Kobayashi Maru
Starfleet Academy's no-win test, which only Kirk beat, by reprogramming it.
The Kobayashi Maru is a Starfleet Academy training exercise that puts cadets in a no-win scenario. It was invented for the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and has since appeared in many other Star Trek works.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Starfleet Academy simulation
- Created for
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Only winner
- James T. Kirk (by hacking it)
Lore & Background
The nominal goal is to rescue the civilian fuel ship Kobayashi Maru, damaged and stranded in neutral territory between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. If the cadet attempts a rescue, an overwhelming enemy force attacks. The test is meant to probe character rather than skill and to accustom cadets to the emotional toll of defeat.
Reader's Guide
James T. Kirk is the only cadet to rescue the Kobayashi Maru, by hacking the simulation. The name has entered everyday language for a no-win scenario, and for changing the conditions of the test.
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Elsewhere in Star Trek
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