Exploration vessel

A Federation Galaxy-class explorer

In starship classification, an explorer ship, or exploration vessel, was a type of spacecraft designed for exploring unknown regions of space.

The 21st century NASA ship Charybdis was classified as an "explorer ship". It was Earth's third manned attempt to travel beyond the Sol system. (TNG: "The Royale")

The 22nd century United Earth Starfleet starship Enterprise NX-01 was designed as a "ship of exploration". (ENT: "Acquisition", "The Forgotten") Andorian Lieutenant Talas once criticized Enterprise Lieutenant Reed, who came from a military family of three generations, for betraying his family tradition by serving on a ship of exploration. (ENT: "Proving Ground")

The USS Raven was classified as an "exploration vessel" by Drexler outpost. (VOY: "Dark Frontier").

The Federation flagship USS Enterprise-D served Starfleet in the capacity of that of a vessel of exploration. (TNG: "Legacy", "Time's Arrow, Part II")

During her time in the Delta Quadrant, USS Voyager served as a ship of exploration. (VOY: "Prototype", "Drone")

The designation of "Explorer" type was derived from the original designs, graphics and technical drawings of the USS Enterprise-D by Andrew Probert, Rick Sternbach, and Michael Okuda. The term was never used on screen or in dialogue, but was alluded to in several references through the series' to being a "ship of exploration" or being on a "mission of exploration".

More information about the explorer designation exists in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual. This designation was mentioned in the script of TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise", noting that the alternate timeline Enterprise-D differed from the familiar explorer-type ship.

Template:Ship types

External link

• Exploration cruiser at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Explorer at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works