Copernicus (2269)

The Copernicus, NCC-1701⁄12 was a Federation shuttlecraft that was in service with Starfleet in the late 23rd century, attached to the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). Copernicus was the second shuttle to be labeled with the registry NCC-1701⁄12 in 2269.

History
The Copernicus was used by Spock, Sulu and Uhura to transfer a Slaver stasis box, discovered on the planet Kzin to Starbase 25.

En route, they detected a second Slaver stasis box in Beta Lyrae. Upon setting down on an ice bound planet in the Beta Lyrae system, they were taken hostage by the Kzinti. The Kzinti, who possessed an empty stasis box, had used it to lure the Copernicus to Beta Lyrae to steal the first stasis box. 

Background information
The shuttlecraft was named after the 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

The Copernicus was presumably a replacement shuttle for the other NCC-1701⁄12, destroyed in, judging from the fact that both craft shared the same registry number.

Copernicus (NCC-1701-12)