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Kazon are a Delta Quadrant race. ... Cardassians, a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe, and the Cardassian Union were introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Wounded. Cardassians were one of the main parts of the storyline in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... Kira Nerys Bajorans, a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe, were introduced in the Next Generation series and played an integral part in the Deep Space Nine series. ... Jadzia Dax is a Trill who carries the Dax symbiont. ... The Hirogen are a fictional race in the Star Trek universe. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ... Breen soldier appearing on Star Trek: Deep Space 9 The Breen are a species in the science fiction franchise Star Trek. ... The Xindi are an alien race in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... This article or section may need to be cleaned up and rewritten because it describes a work of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. ... The Star Trek Expanded Universe is an unofficial, fan-created term to describe an extrapolation of events which occur in the Star Trek Universe outside the scope of the television series and feature films. ... Star Trek novels have been a part of the Star Trek franchise since the beginning. ... Although books, comic books, video games, and other material based on Star Trek are generally considered to be non-canon, there are several which deserve mentioning. ... // Video games Throughout the years, the influence of Star Trek has expanded sufficiently to warrant the creation of a long series of PC games. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A Star Trek RPG or Star Trek Role Playing Game is a role-playing game in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... TOS TrekMUSE an online text-based virtual reality game based in the Star Trek universe. ... This article deals with fan-made productions using elements of the Star Trek franchise. ... This article is an attempt to list every Star Trek episode from every form of media in order by stardate. ... This article is an attempt to list every Star Trek story from every form of media taking place after 2200 but before Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... This article is an attempt to list every Star Trek story from every form of media taking place from Star Trek: The Motion Picture through 2300 in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... This article is an attempt to list every 2301-2367 Star Trek story from every form of media in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... This article is an attempt to list every 2368-2371 Star Trek story from every form of media in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... This article is an attempt to list every Star Trek story from every form of media taking place from 2372 through 2374 in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... This article is an attempt to list every Star Trek story from every form of media taking place after 2370 in the order they occurred (not necessarily by stardate). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The below is an abridged timeline of events established in the group of television shows and feature films set in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Telepathy is the communication of messages or thoughts directly from one mind to another. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopaedia entry. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Other Starfleet ship classes be merged into this article or section. ... The page contains further material on the subject of Star Trek. ... Star Trek is one of the most culturally influential television shows – and perhaps the most influential science fiction TV series – in history. ... Gene Roddenberry was an ardent proponent of egalitarian politics, and frequently used the shows to showcase his vision of a future society based on those principles. ... Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term that in recent decades has been used to describe a fan of the Star Trek science fiction franchise. ... The term Trekdom refers to Fandom in association to Star Trek. ... A fictional universe is a cohesive imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction. ... Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the General Orders of Star Fleet are a list of very important standing orders that members of Starfleet must ensure are followed throughout all operations. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, currently used by the SETI project in the search for extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial life is life that may exist and originate outside the planet Earth, the only place in the universe currently known to support life. ... In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the warp drive is a form of faster-than-light (FTL) propulsion. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ...

Varying Definitions

The Prime Directive is never stated within the show, this is to allow writers a greater freedom in defining it and using it.

The Prime Directive may have many other tenets aside from interfering in the destiny of other worlds, it actually applies to ALL civilizations and life forms as Picard discusses the viral destruction of the Borg in "I, Borg" as possibly violating the Prime Directive. The Prime Directive also applied, loosely, during the Civil Wars of the Klingon and Romulan empires to varying degrees. I, Borg was an episode of the television show Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

The Vulcans may have originated the Prime Directive visiting Earth in First Contact, since it was Earth's use of Warp Drive that prompted the visit. First contact can refer to: an astronomical phenomenon - see first contact (astronomy) the first meeting of members of two different civilisations - see First contact (anthropology) a theme of science fiction literature - see First contact (science fiction) an episode from the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation dealing with...

Origins

It appears that the non-interference concept originated with Vulcans and predated the formation of the Federation in 2161 but did not exist on pre-Federation Earth. The Prime Directive was not actually written into law until some years after the formation of the Federation — in the original series episode "A Piece of the Action", an early Federation ship visits a primitive planet and leaves behind several items which alter the planet's culture significantly (as did the book Chicago Mobs Of The Twenties, which the inhabitants quickly seized upon as a blueprint for their entire society). This article or section may need to be cleaned up and rewritten because it describes a work of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... A Piece of the Action is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series first broadcast on January 12, 1968. ...

In real life, the creation of the Prime Directive is generally credited to Gene L. Coon, although there is some contention as to whether science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon, who wrote of the Prime Directive in an unused script for the original series, actually came up with it first. (In fact, the Prime Directive appears fully-formed as much as two decades earlier in Robert A. Heinlein's 1948 novel Space Cadet, which describes a military organization very similar to Star Trek's Starfleet). The Prime Directive closely mirrors the zoo hypothesis explanation for the Fermi paradox. Gene L. Coon (7 January 1924-8 July 1973) was an American screenwriter and television producer. ... Theodore Sturgeon (February 26, 1918 – May 8, 1985) was an American science fiction author. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Space Cadet is a 1948 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about Matt Dodson, who joins the Space Patrol that keeps the peace in the solar system. ... Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... The zoo hypothesis is one of a number of suggestions that have been advanced in response to the Fermi Paradox, regarding the apparent absence of evidence in support of the existence of advanced extraterrestrial life. ... A graphical representation of the Arecibo message - Humanitys first attempt to communicate its existence to alien civilizations The Fermi paradox is the apparent contradiction between high estimates of the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and the lack of evidence for or contact with such civilizations. ...

Discussion

Star Trek stories have used the Prime Directive as a literary device which allows the exploration of interactions with less advanced societies without the heroes having the overwhelming advantage of easy access to and use of their technology. Since Star Trek has consistently used alien interactions as an allegory for the real world, the Prime Directive has served as a template to tell stories which resemble those of real human societies and their interactions with less technologically advanced societies, such as the interaction between advanced cultures and indigenous peoples. In the philosophical view of Star Trek, no matter how well intentioned the more advanced peoples are, interaction between advanced technology and a more primitive society is invariably destructive. Star Trek is an American science-fiction franchise spanning six television series, ten feature films, hundreds of novels, computer and video games, and other fan stories. ... An allegory (from Greek αλλος, allos, other, and αγορευειν, agoreuein, to speak in public) is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than (and in addition to) the literal. ...

In the fictional storyline, the Prime Directive was created by Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets shortly after they were first formed. Since then the Prime Directive has been broken on many occasions intentionally and unintentionally. Sometimes when a Federation starship or vessel crashes on a planet that has a pre-warp civilization the survivors or the wreckage are collected by the natives and this then influences their society, especially when Federation technology is recovered and added to the technology of the planet. Sometimes the Directive is deliberately violated; circa stardate 2534.0 (2266), cultural observer and historian John Gill openly created a regime based on Nazi Germany on a primitive planet in a misguided effort to create a more benign version of the original. However, the intervention proved disastrous with the regime adopting the same racial supremacist and genocidal ideologies of the original. Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... Stardate is one of the dating conventions used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

By the time of the era of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Prime Directive was indicated to apply not only to just pre-warp civilizations, but to any culture with whom Starfleet comes into contact. In such situations, the Prime Directive forbids any involvement with a civilization without the expressed consent or invitation of the lawful leaders of that society, and absolutely forbids any involvement whatsoever in the internal politics of a civilization. This understanding of the Prime Directive resembles the concept of Westphalian sovereignty in political science. For example, when the provisional government of the planet Bajor experienced a power struggle that nearly led to civil war, Deep Space Nine Commander Ben Sisko's superior explicitly cited the Prime Directive, and ordered him to evacuate all Starfleet personnel from the station, as the situation was deemed internal to Bajor, even though it was known that the Cardassians were supplying weapons to one side. An earlier example occurred when the Klingon Empire experienced a brief civil war of its own, and Captain Picard refused Chancellor Gowron's request of aid for the same reason, even though he was the legitimate ruler of the Empire, and even though the Romulans were suspected of supplying weapons to the opposing side. (Although the Prime Directive was not explicitly mentioned, it is presumable that this was the pertinent basis for Picard's refusal, in light of the latter example on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.) The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... It has been suggested that Westphalianism be merged into this article or section. ... A typical major city on Bajor In the fictional Star Trek universe, Bajor (IPA: /bedʒoɹ/ or /beʒoɹ/) is the homeworld of the Bajorans. ... Deep Space Nine (DS9) In the Star Trek fictional universe, Deep Space Nine (or DS9 for short) is a space station. ... Captain Benjamin Sisko Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe, played by Avery Brooks. ... Damar of the Cardassian Union, prior to launching a revolution against the Dominion. ... Klingons (Klingon: tlhIngan) are a warrior race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard Jean-Luc Picard is a character in the Star Trek fictional universe, the captain of the USS Enterprise-D and the Enterprise_E. He was played by British actor Patrick Stewart in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and resulting films. ... Gowron is a fictional character of the Star Trek universe. ... Introduction The Romulans, a fictional race in the Star Trek universe, are descended from Vulcans and are characterized as being deceitful, cunning, and treacherous. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ...

On Star Trek: Voyager, the Prime Directive was used more than once as a plot device as well, and on more than one occasion, Captain Janeway also applied the Prime Directive to a situation which clearly did not involve a pre-warp civilization. Also, in at least two different situations, the Prime Directive or a policy similar to it was used against Janeway and her crew, wherein they encountered civilizations that had technology which could shorten their journey home, but were denied access to it because the alien cultures likewise had policies against sharing advanced technology with other races. The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... Kathryn Janeway (Born: May 20, 2336 in Bloomington, Indiana), a fictional character of the Star Trek universe played by Kate Mulgrew, was the commanding officer (with the rank of Captain) of the USS Voyager NCC-74656 (2371-2378) in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. ...

The Prime Directive is superseded by only one other directive, the Omega Directive. The Omega Directive is a fictional order that permits Starfleet Captains to ignore the Prime Directive and destroy it at all costs. ...

Implications

The concept of non-interference can be seen to prevent foreign contamination of native unique language and customs. On the other hand, dedication to non-interference has been shown to go beyond this. The dedication is such that by 2364 Starfleet had allowed six races to die out. Customs duty is a tariff or tax on the import or export of goods. ...

In at least one case (TOS episode 'A Private Little War'), where two different factions of one race were at war with each other, the Prime Directive had been interpreted to mean that neither side could have an advantage, that there had to be a balance of power. With this race, when it was found that Klingons were furnishing one portion of the race with advanced weapons, Kirk responded by arming the other faction with the same weapons. This resulted in an arms race on that world, and was seen as a fictionalized parallel to the then-current Cold War arms race, in which the United States often armed one side of a dispute and the Soviet Union responded by arming the other. Klingons (Klingon: tlhIngan) are a warrior race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... For other uses, please see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

On a planet that had two indigenous sentient species, the more advanced one was suffering from a degenerative genetic disorder. A cure was not pursued because it was determined that the more advanced species was genetically stagnant, and that the lesser one was genetically progressive. It was viewed as contrary to nature to help the dying race. Despite the fact that this event took place in the series Star Trek: Enterprise, before the formation of both the Federation and the Prime Directive, it reflects the views of space-faring humans and their allies in the years leading up to the creation of the Federation (ENT episode "Dear Doctor"). The eight planets and three dwarf planets of the Solar System, alongside the Sun. ... Sentience is the capacity for basic consciousness -- the ability to feel or perceive, not necessarily including the faculty of self-awareness. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... The starship Enterprise (NX-01) Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ...

In another case, a starship stood by and watched as the loss of a planet's atmosphere was about to wipe out the last remaining members of a primitive civilization, rather than interfere to save their lives (TNG episode "Homeward"). However, the Federation observer refused to stand by, and violated the Prime Directive by saving a small group of that civilization. The fictional starship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) from Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Cities are a major hallmark of human civilization. ... Homeward is the title of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, from the seventh season. ...

There are different conclusions as to the purpose of non-interference. One is that the ends do not justify the means. No matter how well-intentioned, stepping in and effecting change could have disastrous consequences. Another conclusion (strongly implied in the ENT episode "Dear Doctor") is a belief that evolution has a 'plan' of sorts, driving species toward purposes. Interference would therefore be unnatural, in that it would go against what is supposed to happen to the species in question. A phylogenetic tree of all extant organisms, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, showing the evolutionary history of the three domains of life, bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. ...

Some may see the Prime Directive as a negative policy, because it prevents introduction of technology (especially medical technology), culture, and resources that may improve quality of life. It also has been considered an attitude of moral cowardice by the Federation — that the Prime Directive gives the Federation an excuse not to act. During the brutal Cardassian occupation of Bajor in the early 24th century, the Federation refused to act on the grounds that the occupation was an internal matter of the Cardassian government and to help the Bajorans would violate the Prime Directive. Many Bajorans resented the Federation for years after the occupation because of this attitude. Those in favor of the Prime Directive have said that no one has the right to impose their own standards on others and it is hardly moral cowardice to keep to a difficult, but ultimately beneficial principle in the face of temptation. Cardassians, a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe, and the Cardassian Union were introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Wounded. Cardassians were one of the main parts of the storyline in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... A typical major city on Bajor In the fictional Star Trek universe, Bajor (IPA: /bedÊ’oɹ/ or /beÊ’oɹ/) is the homeworld of the Bajorans. ... The 24th century (Gregorian Calendar) comprises the years 2301-2400. ... Kira Nerys Bajorans, a race of humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe, were introduced in the Next Generation series and played an integral part in the Deep Space Nine series. ...

Inconsistent application

One clearly valid complaint regarding the Prime Directive is that it is inconsistently applied, depending on a planet's strategic importance or the circumstances in which a starship crew finds itself. For example, Captain Kirk was ordered to make contact with the seemingly pre-industrial Organians in Errand of Mercy. In addition, Kirk directly interfered with the laws or customs of alien worlds in Friday's Child, For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky, The Cloud Minders, The Apple, The Return of the Archons, and A Taste of Armageddon, in order to achieve a Federation objective, to save the lives of his crew, or both. Errand of Mercy is an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on March 16, 1967. ... Fridays Child is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... The Cloud Minders is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast on February 28, 1969. ... The Apple is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... The Return of the Archons is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ... A Taste of Armageddon is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. ...

Nevertheless, when the Federation does interfere, regardless of the circumstances that prompted such actions, Starfleet usually attempts to minimize any possible cultural contamination. In The Paradise Syndrome, the Enterprise attempts to save a pre-industrial planet by moving an asteroid that was on a collision course with it. In Homeward and Star Trek: Insurrection, in which pre-industrial or seemingly pre-industrial civilizations were to be secretly relocated, the plan was to use holodeck simulations of their home planets during transit. In Pen Pals, Captain Picard rectifies contact with an inhabitant of a pre-warp planet by ordering her memory wiped. When contamination became too serious to be fixed by memory wipes, Captain Picard decided to make direct contact with a civilization's leaders in Who Watches the Watchers? and First Contact. Finally, in Natural Law, the Voyager crew took measures to ensure the protected isolation of a primitive people, even from a more advanced civilization who share the same planet. The Paradise Syndrome is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, and was broadcast October 4, 1968. ... Homeward is the title of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, from the seventh season. ... Star Trek: Insurrection (Paramount Pictures, 1998) is the ninth Star Trek feature film. ... Pen Pals is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast on May 1, 1989. ... Who Watches the Watchers is a third season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast on October 16, 1989. ... First Contact is a fourth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Natural Law is the title of the 168th episode of the Star Trek spinoff series, Star Trek: Voyager. ...

In contrast, the TNG episode Justice did not fully explain whether the Edo people were pre-warp or were aware of offworld space travelers. If the case is the former, then when Wesley Crusher is sentenced to death, the violation of the Prime Directive has already occurred and the issue of rescuing him, while politically exacerbating matters, would be moot in terms of the Directive. Justice is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast November 9, 1987. ... Wesley Eugene Crusher is a character on the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

While no prosecution for a violation of the Prime Directive was ever seen on Star Trek television series or films, Picard's nine documented violations are held as evidence against him during a witch-hunt investigation in The Drumhead. Additionally, the non-canonical novel Prime Directive, by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, deals with the political and career fallout from a violation allegedly committed by Kirk. The Drumhead was the 95th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and also the 21st episode of the shows 4th season. ...

Usage of the term in other science fiction

• Jack Williamson's novel The Humanoids features invulnerable robots who ruthlessly follow the "Prime Directive", which is to "serve and protect" all humans. It is more closely related to the Three Laws of Robotics. This book was published in 1949, so it predates Star Trek. In The Humanoids and its sequel The Humanoid Touch (1980), the Prime Directive is rather sinister, because the Humanoids take extreme measures to protect humans. This protection even goes against the wishes of the humans being protected. They do succeed in stopping all wars and running a perfect economy. However, potentially dangerous activities such as skydiving or using power tools are strictly forbidden. The Humanoids are so well-designed that all human attempts to thwart them fail. The humans being protected usually disapprove of the Humanoids' restrictions, but any active protesters are drugged into submission.

• In the film RoboCop, the title character, a deceased police officer brought back to life as a cyborg, was programmed to follow four (unrelated) prime directives.

• In the Babylon 5 science fiction universe, there isn't any actual Prime Directive for most of the races featured in the series. However the concept of keeping advanced technology from the less advanced races was at times used to keep technology out of the hands of those who were not ready for it.
  • In the episode, "Deathwalker", a renegade Dilgar scientist named Jha'dur, who is modeled on the notorious sadistic Nazi scientist Josef Mengele^{[citation needed]}, is captured but bargains her freedom with a breakthrough medication that grants immortality. Before her medication can be mass-produced, she is killed by the Vorlons. Ambassador Kosh tells an assembled audience 'You are not ready for immortality'.
  • When Epsilon III was discovered to be harboring a gigantic machine in the two part episode "A Voice in the Wilderness," it is discovered that a living being named Varn had integrated himself with the machine to act as a CPU for the machine. Because this being was dying, the Minbari Draal took the place of Varn as the CPU. In space, a battle was taking place over ownership of the machine. The Earth Alliance was fighting to keep criminals that were the same species as Varn from taking the planet. Draal appeared to everyone involved in the dispute. He said that because the planet's technology would give an unfair advantage to any one race, that the planet was off limits to all.
  • After the Vorlons had left the galaxy, a number of people attempted to travel to Vorlon to lay claim to the advanced technology there. The planet's automated defense systems destroyed those who approached the planet. In the episode "The Fall of Centauri Prime", Lyta explains that humanity was not presently meant to have Vorlon technology. She went on to say that humanity would be unable to go to Vorlon until they were ready, which would be at least one million years after the events of the series.

• In the Ender's Game series, the Starways Congress established the law that no alien culture found is to be provided with superior technology or any information about the human society in order to preserve the natural development of the culture.

• In Futurama, The Democratic Order of Planets' "Brannigan's Law" is a parody of the Prime Directive, and prohibits interfering with undeveloped worlds. Zapp Brannigan, after whom the law is named, states that "I don't pretend to understand Brannigan's law; I merely enforce it."

• In the Animorphs series, the Law of Seerow's Kindness was passed by the Andalites to outlaw the passing of technology to alien species. This law was a consequence of Seerow's Kindness, in which an Andalite named Prince Seerow gave the Yeerks advanced technology, leading directly to their sudden rise in galactic importance.

• In the Stargate Universe the Prime Directive as portrayed by Star Trek is hard to follow, as the Stargate network allows even relatively unadvanced civilizations to traverse interstellar distances; in the Pegasus Galaxy, even the least advanced groups can operate the Stargate, and attitudes toward a noninterference policy vary throughought.
  • The Tau'ri, or humans of Earth, have a totally opposite spin on interference than the Federation, holding it to be Earth's duty to assist humans on other planets, and most other non-hostile races, wherever possible in whatever way possible. However, they never share technology without good reason, and are often hesitant to give potentially dangerous technology such as weapons or strategically important materials away. The relatively middling nature of Earth technology, and the suddenness with which Earth became a major interstellar player may have something to do with this attitude. In any event, the Tau'ri are wary of following in the footsteps of the Goa'uld, who pose as gods on less-advanced worlds.
  • The Tollan followed a policy effectively the same as the Prime Directive, following the destruction of a neighboring planet caused by the misuse of power-generating technology given to them by the Tollan.
  • The Asgard dislike sharing their most of their technology, but nevertheless were willing to give technology in gratitude to an inferior race; this is how Earth got its hyperdrive and power source for that hyperdrive.
  • It is unknown whether the Ancients shared much technology pre-Ascension, but post-Ascension they adopted a policy of strict noninterference for any reason, as a consequence of their belief in reason and the generally deontological mindset they tended to express.
  • The Ori, on the other hand, flaunt the technological benefits of Ascension; while it cannot strictly be said that they share technology, they do interfere with the less-advanced.

• Sylvia Louise Engdahl's novel Enchantress from the Stars also features the Prime Directive. A member of the original crew is killed upon landing on a primitive planet, Andrecia, when she is shot at. She dies without defending herself despite being able to shield herself using advanced technology.

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External links

• Prime Directive article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki.