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Starfleet
standard general use probes, are divided into nine classes, arranged
according to sensor types, power, and performance ratings. The features
common to all nine are spacecraft frames of gamma molded duranium-tritanium
and pressure-bonded lufium boronate, with certain sensor windows
of triple layered transparent aluminum. Sensors not utilizing the
windows are affixed through various methods, from surface blending
with the hull material to imbedding the active detectors within
the hull itself.
All
nine classes are equipped with a standard suite of instruments to
detect and analyze all normal EM and subspace bands, organic and
inorganic chemical compounds, atmospheric constituents, and mechanical
force properties. While all are capable of at least surviving a
powered atmospheric entry, only three are designed to function for
extended periods of aerial maneuvering and soft landing. Many of
the probes also include varying degrees of telerobotic operation
capabilities to permit real time control and piloting of the probe.
This permits the investigation team to remain on board the starship
while exploring what might otherwise be a dangerous hostile or otherwise
inaccessible environment.
The
probe types are shown below.
Class
I Sensor Probe
| Range: |
200,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
0.5c. |
| Powerplant: |
Vectored
deuterium micro-fusion propulsion. |
| Sensors: |
Full
EM/Subspace and interstellar chemistry pallet for in-space applications. |
| Telemetry: |
12,500
channels at 12 megawatts. |
Class
II Sensor Probe (Modified Class I)
| Range: |
400,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
0.65c. |
| Powerplant: |
Vectored
deuterium micro-fusion propulsion, with extended deuterium fuel
supply. |
| Sensors: |
Same
instrumentation as a Class I Probe, with addition of enhanced
long-range particle and field detectors and imaging system. |
| Telemetry: |
15,650
channels at 20 megawatts. |
Class
III Planetary Probe
| Range: |
1,200,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
0.65c. |
| Powerplant: |
Vectored
deuterium micro-fusion propulsion. |
| Sensors: |
Terrestrial
and gas giant sensor pallet with material smaple and return
capability, and an on-board chemical analysis sub-module. |
| Telemetry: |
13,250
channels at approximately 15 megawatts. |
| Additional
Data: |
Limited
SIF hull reinforcement. Full range of terrestrial soft landing
to subsurface penetrator missions. Gas giant atmosphere missions
survivable to 450 bar pressure. Limited terrestrial loiter time. |
Class
IV Stellar Encounter Probe (Modified Class III)
| Range: |
3,500,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
0.60c. |
| Powerplant: |
Vectored
deuterium micro-fusion propulsion supplemented with continuum
driver coil, and an extended maneuvering deuterium supply. |
| Sensors: |
Triply
redundant stellar fields and particles detectors, stellar atmosphere
analysis suite. |
| Telemetry: |
9,780
channels at 65 megawatts. |
| Additional
Data: |
Six
ejectable and survivable radiation flux subprobes. Deployable
for non-stellar energy phenomena. |
Class
V Medium-Range Reconnaissance Probe
| Range: |
43,000,000,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
Warp
2. |
| Powerplant: |
Dual-mode
matter / antimatter engine. Extended duration at sub-light,
and limited duration at warp. |
| Sensors: |
Extended
passive data-gathering and recording systems, with 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 observability
coatings and hull materials. Can be modified for tactical applications
with addition of custom sensor countermeasure package. |
Class
VI Communication Relay / Emergency Beacon
(Modified Class III)
| Range: |
43,000,000,000
km. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
0.8c. |
| Powerplant: |
Microfusion
engine with high output MHD power tap. |
| Sensors: |
Standard
pallet. |
| Telemetry
and |
| Communication: |
9,270
channel RF and subspace transceiver operation at 350 megawatts
peak radiated power. 360 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. |
Class
VII Remote Culture Study Probe (Modified Class V)
| Range: |
450,000,000
km. |
| 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 anti-tamper detectors. |
Class
VIII Medium-Range Multimission Warp Probe
(Modified Photon Torpedo casing)
| Range: |
120
light years. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
Warp
9. |
| Powerplant: |
Matter
/ antimatter warp field sustainer engine. Duration 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. |
Class
IX Long-Range Multimission Warp Probe
(Modified Photon Torpedo casing)
| Range: |
760
light years. |
| Delta-v
limit: |
Warp
9. |
| Powerplant: |
Matter
/ antimatter warp field sustainer engine. Duration 12 hours
at warp 9. Extended fuel supply for Warp 8 maximum flight duration
of fourteen 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. |
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Technology
General
Use Probes
