USS Argo Starship Library

Design Overview

While the Oberth-class science vessels enjoy what is by far the longest operational service record in Starfleet history, by the late 2350s it was becoming clear that the spaceframe was finally reaching its limit. When the matter arose at the ASDB review in 2359, the board was unanimous that a new class of science vessel was in order. However, the development of the craft was by no means a simple one; the final incarnation of the Nova class was in fact a combination of three very different projects.
The first was the project initiated by the ASDB to create a new class of small science vessel, designated the Gemini class. The requirement called for a ship capable of making relatively short duration missions; Starfleet intended to use these ships in the large unexplored areas between Federation controlled space, missions which would typically be staged out of Starbases and last for a few months up to a year at most. The second project was instituted in 2364, with a completely different purpose; that of developing a replacement vessel for the Galaxy-class starship. The Nova class project was from the beginning an ambitious undertaking; the designers were charged with completely reinventing the Explorer-type starship, and given an unprecedented ten years of concept development in which to do so. The designers tentatively settled on two concepts for the starship, massing approximately 10-40% less than the Galaxy class. One featured a hybrid angular-curvillianiar shape which, combined with actual moving segments of the hull, would allow the ship to best fit the hull configurations which were proving most effective for high-warp travel.
As time progressed, however, the Nova project became increasingly out of step with an ASDB which, following the Borg incursiouns, had become increasingly anxious to feild the next class of starship within the next five years, rather than fifty. Eventually, frustrated with the unwillingness of the top theoretical designers to abandon their advanced projects to assist with the rapid completion of the more conventional designs, the ASDB took the controversial step of actually shutting down the long-term development projects - including the Nova - and reassigning the engineers to projects such as the Sovereign. However, due to this move, many elements of developing classes came to be incorporated into existing starship designs. The curvilinear concept for one aborted Nova, for example, was modified to suit a much smaller vessel; a pathfinder prototype for the then-Valiant class, a vessel designed specifically to defeat the Borg. The unusual configuration of the saucer was the only outward sign of any technical advancement over existing starships; however, the vessel's design was far from the Starfleet norm. The saucer held an unprecendented armament of phaser cannon for a ship its size, combined with massive hull shielding and redundant power systems configured to permit the weapons to continue functioning even if the ship relied on batteries for life-support. One prototype was built, designated simply NX-70910, and had been field-testing for nearly six months when Starfleet chose to adopt another design, which would become the familiar USS Defiant. The pathfinder vessel was to be mothballed; however, the craft came to the attention of a project with a very different objective.
The Gemini project had undergone a massive restructuring in the 2360s as well; none of the working designs proved to be cost-efficient, and the ASDB officially terminated the project in 2365 due to unfeasability. However, the following year, one of the former engineers came across the recently terminated Valiant pathfinder, and realized that this vessel was, in essence, exactly what a small scince vessel would need - a small, durable hull and abundant power supply. A concept was submitted to the ASDB, in which the pathfinder's phaser cannon would be removed in favor of a high-gain parabolic sensor array, along with a reduction of the ship's warp core to a more "reasonable" size, and reconfiguration of one of the torpedo magazines to carry sensor probes. The newly christened USS Nova proved a solid design, and the ASDB approved production.
Some elements of the old Valiant pathfinder, such as the recessed bridge and reinforced hull, remained on the completed Nova class; it was thought that the vessel would thus be able to better cope with environmental difficulties such as ion storms or nebular turbulence. The class is also notable for the presence of two navigational deflectors, one located in the fore of the saucer section and doubling as a long-range sensor package. Furthermore, the Nova became the smallest ship to date to include an auxiliary spacecraft docked to the saucer's underside in the fashion of the Galaxy and Sovereign Yachts. The vessel is designed for low-altitude survey, particularly within gas giants and other worlds where the mothership would have difficulty penatrating a planetary atmosphere. The ship's maximum velocity is only Warp 8; however, the warp core is so stable that this velocity can be sustained for weeks, and the sensors can record detailed information even on the fly.
In service, the Novas have proven worthy replacements for the Oberth-class ships, although the onset of the Dominion War set back production significantly in favor of more combat-capable vessels. Now that the war is over, construction is likely to be resumed within the next year or so.

General Information

Category Unit Run Time Between Resupply Time Between Refit Expected Service Lifetime

Survey vessel 24 (21 in service) 6 Terran Months 2 Terran Years 50 Terran Years

Dimensions

Length Beam Depth Mass Crew Capacity

165 m 62 m 34 m 80,000 metric tons 90

Crew Compliment (Standard)

Officers Enlisted Crew Marines Civilians Total

8 70 0 0 78

Armament

Eight Type-VIII Phaser Arrays -- maximum output 6,000 TW

Two standard torpedo launchers (1 forward, 1 aft)

+30 torpedoes (20 photon Mk-VI, 10 quantum MK-I)

Defensive Systems

Auto-modulated deflector shield, total capacity 188,500 TJ

Standard Duranium single hull

Standard-level structural integrity field

Warp Systems

Standard Core Output Maximum Core Output Maximum Cruise Speed Maximum Safe Speed Maximum Speed

2.01 x 10⁵ TW (Cruise Mode) 8.47 x 10¹² TW Warp 7.00 Warp 7.85 (36 hrs.) Warp 8.00 (12 hrs.)

Impulse Systems

Primary Fusion Output Secondary Fusion Output Impulse Engine Output Impulse Engine Tolerance Maximum Accelleration

1.7 EJ/hr 1.5 EJ/hr 2.987 MeV/sec 8.012 MeV/sec 785,000 m/sec^-2

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Design Overview
While the Oberth-class science vessels enjoy what is by far the longest operational service record in Starfleet history, by the late 2350s it was becoming clear that the spaceframe was finally reaching its limit. When the matter arose at the ASDB review in 2359, the board was unanimous that a new class of science vessel was in order. However, the development of the craft was by no means a simple one; the final incarnation of the Nova class was in fact a combination of three very different projects. The first was the project initiated by the ASDB to create a new class of small science vessel, designated the Gemini class. The requirement called for a ship capable of making relatively short duration missions; Starfleet intended to use these ships in the large unexplored areas between Federation controlled space, missions which would typically be staged out of Starbases and last for a few months up to a year at most. The second project was instituted in 2364, with a completely different purpose; that of developing a replacement vessel for the Galaxy-class starship. The Nova class project was from the beginning an ambitious undertaking; the designers were charged with completely reinventing the Explorer-type starship, and given an unprecedented ten years of concept development in which to do so. The designers tentatively settled on two concepts for the starship, massing approximately 10-40% less than the Galaxy class. One featured a hybrid angular-curvillianiar shape which, combined with actual moving segments of the hull, would allow the ship to best fit the hull configurations which were proving most effective for high-warp travel. As time progressed, however, the Nova project became increasingly out of step with an ASDB which, following the Borg incursiouns, had become increasingly anxious to feild the next class of starship within the next five years, rather than fifty. Eventually, frustrated with the unwillingness of the top theoretical designers to abandon their advanced projects to assist with the rapid completion of the more conventional designs, the ASDB took the controversial step of actually shutting down the long-term development projects - including the Nova - and reassigning the engineers to projects such as the Sovereign. However, due to this move, many elements of developing classes came to be incorporated into existing starship designs. The curvilinear concept for one aborted Nova, for example, was modified to suit a much smaller vessel; a pathfinder prototype for the then-Valiant class, a vessel designed specifically to defeat the Borg. The unusual configuration of the saucer was the only outward sign of any technical advancement over existing starships; however, the vessel's design was far from the Starfleet norm. The saucer held an unprecendented armament of phaser cannon for a ship its size, combined with massive hull shielding and redundant power systems configured to permit the weapons to continue functioning even if the ship relied on batteries for life-support. One prototype was built, designated simply NX-70910, and had been field-testing for nearly six months when Starfleet chose to adopt another design, which would become the familiar USS Defiant. The pathfinder vessel was to be mothballed; however, the craft came to the attention of a project with a very different objective. The Gemini project had undergone a massive restructuring in the 2360s as well; none of the working designs proved to be cost-efficient, and the ASDB officially terminated the project in 2365 due to unfeasability. However, the following year, one of the former engineers came across the recently terminated Valiant pathfinder, and realized that this vessel was, in essence, exactly what a small scince vessel would need - a small, durable hull and abundant power supply. A concept was submitted to the ASDB, in which the pathfinder's phaser cannon would be removed in favor of a high-gain parabolic sensor array, along with a reduction of the ship's warp core to a more "reasonable" size, and reconfiguration of one of the torpedo magazines to carry sensor probes. The newly christened USS Nova proved a solid design, and the ASDB approved production. Some elements of the old Valiant pathfinder, such as the recessed bridge and reinforced hull, remained on the completed Nova class; it was thought that the vessel would thus be able to better cope with environmental difficulties such as ion storms or nebular turbulence. The class is also notable for the presence of two navigational deflectors, one located in the fore of the saucer section and doubling as a long-range sensor package. Furthermore, the Nova became the smallest ship to date to include an auxiliary spacecraft docked to the saucer's underside in the fashion of the Galaxy and Sovereign Yachts. The vessel is designed for low-altitude survey, particularly within gas giants and other worlds where the mothership would have difficulty penatrating a planetary atmosphere. The ship's maximum velocity is only Warp 8; however, the warp core is so stable that this velocity can be sustained for weeks, and the sensors can record detailed information even on the fly. In service, the Novas have proven worthy replacements for the Oberth-class ships, although the onset of the Dominion War set back production significantly in favor of more combat-capable vessels. Now that the war is over, construction is likely to be resumed within the next year or so.



General Information
Category	Unit Run	Time Between Resupply	Time Between Refit	Expected Service Lifetime
Survey vessel	24 (21 in service)	6 Terran Months	2 Terran Years	50 Terran Years

Dimensions
Length	Beam	Depth	Mass	Crew Capacity
165 m	62 m	34 m	80,000 metric tons	90

Crew Compliment (Standard)
Officers	Enlisted Crew	Marines	Civilians	Total
8	70	0	0	78

Armament
Eight Type-VIII Phaser Arrays -- maximum output 6,000 TW Two standard torpedo launchers (1 forward, 1 aft) +30 torpedoes (20 photon Mk-VI, 10 quantum MK-I)

Defensive Systems
Auto-modulated deflector shield, total capacity 188,500 TJ Standard Duranium single hull Standard-level structural integrity field

Warp Systems
Standard Core Output	Maximum Core Output	Maximum Cruise Speed	Maximum Safe Speed	Maximum Speed
2.01 x 10⁵ TW (Cruise Mode)	8.47 x 10¹² TW	Warp 7.00	Warp 7.85 (36 hrs.)	Warp 8.00 (12 hrs.)

Impulse Systems
Primary Fusion Output	Secondary Fusion Output	Impulse Engine Output	Impulse Engine Tolerance	Maximum Accelleration
1.7 EJ/hr	1.5 EJ/hr	2.987 MeV/sec	8.012 MeV/sec	785,000 m/sec^-2

Nova Class Design Specifications