The Prime Directive

The Prime Directive is Starfleet's General Order number one. It is not just a set of rules, it is a philosophy, and a correct one.

Throughout the history of Starfleet it has been proved again and again that interference in the development of any culture or civilization, regardless of how well-intentioned that interference may be, is invariably disastrous.

The Prime Directive not only prohibits any interference, it also protects us - the Starfleet officers and crew who are out there, on the front-line exploring space, and discovering new worlds and new civilizations - from allowing our emotions to overwhelm our judgements.

Starfleet General Order 1

"When contacting a planet making normal progress towards a technological civilization, an officer of Starfleet shall make no identification of self or mission; no interference with social development of said planet; no references to space, to other worlds, or more advanced civilizations."