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USS Paula Greene, NCC-71204 |
USS Pavonis, NCC-71989 |
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USS Vesuvius, NCC-71447 |
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| The Galaxy class starship construction project is based
at the Utopia Planitia Fleetyards above Mars. Representing Starfleet’s most
sophisticated achievement in multimission ship systems design, Galaxy class starships were
designed to replace aging Ambassador and Oberth class starships as the primary instrument
of exploration and provide a mobile platform for a wide range of scientific and cultural
research projects. Recent advancements in warp powerplant technology and scientific
instrumentation help to provide an autonomous capability for full execution of Federation
policy options in outlying areas. The Galaxy design was one of the first to incorporate a
separable saucer section capable of rejoining, enabling families and other passengers safe
escape while the battle portion of the ship engages an agressor. When designing the Galaxy class, Starfleet's Advanced Starship Design Bureau (ASDB) wanted to create a desgin that, when seen from a comfortable distance of two or three kilometers, would take on the graceful lines of a nonrepresentational organic sculpture. Nature has determined the flow of the design, adhering closely to mathematical formulae at work in the universe surrounding the builders. Even in the desire to expand beyond the apparent limitations of the natural world, and avian creatures of dozens of habitable worlds independently developed the unmistakable attributes of streamlining, so too did their interstellar cousin. The combination of forces produced within the warp engine core and the flow of space and subspace around the vessel created the particular engineering solution to the problem of faster-than-light travel. The initial Starfleet requirement that a single spacecraft be able to perform as three distinct vehicles presented some rather complex computational challenges. The docked configuration presented the most efficent use of warp flight forces, but the Battle Section was also required to perform to specifications at warp velocities on its own, and the Saucer Module would have to have the capabilities of high sublight speed and possibliy survive a seperation at high warp. Scientists and engineers throughout the Federation, with all deportment of composers and conductors, arranged sweeping curves, described vast volumes, and summoned up fantastic energies to bring their creation into existence. Now, with fully one tenth of the Galaxy class starships operational life behind her, the Federation is just becoming aware of the success that was achieved when the basic design was first laid out. The Galaxy class is likely to continue serving Starfleet, and the United Federation of Planets, well into the 25th century. |