Specifications - USS Challenger NCC-1715

Summary

The Constitution class is the premier exploration ship in Starfleet's lineup. While there are some ships with better research facilities, such as the Crossfield science cruiser, or more firepower, such as the Federation dreadnought, no other class can boast of such a perfect balance between speed, power, scientific capability, and shear ruggedness. When launched in 2243, it was at the forefront of the "mid-century modern" design style that incorporated the newly developed duotronic computer systems and Marvik linear warp engine.

When first built in 2243, the Constitution class featured a number of significant upgrades over the previous generation of starships. It was designed from the ground up to utilize the newly developed duotronic computers, which allowed much greater processing power in a smaller package. The engines were also improved but more importantly were much more reliable than prior designs, allowing the ship to confidently travel further away from home without sacrificing speed. Perhaps most exceptional of all was the ship's rugged nature. The designers had significantly underestimated just how much better the improved power system and protective fields would be in practice, resulting in a ship that could take a beating and keep going, something proved again and again in encounters with space phenomena, high-speed emergency sprints, and skirmishes with Klingon battlecruisers.

Fourteen ships were ordered in the first block, but almost as soon as the last of that set left the yards more were being ordered as it had been immediately apparent how successful the design was. Starfleet took care that the Constitution received regular minor refits to keep it up to date, incrementally improving all systems through the first twenty years of its life. To keep up with rapid technological development, plans are now being made for a Total Modernization Program beginning in the 2270s.

General

Class		Constitution (2260 configuration)
Role		Explorer
Introduced		2243
Time Between Refits		5 years (minor) 25 years (major)
Time Between Resupply		2 years

Dimensions

Length		442 meters
Width		202 meters
Height		93 meters
Decks		23

Personnel

Officers		72
Enlisted Crew		428
Passengers		50
Emergency Capacity		2000

Speed

Propulsion		Impulse Engines Linear Warp Drive (old scale)
Cruise Speed		6
Maximum Speed		8
Emergency Speed		9

Weapons & Defensive Systems

Shields		Standard shields Structural integrity field Duranium double hull
Energy Weapons		6 twin phaser banks 6 single phaser banks
Launchers		2 fore, 2 aft Photon torpedo payload Probes

Auxiliary Craft

Shuttlebays		1
Shuttles		6 Type-F Shuttles
Pods		6 work pods or landing pods