The USS Mitchell was named after...

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ken.

Yes, that one.

Not only that, but they gave him and his family the original concept model of the ship. Linky

I always suspected the Mitchell was named after him. Now we have proof. Very classy move by the showrunners.

Fun fact: The signatures were limited to the bottom of the saucer...so the name USS Mitchell would stand out on top.

 

[Sci]

That's really beautiful.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I'd love the Mitchell to come under the command of Saru in season 5. It deserves to be a hero ship.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I wonder what significance, if any, the Mitchell's registry number (NCC-325027) has.

 

[SJGardner]

I remember him saying he would appear in Season 4 "in a very special way", and at first I was a little bummed when a ship bearing his name was only mentioned. But then it appeared in all its glory to help evacuate Earth and it made me really happy. It was a beautiful homage.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I guess in-universe it's named for Kirk's buddy?

 

[Tuskin38]

I guess in-universe it's named for Kirk's buddy?

Why would they name a ship after a villain?

 

[The Wormhole]

Why would they name a ship after a villain?

Gary Mitchell wasn't a villain according to the official record, Kirk just listed him as a casualty and didn't mention the fact he tried to kill everyone.

Though somehow the crew of the Cerritos found out.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have no problem with assuming the Mitchell was named after Ken both in and out-universe.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Captain Kenneth Mitchell, hero of the Temporal Wars.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

I guess in-universe it's named for Kirk's buddy?

You do know how common a surname Mitchell is right?

 

[E-DUB]

Probably after this guy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell

 

[Sci]

Probably after this guy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell

Or it could be Edgar Mitchell, the pilot for the Lunar Module Antares aboard Apollo 14 and the sixth human being to walk on the surface of Luna. Or a million other notable people named "Mitchell."

 

[Sci]

Though really if we're gonna take this in the spirit in which it's intended, we should probably just assume that Kenneth Mitchell was a famous, well-remembered actor in the Star Trek Universe as well, and that the USS Mitchell is named in his honor.

 

[E-DUB]

Well, yesterday was Elizabeth Mitchell's birthday.

 

[Timofnine]

Phil, Grant and Peggy?