Type:

Heavy Explorer & Science Vessel

Unit Run:

U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D
U.S.S. Galaxy, NX-70637 / NCC-70637
U.S.S. Odyssey, NCC-71832
U.S.S. Venture, NCC-71854
U.S.S. Yamato, NCC-71807
and 18 others plus 6 being build, 9 more planned.
22 are currently in service.

Commissioned

2362 - present

Dimensions

Length 642.5 m
Width 467 m
Height 137.5 m
Decks 42 Mass 5,125,000 tons

Crew

1,000+ including family members

Warp Speeds

Normal Cruise Warp 6
Maximum Cruise Warp 9.2
Maximum Rated Warp 9.6 for twelve hours

Armament

12 x Type X Phaser arrays, total phaser output 50,000 TeraWatts
3 x type 3 burst fire photon torpedo tubes + 275 torpedoes
Antimatter spread emitter

Defense Systems

Shield system, total capacity 2,700,000 TeraJoules
Standard Duranium/Tritanium double hull plus 8.0 cm High Density armour
Standard level Structural Integrity Field
Strength Indices (Galaxy Class=1,000)
Beam Firepower 1,000
Torpedo Firepower 1,000
Weapon Range & Accuracy 1,000
Shield Strength 1,000
Hull Armour 1,000
Speed 1,000
Combat Manoeuvrability 1,000
Overall Strength Index 1,000

Diplomatic Capability

Grade 7

Expected Lifetime

100 years

Refit Cycle

Minor 1 year
Standard 5 years
Major 20 years

General Information

The Galaxy class was developed to replace the ageing Ambassador and Oberth class starships as Starfleets primary exploration vessel. The design was initiated in 2343 with a highly challenging specification which called for a ship based on the Nebula design then being developed, but equally capable of scientific, exploration, diplomatic, cultural, and combat roles all within a single multi-mission hull.
In fact, many came to regard the requirement as too challenging; the project suffered from numerous delays due to a wide range of design, manufacturing, and construction problems. The first of the class, the USS Galaxy, was launched in 2357 and commissioned in 2362, nearly two decades after initial approval.
The USS Galaxy which emerged from the Utopia Planitia shipyard had very similar lines to the Nebula class. The Galaxy is some 15% larger in volume, although its less compact design gives it considerably greater length than the smaller vessel. The major change between the two is the lack of a mission specific pod on the Galaxy class, the increased volume allowing sections within the hull to be mission customized. This combined with a more advanced systems level to allow all functions to be performed by the single design.
In addition the saucer and engineering hulls are separated by an eleven deck connecting neck section. This separation between the two hulls allows the nacelles to be located outboard and above the engineering hull, a position which increases the efficiency of the warp drive field slightly. This gives the Galaxy class warp coils an efficiency of 88% at speeds of up to Warp 7 and 52% through Warp 9.1 - the comparable figures for the Nebula class are 84% and 47% respectively.