Star Fleet Surveys
A primary mission for Star Fleet is exploration. In that role, Star Fleet recognizes that there is a lot more to explore than there are resources (i.e., ships and crews) with which to do the exploration. The organization breaks up the mission into several different categories, providing assets based on priority, availability, distance, specialization and capabilities.
Initial Identification
Without a doubt, the usual first discoveries are made by long-range sensors, oftentimes long before interstellar travel was even possible. Using optical and radio telescopes, most of the members of the United Federation of Planets compiled tremendous databases on observable stellar bodies, such as stars, nebulae, black holes, and the like. Once faster-than-light interstellar travel was achievable, the number of observable entities increased substantially. Therefore, before a starship is assigned to conduct a Phase 1 sector survey, the sector proper is defined from the central stellar databases available to the UFP, indicating where the corners are, what stars and other stellar bodies are anticipated, and any indications suggesting the locations of uncommon bodies (such as rogue planets) in that sector. The completed map is then provided to the cartographers and concerned starships, as well as any other interested organizations.
Sector Survey (Phase 1)
Once a sector has been determined to be of timely interest to the UFP, Star Fleet Command assigns an appropriate vessel (usually a cruiser or an explorer) to conduct the first venture within its borders. The starship passes through the sector on a pre-determined stellar mapping route, approaching all systems and other (known) objects of interest. The purpose of the mission is to provide rough reports of the bodies present (planets, moons, asteroid belts, uncommon object identification, etc.).
This pre-determined route may also encounter other phenomena, as they are detected by the ship's various sensors (see Interstellar Phenomena Survey). The initial starship may conduct a general survey of this deep-space feature, though it may also just log its discovery, leaving it for further study to another vessel.
As the starship approaches a solar system, long-range sensors work to identify the planetary bodies within the system and any indications of space travel (such as by probes and interplanetary or interstellar vessels). As well as being on the lookout for any items of interest (such as dilithium deposits), the starship is tasked with being particularly aware of any habitable planets, which might suggest intelligent life.
Should a Class H, L, M, O, or P planet be detected, the starship will contact Star Fleet. When ordered, it will break off the pre-assigned route and close to investigate with short-range sensors. If no space travel can be detected from the system's demarcation orbit, the ship will approach the planet to determine if intelligent life inhabits it. If there is intelligent life detected, confirmation of a lack of interstellar capability will be made and all efforts to hide the presence of the starship from ground-based observation will be taken. [early UE] Landing parties are sent down to make contact with representatives of the dominant governments. [early UFP] Landing parties may be sent down if a close-up scientific reason exists or a significant source of valuable resource warrants contact. [23rd c. SF] Landing parties will only be utilized if some condition exists to warrant further investigation and all covert precautions will be taken, unless First Contact protocols warrant it.
If no intelligent life is detected and at the captain's discretion, landing parties may be sent down to conduct basic planetary surveys.
The starship will resume the sector mapping mission from where it broke off, transmitting all data acquired to Star Fleet Operations.
Most systems are renamed at this stage from their uncatalogued nomenclature (ex: M-030005) to one based upon a number of methods.
The sector is marked with corner and center buoys, usually by a dedicated buoy tender as availability allows. Navigational hazards are also marked and any other stellar feature warranting notice, including protected or quarantined systems, are so marked.
Intensive Survey (Phase 3)
In systems with habitable (but not inhabited) planets or objects of note (such as resource-rich planets), an intensive survey will be conducted by a dedicated survey vessel, ready to maintain station for weeks or even months charting the various features on the target objects. In cases where very specific study is necessary, along with the general survey vessel may come a veritable flotilla of dedicated science vessels, tasked with charting or studying a specific scientific area of interest. If intelligent but pre-interstellar life is detected, all such vessels will retreat from the system as far as practical to keep from being detected and if the scientific interest is still high enough to warrant a continued presence, a specialty vessel for conducting covert scientific missions will be dispatched.
First Contact (Phase 4)
First Contact is one of the most important duties of Star Fleet. It is carefully considered whenever possible and the appropriate vessel is dispatched with the right contact team. Generally, most First Contact missions occur in deep space or within systems other than the originating culture, but sometimes the UFP is fortunate to be on hand to witness a previously pre-interstellar society take those first steps into extrasolar space. Shortly thereafter, Star Fleet is sent to make contact with the authorities, though it is not unheard of to do so via distance communications first (to reduce the risk of panic or cultural shock).