USS Challenger ( NCC - 71099 ) The USS " Challenger " ( NCC - 71099 ) was a 24th century Federation starship operated by Starfleet . In 2378 , the " Challenger " was one of several starships which intercepted a Borg sphere that carried the back to the Alpha Quadrant . ( ) " In an alternate timeline created after an attempt made by " Voyager " to use quantum slipstream drive resulted in the ship being destroyed , the " Challenger " was captain ed by Geordi La Forge in 2390 . The vessel was assigned to pursue and capture the " Delta Flyer " , which had been stolen by former " Voyager " crewmembers Chakotay and Harry Kim . The " Challenger " managed to inflict severe damage on the " Flyer " , causing a warp core breach . However , Harry Kim was successful in transmitting a message to " Voyager " in the past , giving that ship ' s crew instructions to collapse the slipstream and avert the disaster . " ( ) Appendices . Background information . According to the , the " Challenger " was named for the space shuttle orbiter " Challenger " ( OV - 099 ) . The registry number , NCC - 71099 , reflects this tribute . The " Challenger " was a computer - generated model ; its presence during " Endgame " was implied by the fact that the name and registry on the model was left over from " Timeless " . Like the , the ship ' s name was emblazoned below the registry number on the ventral side of its saucer section . The " Venture " model was the first to do this . The " Challenger " also appeared in the and " " calendars from Pocket Books , although parts of the CGI image were still labeled " " Enterprise " " and " NCC - 1701 - D " . Apocrypha . In the non - canon Pocket TOS novel " The Return " by William Shatner ( with Judith and Garfield Reeves - Stevens ) , a " Galaxy " - class starship " Challenger " was mentioned existing earlier in 2371 . In the novel , the ship was commanded by a Vulcan , Captain Simm , and , docked at Deep Space 9 , was the scene of a fight between Jean - Luc Picard and a Borg - assimilated James T . Kirk . Geordi La Forge also assumed command of the " Challenger " in " Star Trek Online " in 2397 . The " Challenger " has been seen in and around Earth Spacedock , initially orbiting the station . After an update the " Challenger " was moved inside the Spacedock . Various ship status signs relating to relevant areas mention the Challenger with her registry , and were updated when the ships where moved . The " Challenger " took an active role in the game in the mission " Beyond the Nexus " which was added to commemorate the 30th anniversary of " Star Trek : The Next Generation " . In the mission , the " Challenger " joins the player in investigating a distress call from a Starfleet vessel which was believed to have been lost while exploring the Nexus in 2332 . The Pocket TNG novel " Indistinguishable from Magic " by David A . McIntee has Geordi La Forge promoted to captain and assuming command of the " Challenger " in 2384 after its previous commander , Captain Montgomery Scott , retired after the death of his first officer during a battle with marauders and the determination that he failed to meet the minimum service requirements for command by the " Challenger " s chief medical officer , Alyssa Ogawa . Then - commander La Forge was aboard in a detached , temporary role of operations and second officer during a mission to investigate the ' s discovery of the " Intrepid " NX - 07 , assumed destroyed in 2162 by a left - over Romulan mine from the Earth - Romulan War . The " Challenger " was portrayed in this novel as being a testbed of several experimental systems developed by the Starfleet Corps of Engineers .