USS Excelsior (prototype)

The USS Excelsior (NCC-2000) was a Federation starship in service from the late 23rd to (at least the last quarter of) the 24th century. Originally dubbed the "Great Experiment", Excelsior was the first Starfleet ship fitted with transwarp drive. Though the "experiment" apparently failed, the vessel played a role in the historic Khitomer Accords and became the prototype for heavy cruisers, serving the front lines of Federation exploration and defense efforts until the end of the 24th century. 
 * Some fans debate the apparent failure of the transwarp drive, but the  mentions that the Excelsior showed different computer display graphics on the bridge in Star Trek VI, indicating that it was no longer equipped with transwarp drive.

Late 2280s
From its relaunch until late 2289, Captain Lawrence H. Styles commanded Excelsior, with Commander Hikaru Sulu serving as first officer. ( novel: )

In 2289, Excelsior ferried relief crews to the Gorn nestworld, which had been decimated by the Kelvan War. {Orion Press: In Harm's Way)

2290s
Beginning in 2290, Excelsior was under the command of Captain Hikaru Sulu. It was then assigned to a three-year shakedown cruise, cataloguing gaseous anomalies in planetary atmospheres in the Beta Quadrant. The Excelsior design was so successful that it was put into mass production; by the 24th century, numerous Excelsior-class vessels were in Starfleet service.

On his graduation from Starfleet Academy, Luciano Mantovanni was posted to Excelsior as weapons officer, on the recommendation of James T. Kirk. (Star Trek: Liberty: "Winning the Exchange", "Rank and Privilege")

24th century
In May 2302, Excelsior transported Admiral Alexander Rosenzweig to Starbase 7 to assume command of the Starfleet Seventh Fleet. (Star Trek: Avenger: "Back in the Saddle Again")

A Commander Rachel Garrett — though not the woman of the same name who was newly in command of the USS — was second officer of Excelsior in 2333. ( novel: )

Captain Hiromi Sulu was Excelsior's commanding officer in the 2340s and 50s. ( novel: )

Star Trek: Hidden Frontier continuity
In an alternate timeline, Excelsior disappeared into a temporal rift while en route to Khitomer in 2293. The assassination attempt on the Federation president, Ra-Ghoratreii, was successful, resulting in the Federation's obliteration of the Klingons. As punishment, the Q Continuum inflicted the Borg upon the races of the Alpha Quadrant. The crew of the 24th century dreadnought Excelsior aided Sulu's Excelsior in going back to 2293, thus repairing the timeline. (Star Trek: Hidden Frontier: "Yesterday's Excelsior")

continuity
In the Pendragon timeline, the Excelsior was the oldest Starfleet vessel on active duty, and celebrated her 100th year of service in 2385.

Related topics

 * USS Excelsior personnel