First mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series, a different Federation existed before the creation of the United Federation of Planets. Star Trek writer Gene L. Coon is credited with creating the Federation, and helping to establish Starfleet as a concept. The Federation was first mentioned in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 23, “A Taste of Armageddon,” which features a visiting Federation Ambassador, and has since become a central part of the Star Trek universe and played a role in nearly every Star Trek series.

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