Galaxy-Class Explorer

UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS:  STARFLEET DIVISION

Advanced Technical Specifications for the Galaxy-Class Production Vehicle

CONTENTS

1.0  GALAXY-CLASS INTRODUCTION    

1.1  MISSION OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to Starfleet Exploration Directives 902.3 & 914.5, Starfleet Defense Directives 138.6, 141.1 & 154.7, and Federation Security Council General Policy, the following objectives have been established for an Galaxy Class Starship:

1. Provide a mobile platform for a wide range of ongoing scientific and cultural research projects.
2. Replace aging Ambassador and Oberth Class Starships as the primary instrument of Starfleet's exploration programs.
3. Provide autonomous capability for full execution of Federation policy options in outlying areas.
4. Incorporate recent advancements in warp powerplant technology and improved science instrumentation.

1.2  DESIGN STATISTICS    

Length: 642.51 meters
Width: 463.73 meters
Height: 195.26 meters
Weight: 4,500,000 metric tonnes
Cargo capacity: Dependant upon mission type

Hull: Duranium microfoam and tritanium plating
Number of Decks: 42

1.3  GENERAL OVERVIEW    

The Galaxy Class starship entered service in 2353 marking the crowning achievement of almost seventy-five years of engineering advancements starting with the Transwarp Development Project in the late 22nd century. With two variants in service, the Galaxy Class has serviced the Federation and Starfleet even though some were incomplete. Galaxy Class vessels are the largest in the fleet, built to boast Starfleet's most advanced technology and show the Federation's presence as if a core member world was next door.

Initial production of the Galaxy Class began at the Advanced Starship Design Bureau Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia, Mars, and has since expanded to include other classified bases where nearly two of these vessels enter service each year. The first of the variants were assembled and launched from the Advanced Starship Design Bureau Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia, Mars starting in 2369 before being consolidated with the rest of the primary production facilities on Earth, namely McKinley Station by 2370.

The design of primary and secondary hulls has been a staple of Starfleet since it's inception over two hundred years ago. Advances in that design includes the emergency separation mode. Where the primary and secondary hull split into two separate vehicles each capable of individual flight maneuvers. However this design was an emergency response only, which required the ship to be towed to a Starbase to be put back together. However the Galaxy Class, unlike the Excelsior and Ambassador Classes, can perform a saucer separation and rejoin itself, one of the biggest advances since the procedure was conceived. This advance in saucer separation makes it possible for the Galaxy Class to use the maneuver more often as a tactical maneuver, instead of a strategic contingency.

The Galaxy Class is well armed. Describing it as the best-armed ship in Starfleet could lead to arguments, but the vessel has always been able to hold it's own, even in some mismatched battles. Being the first vessel to mount the Type-X Phaser Array has made the class a foe to contend with. However, at the time of it's design, Starfleet decided that it would be best to limit the amount of torpedo tubes aboard the vessels. Designers went with five, in the original specs. After layout problems and Starfleet's recommendation for less, the designers went back to the drawing boards. They decided to use a larger launching system, one that would be able to process a loadout of ten casings. There were two of these launchers placed into the plans (plus an extra launcher for the separated saucer); Starfleet approved. Since that time, designs of other classes have had increasingly more amounts of torpedo launchers and tubes placed on them. This to counter the new and increasingly more powerful threats facing Starfleet.

Even though the Galaxy Class is a relatively young class of Starship, Starfleet and the Advanced Starship Design Bureau were forced to devise three variants on the Galaxy space frame. These variants are the two Galaxy-Uprated versions and Galaxy-Incomplete – each making changes to the spaceframe because of unforeseen threats. The first upgrade came with the third batch of vessels that came off the production line. These vessels had been built only to the point of spaceframe completion during the time of the original production. They were then stored away for a short time. When production started on them again in the mid 2360's to late 2360's, two extra phaser arrays were added to the nacelle housings. These upgrades also included advancements to the warp core. The upgrade made the ship faster and more efficient allowing it to achieve Warp 9.9 for twelve hours. In 2370, the Enterprise-D, had the propulsion upgrade performed (the phaser upgrade could not be performed do to over complicated structural reworking). Only a few weeks later this vessel discovered that Warp Drive causes instability between the barrier of Space and Subspace. Along with this discovery came it's limitation of Warp 5, with that the implementation of the upgrade to existing vessels was halted. It wasn't until three years later that a solution started to trickle down from the Advanced Starship Design Bureau. This version of the propulsion upgrade solved the Warp Pollution problem and was implement fleet wide, not only on Galaxy Class vessels.

The second upgrade revolves around a weak spot on the Galaxy Class. During first contact with the Dominion the USS Odyssey was destroyed revealing this weakness. Around the deflector dish and neck of the Galaxy Class is an extreme weakness to attack. Even though a suicidal enemy vessel attacked the USS Odyssey, this weakness was later proved to be serious under torpedo fire. Only two vessels received the solution to this situation before the war started. It was a hull upgrade of ablative armor around sensitive areas. When the war started, Starfleet ordered that the Galaxy Class vessels currently on the production line be rushed, with 68% of the hull's empty. Most of these vessels did not have the phaser upgrade, given to the third batch of vessels, owing to the fact that there was more nacelle housings available without them. They did however receive the upgraded propulsion system and hull armor.

The Galaxy-Uprated Class without the phaser upgrade is by far the most numerous of the Galaxy Class vessels built to date. Starfleet does not plan on giving them the phaser upgrade any time in the near future because the structural reworking still remains over complicated. The second most numerous version is the Galaxy-Incomplete Class. These vessels are currently being recalled as time permits. With sixty-eight percent of the hull missing, it takes as long as building a new Galaxy Class starship to finish off the hull without damaging the existing systems. The last version, with currently five ships total, is the Galaxy-Uprated Class with the phaser upgrade. This version of the class is the current production run. The original version of the Galaxy Class saw its last days of service around 2373, matching the prediction of twenty years.

1.4  CONSTRUCTION HISTORY    

Long before 2343, when the Galaxy Class officially began, the seeds were being planted. During the waning days of the failed Transwarp Development Project in the late 2280's, the scope of advances in Warp Field Theory were beginning to be realized. While some arrogant designers, desperate to salvage the Transwarp Drive, thought they could modify the Excelsior Class enough to make their drive work, others knew it would be decades before the advances in theory could even be applied in practice. Starfleet not recognizing the split, went ahead with the refit of the Excelsior in the 2290's, and only afterwards came to the realization that the Transwarp Project had failed.

By 2310's, those that had left the Transwarp Project and their inheritors were ready to pursue the next great project. They had designed the Ambassador Class; the ship they had hoped would make their dream come true. The Ambassador Class was designed to be extremely large. So large that it came with a new set of problems, especially with the Impulse Engines. These were later solved with the addition of the Space-Time Driver Coil. However, the dream that was sparked almost a half century before was not realized. It had been glimpsed though, and Starfleet was convinced into backing it.

The Ambassador was not what the designers had their highest hopes for, but from the start of that project they realized the chances were small. But Starfleet couldn't wait another seventy plus years (even though they did have to wait another thirty years before the fruits of their labor came about). Wanting to fast track the project even more they divided the project into several parts. The first step was testing the structure of the new engine. To facilitate this as fast as possible the designers went to the extreme of salvaging old parts to mount the nacelle on. This part of the project was dubbed the Freedom Class. The salvaged parts were the primary section and the "neck" of a Constitution-Refit Class with one nacelle structure graphed onto the ventral portion of the "neck." The single nacelle allowed for expedient testing, and cut back on material costs. The design was never put into production, and only a few were ever manufactured for testing. They existed in service for five years and were then moth balled after all the necessary data of nacelle design had been gathered. During extreme emergencies the existing vessels were taken out of storage and put into use. Notable occurrences were the first Borg Incursion and the Dominion War.

The next tests needed to focus on the actual engine of the future starship. This portion of the project was called the Niagara Class. Based off of Ambassador Class spaceframes that failed inspection, the Niagara Class had three nacelles. It was a weak design, but never intended to make it to production. The few designs that were made used the three nacelles to power up to the strongest warp field the design could handle. Had it not been for the third nacelle the power level would never have been reached, and again Starfleet did not want to wait. The designers also decided that the Niagara Class could be used for subspace geometry tests. By the end of the 2320's all the tests on this class were completed and the ships were sent to storage facilities. One ship was brought out in an attempt to counter the Borg threat at Wolf 359 in 2367.

By the early 2330's the designers were ready for something bigger. They went for completely original classes. The tests on the Niagara Class proved one thing, the more organic the ship was in shape the better it made the transition into warp. So the design of the Springfield Class would reflect this, with more curves. This positioned the Springfield Class as the first vessel with a similar design to the future vessel, as yet still unnamed even in discussion. The Springfield's design incorporated an elliptical saucer and angled secondary hull. The ship tested the end result of organic-like designs as well as advances in warp drive technology. It was limited in production, unlike its testbed predecessors, which never made it into production at all.

The next class was the Challenger Class. It was slightly similar in design to the Springfield, but had a larger saucer and almost no secondary hull. Its nacelle structure was also similar to the designs original tested on the Freedom and Niagara Classes. The Challenger also saw limited production, like the Springfield.

The Cheyenne Class was the last in the three designs. It was similar in size and shape to the Springfield Class but had four nacelles. These nacelles, when powered up at the same time, allowed the designers to test what they estimated the full strength of the future starship to be. These tests provided the most substantial and what eventually proved to be accurate data that the testbed vessels would bring. The Cheyenne Class became a full production vessel until the 2350's.

Now it was time for the next generation to start. The designers had gathered all the data they needed before they could begin on the final designs. The first vessel would be the New Orleans Class. It was the middle of the 2330's when work started. The New Orleans would be the first to test the eventual shape of the future vessel, still unnamed by Starfleet mandate to the dismay of the designers. Most of the designers had the feel of the scale for the future vessel though, and the New Orleans was appropriately measured to that ideal. This vessel became very popular and was in full production until the 2360's.

By the late 2330's designers were ready to jump into something that had much larger proportions. The Nebula Class came into being, designed as a production line vessel. It was a full-blown version of the future vessel, which the designers had dubbed the Galaxy Class, however Starfleet was still not ready to give it a name. With just one vessel the designers knew they could begin work on their ship.

It had been over eighty years in the making. Two generations of starship designers had toiled; most of the first group was gone. Most had died, and those who remained were either too old or still held on too tightly to the idea of a Transwarp Drive. But in 2343 Starfleet had given the word, and the designers were ready to create the pinnacle of almost one hundred fifty years of work tracing it's routes directly back to the Constitution Class. When Starfleet gave the project it's official name they conceded to the designer's wishes and it was the Galaxy Class. In 2344 and 2345 the Advanced Starship Design Bureau started working on the design of the vessel. By 2349 all the ship's systems were frozen and they were ready to build.

Construction on the first batch of vessels, the USS Galaxy, USS Yamato, and USS Enterprise-D, were started in 2350. By 2363 all three had been launched. The second batch of vessels was built based on the lessons learned from the first three. After these ships were made more spaceframes were built, partially deconstructed and sent to top secret locations.

Even though the Galaxy Class was a relatively young class of starship, Starfleet and the Advanced Starship Design Bureau were forced to devise three variants on the Galaxy space frame. These variants were the two Galaxy-Uprated versions and Galaxy-Incomplete – each making changes to the spaceframe because of unforeseen threats. The first upgrade came with the third batch of vessels that came off the production line. These vessels had been built only to the point of spaceframe completion during the time of the original production. They were then stored away for a short time. When production started on them again in the mid 2360's to late 2360's, two extra phaser arrays were added to the nacelle housings. These upgrades also included advancements to the warp core. The upgrade made the ship faster and more efficient allowing it to achieve Warp 9.9 for twelve hours. In 2370, the Enterprise-D, had the propulsion upgrade performed (the phaser upgrade could not be performed do to over complicated structural reworking). Only a few weeks later this vessel discovered that Warp Drive causes instability between the barrier of Space and Subspace. Along with this discovery came it's limitation of Warp 5, with that the implementation of the upgrade to existing vessels was halted. It wasn't until three years later that a solution started to trickle down from the Advanced Starship Design Bureau. This version of the propulsion upgrade solved the Warp Pollution problem and was implement fleet wide, not only on Galaxy Class vessels.

The second upgrade revolves around a weak spot on the Galaxy Class. During first contact with the Dominion the USS Odyssey was destroyed revealing this weakness. Around the deflector dish and neck of the Galaxy Class is an extreme weakness to attack. Even though a suicidal enemy vessel attacked the USS Odyssey, this weakness was later proved to be serious under torpedo fire. Only two vessels received the solution to this situation before the war started. It was a hull upgrade of ablative armor around sensitive areas. When the war started, Starfleet ordered that the Galaxy Class vessels currently on the production line be rushed, with sixty-eight percent of the hull's empty. Most of these vessels did not have the phaser upgrade, given to the third batch of vessels, owing to the fact that there was more nacelle housings available without them. They did however receive the upgraded propulsion system and hull armor.

The Galaxy-Uprated Class without the phaser upgrade is by far the most numerous of the Galaxy Class vessels built to date. Starfleet does not plan on giving them the phaser upgrade any time in the near future because the structural reworking still remains over complicated. The second most numerous version is the Galaxy-Incomplete Class. These vessels are currently being recalled as time permits. With sixty-eight percent of the hull missing, it takes as long as building a new Galaxy Class starship to finish off the hull without damaging the existing systems. The last version, with currently five ships total, is the Galaxy-Uprated Class with the phaser upgrade. This version of the class is the current production run. The original version of the Galaxy Class saw it's last days of service around 2373, matching the prediction of twenty years.

It will probably be another twenty years before the Galaxy-Uprated Class with the phaser upgrade is no longer seen in service and is replaced with another uprated or even refit version. However Starfleet is confident that this vessel will continue to perform in its role with the best results, the assumption has only been proved wrong by extreme circumstances in the past. Those lessons are now being studied and accounted for on a regular basis to prevent unnecessary loss of life.

2.0  COMMAND SYSTEMS    

2.1  MAIN BRIDGE

General Overview: Primary operational control for Galaxy Class Starships is provided by the Main Bridge located at the top of the primary hull. It is located on Deck 1. The Main Bridge directly supervises all primary mission operations (with the exception of the Flight bay and assorted craft) and coordinates all departmental activities.

The Main Bridge is an ejectable module, allowing for a wider variety in mission parameters. The standard module on all Galaxy Class Starships is the second standard version.

Layout: The current standard Galaxy Class layout is as follows. In the center is Command area with three common seats, for the Captain, the Executive Officer to his right, and the Counselor to his left. Further out from these are two more seats that can be used by VIP or other non-stationed personnel.

At the front of the bridge is the Conn, starboard, and Operations, port, stations. Conn is the combination of Helm and Navigation, and Operations controls and monitors most vital ship functions. Operations is commonly in control of sensors aboard Galaxy Class starships.

Behind the Command area is the Tactical Rim. Here is the Primary and two Auxiliary Tactical stations. All tactical and security functions can be controlled and monitored from this point.

On the back wall from port to starboard are Engineering, Environment, Mission Operations, Science I, and Science II. These five stations are normally unmanned. The Chief Engineer is in Main Engineering, Environment & Mission Operations can be controlled at the Operations console, and Science I & Science II are the science department's presence on the Bridge. However, normally the Chief Science Officer [if the ship has one] is not a Bridge Officer. The position is a management and authority one, meant to control all the sub-departments which do their work in the various labs on board the ship. It is not uncommon however for some Chief Science Officers to conduct their business directly on the Bridge.

There are three turbolifts leading off the bridge; one is an emergency turbolift that leads directly to the Battle Bridge. There are also three rooms adjacent to the Bridge. The Captain's Ready Room is on the fore port of the Bridge. The Conference Room and Bridge Head is aft starboard.

2.2  MAIN ENGINEERING    

General Overview: Main Engineering is located on Deck 36 of the Galaxy Class. Its primary purpose is to be the central point for control of all engineering systems aboard the vessel, especially those relating to propulsion and power generation. Here is located the Matter Antimatter Reaction Chamber also known as the Warp Core. There are three main consoles in Engineering, the Master Systems Monitor, Warp Propulsion System console, and Impulse Propulsion System console. In between the Warp Propulsion System & Impulse Propulsion System console is the Master Systems Display. Heading towards the warp core from the main entrance one will find the Chief Engineer's Officer on the left and the Assistant Chief Engineer's console on the right. A little more forward is the isolation door. Access to the upper level of Engineering can be found by a ladder on the left of the Matter Antimatter Reaction Chamber or an elevator on the right. The upper level has access to many auxiliary systems as well as egress points.

During emergencies Main Engineering can be turned into a command and control center by converting a number of consoles to duplicate the stations on the Main Bridge. The software is already preloaded onto these consoles and each vessel has specific procedures in place in case a situation warrants.

2.3  BATTLE BRIDGE    

Being able to separate into two distinct vessels, the Galaxy Class has two Bridges. The second bridge is called the Battle Bridge and is located on Deck 8. This bridge duplicates most of the functions of the Main Bridge, but places emphasis on piloting, support, and defensive operations. To keep in tune with changing situations the Battle Bridge is also modular like the Main Bridge.

For the most part the Battle Bridge is only used when the vessel is in separated flight mode. Outside of this, when the Main Bridge is non-operational most command and control functions are routed to Main Engineering. However in situations were the Main Bridge will experience an extended period of being non-operational, Starfleet procedures require that the Battle Bridge be used to keep Main Engineering clear of non-essential personnel.

3.0  TACTICAL SYSTEMS    

3.1  PHASERS

Phaser array arrangement:

Primary Hull:
Three dorsal phaser arrays on the primary hull, one primary dorsal array extending three hundred forty degrees and two point defense arrays to either side of Shuttlebay 1. The arrays cover the entire semi-sphere above the ship, except for a few blind spots close to the hull and Shuttlebay. One ventral phaser array on primary hull, primary ventral array extending three hundred twenty degrees. Array covers the forward and lateral portions of the semi-sphere below the ship, except for those blind spots close to the hull. Total of four phaser arrays on primary hull.

Secondary Hull:
Two dorsal phaser arrays on the secondary hull, both are point defense arrays placed in the far aft of the ship. Three ventral phaser arrays. One primary array with coverage similar to a series of cones with the same vertex and two point defense arrays at the far aft of the ship. Total of five phaser arrays on secondary hull.

Nacelles/Pylons:
One lateral primary array on each vertical bound pylon. Coverage is similar to Secondary Hull's Ventral Primary array. Total of two phaser arrays on Nacelles. On uprated versions the dorsal nacelle housing has one array, making the new total four.

Phaser Array Type: The Galaxy Class has Type-X Phaser arrays. It is the first class to be designed with these arrays; contemporaries have since been refit. Each array fires a steady beam of phaser energy and the forced-focus emitters discharge the phasers at speeds approaching .986c.  Current Tactical policy has phaser arrays automatically rotate phaser frequency and attempt to lock onto the frequency and phase of a threat vehicle's shields for shield penetration.

Phaser Array Output: Each phaser array takes its energy directly from the impulse drive and auxiliary fusion generators. Individually, each type-X emitter can only discharge approximately 5.1 megawatts. However, several emitters (usually two) fire at once in the array during standard firing procedures, resulting in a higher discharge.

Phaser Array Range: Maximum effective range is 300,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Defense/anti-spacecraft/anti-fighter

3.2  TORPEDO LAUNCHERS    

Arrangement: Three fixed-focus torpedo launchers, one forward launcher on the secondary and another aft. The third launcher can only be used when the vessel is in Separated-Flight Mode; it is an aft firing launcher on the Primary Hull. Each is capable of firing off ten torpedoes in a single salvo.

Type: Mark XXV photon torpedo, capable of pattern firing (sierra, etc.) as well as independent launch. Independent targeting once launched from the ship, detonation on contact unless otherwise directed.

Payload: Maximum of 275 torpedoes.

Range: Maximum effective range is 3,000,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Anti-spacecraft

3.3  DEFLECTOR SHIELDS    

Type: Symmetrical subspace graviton field. This type of shield is fairly similar to those of most other Starships. Under Starfleet Directives all vessels incorporate the nutation shift in frequency. During combat, the shield sends data on what type of weapon is being used on it, and what frequency and phase the weapon uses. Once this is analyzed by the tactical officer, the shield can be configured to have the same frequency as the incoming weapon - but different nutation. This tactic dramatically increases shield efficiency.

Output: There are a total of twelve shield generators on the Galaxy Class. Each generator has a cluster of twelve thirty-two megawatt graviton polarity sources feeding a pair of six hundred twenty five millicochrane subspace field distortion amplifiers. During emergency situations the generators are synchronized together providing two thousand six hundred eighty-eight megawatts continuously. The maximum peak load is four hundred seventy-three thousand megawatts for one hundred seventy milliseconds.

Range: The shields, when raised, operate at two distances. One is a uniform distance from the hull, averaging about ten to twelve meters. The other is a bubble field, which varies in distance from any single point on the hull but has a common center within the ship.

Primary purpose: Defense from enemy threat forces, hazardous radiation and micrometeoroid particles.

Secondary purpose: Ramming threat vehicles.

4.0  COMPUTER SYSTEMS    

4.1  COMPUTER CORE

Number of computer cores: four. The primary cores are located near the center of the primary hull between Decks 5 and 14. There are two of them, one on each side of the ship thus to balance out the massive weight they entail. The secondary cores are in the Secondary hull between Decks 30 & 37. They are similarly off balanced like the primary cores. Any single core is capable of operating all computer functions of the vessel. In most configurations the Galaxy Class is only equipped with three computer cores. The fourth core, normally a secondary core, is substituted for a ballast tank. However, long-term or computer intensive missions may require that the fourth core is installed, which is a time and labor intensive process.

Type: The computer cores on Galaxy Class starships are isolinear storage devices utilizing faster than light processing drives with isolinear temporary storage.

4.2  LCARS    

Acronym for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System, the common user interface of 24th century computer systems, based on verbal and graphically enhanced keyboard/display input and output. The graphical interface adapts to the task which is supposed to be performed, allowing for maximum ease-of-use. The Galaxy Class operates on LCARS build version 5.2 to account for increases in processor speed and power, and limitations discovered in the field in earlier versions, and increased security. The operating version receives minor upgrades any time they are available when contact with another Starfleet vessel or facility is made.

4.3  SECURITY LEVELS    

Access to all Starfleet data is highly regulated. A standard set of access levels have been programmed into the computer cores of all ships in order to stop any undesired access to confidential data.

Security levels are also variable, and task-specific. Certain areas of the ship are restricted to unauthorized personnel, regardless of security level. Security levels can also be raised, lowered, or revoked by Command personnel.

Security levels in use aboard the Galaxy Class are:

Level 10 – Captain and Above

Level 9 – First Officer

Level 8 - Commander

Level 7 – Lt. Commander

Level 6 – Lieutenant

Level 5 – Lt. Junior Grade

Level 4 - Ensign

Level 3 – Non-Commissioned Crew

Level 2 – Civilian Personnel

Level 1 – Open Access (Read Only)

Note: Security Levels beyond current rank can and are bestowed where, when and to whom they are necessary.

The main computer grants access based on a battery of checks to the individual user, including face and voice recognition in conjunction with a vocal code as an added level of security.

4.4  UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR    

All Starfleet vessels make use of a computer program called a Universal Translator that is employed for communication among persons who speak different languages. It performs a pattern analysis of an unknown language based on a variety of criteria to create a translation matrix. The translator is built in the Starfleet badge and small receivers are implanted in the ear canal.

The Universal Translator matrix aboard Galaxy Class starships consists of well over 100,000 languages and increases with every new encounter.

5.0  PROPULSION SYSTEMS    

5.1 WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM

Type: Theoretical Propulsion Group [TPG] Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive, developed by Theoretical Propulsion Group in conjunction with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau - Utopia Planitia Division. Information on this Warp Drive is classified [repealed: 2371; now available in standard Starfleet Omnipedia Databases].

Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 6

Speed Limit: Warp 5

Maximum Speed: Warp 9.6 for twelve hours

Note: Vessels equipped with the TPG M/ARA Drive System no longer have the maximum cruising speed limit of Warp 5, thanks to innovations discovered and utilized in the General Electric Type 8 M/ARA Warp Drive outfitted in the new Sovereign Class Starship. Pursuant to Starfleet Command Directive 12856.A, all Starships will receive upgrades to their Warp Core system to prevent further pollution of Subspace.

5.2 IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM    

Type: Standard Galaxy Class Impulse drives developed and built by Theoretical Propulsion Group in conjunction with the Advanced Starship Design Bureau - Utopia Planitia Division.

Output: Each engine (there are three impulse engines, two flanking the back edge of the primary hull and one on the centerline of the secondary hull) can propel the ship at speeds just under .75c, or "maximum impulse". Full impulse is .25c (one quarter of 186,282 miles per second, which is warp one).

Like the Ambassador Class before it, the Galaxy Class utilizes the Space-Time Driver Coil to operate effectively at Impulse. The Driver Coil produces a non-propulsive symmetrical subspace field powered by the exhaust plasma from the Impulse Engines. The field helps the ship to accelerate, decelerate, and maneuver by effectively lowering it's apparent mass.

5.3 REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM    

Type: Standard magnetohydrodynamic gas-fusion thrusters designed specifically for the Galaxy Class.

Output: Each thruster quad can produce 5.5 million newtons of exhaust.

Tractor Emitter: All Reaction Control System Thruster packages on the Galaxy Class have small tractor beam emitters. These emitters help in closed quarters or docking procedures.

6.0  UTILITIES AND AUXILIARY SYSTEMS    

6.1 NAVIGATION DEFLECTOR

A standard Galaxy Class main deflector dish is located along the forward portion of the secondary hull, and is located just forward of the primary engineering spaces. Composed of molybdenum/duranium mesh panels over a duranium framework, the dish can be manually moved seven and two tenths degrees in any direction off the ship's Z-axis. The main deflector dish's shield and sensor power comes from three graviton polarity generators located on Deck 34, each capable of generating one hundred twenty-eight megawatts which fed into a pair of five hundred fifty millicochrane subspace field distortion amplifiers.

6.2 TRACTOR BEAM    

Type: Multiphase subspace graviton beam, used for direct manipulation of objects from a submicron to a macroscopic level at any relative bearing. Each emitter is directly mounted to the primary members of the ship's framework, to lessen the effects of isopiestic subspace shearing, inertial potential imbalance, and mechanical stress.

Output: Each tractor beam emitter is built around two variable phase sixteen megawatt graviton polarity sources, each feeding two four hundred seventy-five millicochrane subspace field amplifiers. Phase accuracy is within two and seven tenths arc-seconds per microsecond. Each emitter can gain extra power from the Structural Integrity Field by means of molybdenum-jacketed waveguides. The subspace fields generated around the beam (when the beam is used) can envelop objects up to one thousand meters, lowering the local gravitational constant of the universe for the region inside the field and making the object much easier to manipulate.

Range: Effective tractor beam range varies with payload mass and desired delta-v (change in relative velocity). Assuming a nominal five m/sec-squared delta-v, the primary tractor emitters can be used with a payload approaching 7'500'000 metric tons at less than one thousand meters. Conversely, the same delta-v can be imparted to an object massing about one metric ton at ranges approaching twenty thousand kilometers.

Primary purpose: Towing or manipulation of objects

Secondary purpose: Tactical, pushing enemy ships into each other.

6.3 TRANSPORTER SYSTEMS    

Number of Systems: 16

Personnel Transporters: 6 (Transporter Rooms 1-6)

Cargo Transporters: 4

Emergency Transporters: 6

6.4 COMMUNICATIONS    

Standard Communications Ranges:

• RF: 5.2 AU
• Subspace: 22.65 LY

Standard Data Transmission Speed: 18.5 kiloquads per second
Subspace Communications Speed: Warp 9.9997

7.0  SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS    

7.1 SENSOR SYSTEMS

Long range and navigation sensors are located behind the main deflector dish, to avoid sensor "ghosts" and other detrimental effects consistent with main deflector dish millicochrane static field output. Lateral sensor pallets are located around the rim of the entire starship, providing full coverage in all standard scientific fields, but with emphasis in the following areas:

1. Astronomical phenomena
2. Planetary analysis
3. Remote life-form analysis
4. EM scanning
5. Passive neutrino scanning
6. Parametric subspace field stress (a scan to search for cloaked ships)
7. Thermal variances
8. Quasi-stellar material

Each sensor pallet, three hundred fifty in all, can be interchanged and re-calibrated with any other pallet on the ship, including those in storage.

7.2 TACTICAL SENSORS    

There are twenty-eight independent tactical sensors on on the Galaxy Class. Each sensor automatically tracks and locks onto incoming hostile vessels and reports bearing, aspect, distance, and vulnerability percentage to the tactical station on the main bridge. Each tactical sensor is approximately eighty-four percent efficient against Electronic Counter Measures.

7.3 STELLAR CARTOGRAPHY    

The entrance to the main stellar cartography bay is located on Deck 10. The lab is served by a direct Electro-Plamsa System power feed from the impulse engines. All information is directed to the bridge and can be displayed on any console or the main viewscreen.

7.4 SCIENCE LABS    

There are over one hundred separate scientific research labs on board the Galaxy Class. However depending upon current internal arrangement the ship can have more. At the same time all labs are specifically designed for adaptability. Very few of the labs will remain under the same discipline of science for more than six months. Most science labs share the same design, only a few have extremely specialized equipment. When necessary, the Engineering department can by contacted and the lab can be outfitted with equipment either in storage or replicated. Other, even more specialized equipment can be brought on board by mission specialists and installed per approval of appropriate members of the Senior Staff.

7.5 PROBES    

A probe is a device that contains a number of general purpose or mission specific sensors and can be launched from a starship for closer examination of objects in space.

There are nine different classes of probes, which vary in sensor types, power, and performance ratings. The spacecraft frame of a probe consists of molded duranium-tritanium and pressure-bonded lufium boronate, with sensor windows of triple layered transparent aluminum. With a warhead attached, a probe becomes a photon torpedo. The standard equipment of all nine types of probes are instruments to detect and analyze all normal EM and subspace bands, organic and inorganic chemical compounds, atmospheric constituents, and mechanical force properties. All nine types are capable of surviving a powered atmospheric entry, but only three are special designed for aerial maneuvering and soft landing. These ones can also be used for spatial burying. Many probes can be real-time controlled and piloted from a starship to investigate an environment dangerous hostile or otherwise inaccessible for an away-team.

The nine standard classes are:

7.5.1 Class I Sensor Probe:

Range: 2 x 10^5 kilometers

Delta-v limit: 0.5c

Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion

Sensors: Full EM/Subspace and interstellar chemistry pallet for in-space applications.

Telemetry: 12,500 channels at 12 megawatts. 

7.5.2 Class II Sensor Probe:

Range: 4 x 10^5 kilometers

Delta-v limit: 0.65c

Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion, extended deuterium fuel supply

Sensors: Same instrumentation as Class I with addition of enhanced long-range particle and field detectors and imaging system

Telemetry: 15,650 channels at 20 megawatts. 

7.5.3 Class III Planetary Probe:

Range: 1.2 x 10^6 kilometers

Delta-v limit: 0.65c

Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion

Sensors: Terrestrial and gas giant sensor pallet with material sample and return capability; onboard chemical analysis submodule

Telemetry: 13,250 channels at ~15 megawatts.

Additional data: Limited SIF hull reinforcement. Full range of terrestrial soft landing to subsurface penetration missions; gas giant atmosphere missions survivable to 450 bar pressure. Limited terrestrial loiter time. 

7.5.4 Class IV Stellar Encounter Probe:

Range: 3.5 x 10^6 kilometers

Delta-v limit: 0.6c

Powerplant: Vectored deuterium microfusion propulsion supplemented with continuum driver coil and extended deuterium supply

Sensors: Triply redundant stellar fields and particle detectors, stellar atmosphere analysis suite.

Telemetry: 9,780 channels at 65 megawatts.

Additional data: Six ejectable/survivable radiation flux subprobes. Deployable for nonstellar energy phenomena

7.5.5 Class V Medium-Range Reconnaissance Probe:

Range: 4.3 x 10^10 kilometers

Delta-v limit: Warp 2

Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter engine; extended duration sublight plus limited duration at warp

Sensors: Extended passive data-gathering and recording systems; full autonomous mission execution and return system

Telemetry: 6,320 channels at 2.5 megawatts.

Additional data: Planetary atmosphere entry and soft landing capability. Low observatory coatings and hull materials. Can be modified for tactical applications with addition of custom sensor countermeasure package.
 

7.5.6 Class VI Comm Relay/Emergency Beacon:

Range: 4.3 x 10^10 kilometers

Delta-v limit: 0.8c

Powerplant: Microfusion engine with high-output MHD power tap

Sensors: Standard pallet

Telemetry/Comm: 9,270 channel RF and subspace transceiver operating at 350 megawatts peak radiated power. 360 degree omni antenna coverage, 0.0001 arc-second high-gain antenna pointing resolution.

Additional data: Extended deuterium supply for transceiver power generation and planetary orbit plane changes
 

7.5.7Class VII Remote Culture Study Probe:

Range: 4.5 x 10^8 kilometers

Delta-v limit: Warp 1.5

Powerplant: Dual-mode matter/antimatter engine

Sensors: Passive data gathering system plus subspace transceiver

Telemetry: 1,050 channels at 0.5 megawatts.

Additional data: Applicable to civilizations up to technology level III. Low observability coatings and hull materials. Maximum loiter time: 3.5 months. Low-impact molecular destruct package tied to antitamper detectors.
 

7.5.8 Class VIII Medium-Range Multimission Warp Probe:

Range: 1.2 x 10^2 light-years

Delta-v limit: Warp 9

Powerplant: Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 6.5 hours at warp 9; MHD power supply tap for sensors and subspace transceiver

Sensors: Standard pallet plus mission-specific modules

Telemetry: 4,550 channels at 300 megawatts.

Additional data: Applications vary from galactic particles and fields research to early-warning reconnaissance missions
 

7.5.9 Class IX Long-Range Multimission Warp Probe:

Range: 7.6 x 10^2 light-years

Delta-v limit: Warp 9

Powerplant: Matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine; duration of 12 hours at warp 9; extended fuel supply for warp 8 maximum flight duration of 14 days

Sensors: Standard pallet plus mission-specific modules

Telemetry: 6,500 channels at 230 megawatts.

Additional data: Limited payload capacity; isolinear memory storage of 3,400 kiloquads; fifty-channel transponder echo. Typical application is emergency-log/message capsule on homing trajectory to nearest starbase or known Starfleet vessel position

8.0  CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS    

8.1 MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Sickbay: There are two sickbay facilities located on Deck 12. The primary facility has two intensive-care wards, a laboratory, a nursery, and the Chief Medical Officer's office. The secondary facility has two dedicated surgery suites, a physical therapy facility, a nursery, and a null-gravy therapy ward. The primary facility is located on the port side of the vessel and the secondary facility is located on the starboard side. Also pursuant to new Medical Protocols, all Primary Medical Facilities are equipped with holo-emitters for the usage of the Emergency Medical Holographic System.

Aid Stations: Like on Starbases and other large ships, the Galaxy Class has nurse stations around the vessel, almost on each deck. These areas are staffed on a rotating schedule during green mode, and during higher alert status they may all be activated. They provide first aid to injured personnel and become quick essential command posts during situations where the ship is damaged. When the Captain needs to know how many people are injured, those who find out serve at these stations.

8.2 CREW QUARTERS SYSTEMS    

General Overview: All crew and officers' quarters are located on decks 2, 3, 5, 7-11, 13-14, 17-20, and 32-33.

Individuals assigned to Galaxy Class Starships for periods over six months are permitted to reconfigure their quarters within hardware, volume, and mass limits. Individuals assigned for shorter periods are generally restricted to standard quarter configuration.

Crew Quarters: Standard Living Quarters are provided for both Starfleet Non-Commissioned Officers and Ensigns.  These persons are expected to share their room with another crewmate due to space restrictions aboard the starship.  After six months, crewmembers are permitted to bring family aboard the ship and a slightly larger room is allocated to them.

Two NCO's or two Ensigns are assigned to a suite. Accommodations include 2 bedrooms with standard beds, connected by a living/work area. A washroom with ultrasonic shower is located off of each bedroom. A food replicator and a personal holographic viewer are located in the living area. Small pets are allowed to NCO's.

Enlisted crewmembers share quarters with up to 4 others. Accommodations include 2 bedrooms with twin beds, connected by a living/work area. A washroom with ultrasonic shower is located off of each bedroom. A food replicator and a personal holographic viewer are located in the living area. Pets are not allowed to enlisted crew.

Crewmen can request that their living quarters be combined to create a single larger dwelling.

Officers' Quarters: Starfleet personnel from the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade up to Commander are given one set of quarters to themselves.  In addition, department heads and their assistants are granted such privileges as well, in an effort to provide a private environment to perform off-duty work.  After six months, officers are permitted to bring family aboard the ship and a slightly larger room is allocated to them.  Members of the Captain's Senior Staff can have these restrictions waved with the Captain's permission.

These accommodations typically include a small bathroom, a bedroom (with standard bed), a living/work area, a food replicator, an ultrasonic shower, personal holographic viewer, and provisions for pets.

Officers may request that their living quarters be combined to form one large dwelling.

Executive Quarters: The Captain and Executive Officer of Galaxy Class Starships have special quarters, located on Deck 8.

These quarters are much more luxurious than any others on the ship are, with the exception of the VIP/Diplomatic Guest quarters. Both the Executive Officer's and the Captain's quarters are larger than standard Officers Quarters, and this space generally has the following accommodations: a bedroom (with a nice, fluffy bed), living/work area, bathroom, food replicator, ultrasonic shower, old-fashioned water shower, personal holographic viewer, and provisions for pets. The second officer and senior staff have similar quarters with less area, generally between that of the Executive Quarters and the Officer's Quarters.

VIP/Diplomatic Guest Quarters: The Galaxy Class is a symbol of UFP authority, a tool in dealing with other races. Starfleet intends to use Galaxy Class in diplomacy several times, and the need to transport or accommodate Very Important Persons, diplomats, or ambassadors may arise.

These quarters are located on Deck 8. These quarters include a bedroom, spacious living/work area, personal viewscreen, ultrasonic shower, bathtub/water shower, some provisions for pets, food replicator, and a null-grav sleeping chamber. These quarters can be immediately converted to class H, K, L, N, and N2 environments.

8.3 RECREATION SYSTEMS    

General Overview: The Galaxy Class is the largest vessel in Starfleet and its design has been maximized for scientific and tactical usage. However, it is realized that the stress of operating at ninety-nine percent efficiency on a ship that is built for deep-space exploration can be dangerous, so there are some recreational facilities on board.

Holodecks: There are four standard holodeck facilities on the Galaxy Class located on Deck 11.

Holosuites: These are smaller versions of standard Federation Holodecks, designed for individual usage (the four Holodecks themselves are to be used by groups or individual officers; enlisted crewmen and cadets are not allowed to use the Holodecks under normal circumstances). They do everything that their larger siblings do, only these Holosuites can't handle as many variables and are less detailed. They are equivalent to the Holodecks on an Intrepid Class Starship. There are twenty Holosuites on board as well, located on Decks 12 and 33.

Phaser Range: Sometimes the only way a Starfleet officer or crewman can vent his frustration is through the barrel of a phaser rifle. The phaser range is located on Deck 12.

Normal phaser recreation and practice is used with a type III phaser set to level 3 (heavy stun). The person stands in the middle of the room, with no light except for the circle in the middle of the floor that the person is standing in. Colored circular dots approximately the size of a human hand whirl across the walls, and the person aims and fires. After completing a round, the amounts of hits and misses, along with the percentage of accuracy is announced by the ship's computer.

The phaser range is also used by security to train ship's personnel in marksmanship. During training, the holo-emitters in the phaser range are activated, creating a holographic setting, similar to what a holodeck does. Personnel are "turned loose" either independently or in an Away Team formation to explore the setting presented to them, and the security officer in charge will take notes on the performance of each person as they take cover, return fire, protect each other, and perform a variety of different scenarios. All personnel on board are tested every six months in phaser marksmanship.

There are 25 levels of phaser marksmanship. All personnel on board are trained in the operation of phaser types II and I up to level 14. All security personnel on board must maintain a level 17 marksmanship for all phaser types. The true marksman can maintain at least an eighty percent hit ratio on level 23. The Galaxy Class carries both the standard phaser rifle and the new compression phaser rifle.

Weight Room: Some Starfleet personnel can find solace from the aggravations of day-to-day life in exercising their bodies. The Security department on board encourages constant use of this facility; tournaments and competitions are held regularly in this room.

The weight room is