The Excelsior-class Starship Development Project began in 2273, with construction beginning in 2275. The U.S.S. Excelsior NX-2000 prototype was launched in 2284 under the command of Captain Styles. Newly promoted Captain Montgomery Scott oversaw the engineering team. The Excelsior included a prototype for the unsuccessful Transwarp Drive Development Project. The Transwarp Drive, developed by Dr. Jeffries, was Starfleet's attempt to create a new warp drive that was faster and more efficient than the current Zefram Cochrane-based design.

In 2287, during testing of transwarp drive, the Excelsior transwarp core breached and had to be ejected. The ship suffered a complete systems failure. After repairs, the Excelsior returned to Earth under impulse power. The Transwarp project was deemed a failure and the project was cancelled. The Excelsior was refit with a standard warp drive and was officially commissioned in 2290 as the U.S.S. Excelsior NCC-2000 under the command of Captain Hikaru Sulu.

Despite the failed Transwarp drive, the Excelsior became the prototype for many Starfleet vessels. More Excelsior-class starships have been commissioned than any other class. Excelsior starships include the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-B and the U.S.S. Hood NCC-42296.

The Excelsior-class has received several refits during its life of service. More recent Excelsior-class starships, such as the U.S.S. Lakota NCC-42768, have upgraded warp cores, using Galaxy-class starship cores and upgraded weapon systems, including quantum torpedoes.