Article Posted on : - Mar 11, 2012

USS Enterprise. A US Navy photo

NORFOLK (AP): The USS Enterprise, the famed nuclear-powered aircraft carrier featured in the film "Top Gun," will soon set sail on its final voyage.

The ship has been a part of history over the past 50 years. It was involved in several wars and played a prominent role in the Cuban missile crisis. It also served as a spotter ship for John Glenn's historic orbit of Earth.

The Enterprise is the longest aircraft carrier in the US fleet. It is also the oldest, a distinction that brings pride as well as plenty of headaches for the ship's more than 4,000 crew members.

The ship is both old and one-of-a-kind, meaning maintenance can be tricky. Crew members acknowledge life at sea can be tough because they often have to build spare parts from scratch.