Build:Explorers
2.1.2 Explorers
Explorers are the largest, most powerful, most versatile ships fielded by Star Fleet. As their classification indicates, their primary purpose is exploration. Because they can encounter virtually any situation (including many threatening ones), and because they often conduct multiyear missions far from Federation space, they contain a wide variety of systems, including ones designed to ensure the comfort of the crew during extended assignments. They are also Star Fleet’s most heavily-armed vessels.
Since the earliest days of Star Fleet, Explorers have served prominently in the fleet. From the early Daedalus and Ranger class ships, to the famous Constitution class of James T. Kirk and his contemporaries, to the Ambassador class developed earlier this century (now downgraded to Heavy Cruiser), each previous design has influenced the modern Explorers such as the Galaxy and Sovereign classes. The design style which now characterizes the Explorer ship type—primary hull (“saucer”), engineering hull, and nacelle-and-pylon—can be seen in even the earliest Explorers. Some Cruisers have also contributed design elements to the modern Explorers.
At present, Star Fleet fields five classes of Explorers—Andoria, Andromeda, Galaxy, Intrepid, and Sovereign. The Andoria class is one of the newest Explorers. It was launched in 2361 and is an “explorer” in the true sense of the word. Most Andoria class vessels undertake multi-year deep space missions; they are equipped with some of the most state of the art sensory and scientific equipment available to the Federation. Prior to the Dominion War, Star Fleet had planned to build three Andoria class vessels per year. A re-evaluation of ship construction priorities following the war may dictate an alteration or cancellation of that plan.
The Galaxy class, only recently displaced as the most powerful vessel fielded by the Federation, remains a mainstay of the fleet, particularly during military situations. After the initial planned production run of six vessels was completed in the early 2360s, no more were built until the early 2370s. The vessels under construction when the Dominion War broke out were rushed into production without complete exploratory and secondary systems, so that they could assist with the war effort. Most came through the war intact, albeit damaged. The Intrepid class, the first of a planned line of Light Explorers which pack substantial exploratory capability into a spaceframe much smaller than most Explorers use, has proven an able ship and a fine premiere for the line. Equipped with bioneural gel pack computer systems, powerful warp engines, and many other state of the art systems, it is one of the most advanced ships in Star Fleet. The resilience of the USS Voyager, NCC-74656, which remains lost in the Delta Quadrant, testifies to the ship’s prowess.
Star Fleet’s most recent efforts in this area yielded the Sovereign class Explorers, of which only two (the USS Sovereign and USS Enterprise-E) have been built. Designed following initial contact with the Borg, and thus reflecting the perceived need for greater defensive and tactical capabilities, the Sovereign class features fewer exploration-oriented and more defense-oriented systems and design elements than any Explorer ever built.
Table
| Category | Classification Code |
|---|---|
| Explorer | EP |
| Heavy Explorer | EH |
| Light Explorer | EL |
| Fast Explorer | EF |