

(covers information from several alternate timelines Multiple realities

For the 23rd century starship class, please see Galaxy class (23rd century).

"Let's see what this Galaxy-class starship can do!"

The Galaxy-class was a Starfleet vessel first introduced in the mid 2360s. It was one of the largest and most powerful Federation starship classes of its time, with many serving in the Dominion War. Starfleet had previously operated another type of Galaxy-class starship in the 2250s. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command")

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History

Design and development

The Galaxy Class Starship Development Project took place at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. (TNG: "Booby Trap", "Eye of the Beholder") Numerous technologies implemented on Galaxy-class starships were tested aboard earlier prototype vessels, including the Oberth-class USS Pegasus in the 2350s. (TNG: "The Pegasus")

The warp core was designed at Outpost Seran T-1 on stardate 40052 by some of the most brilliant engineering minds in the Federation, including Leah Brahms of the Theoretical Propulsion Group. (TNG: "Booby Trap")

Major component construction of Galaxy-class ships was carried out both in orbit and at ground based facilities. (TNG: "Booby Trap", "Parallels")

Although the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual portrays a long, multi-decade design and construction of Galaxy-class ships, " Booby Trap " and " Eye of the Beholder " seem to suggest that this timeline was much faster, as the warp core design was finalized just one year prior to the launch of the Enterprise-D. The ship itself was still under major construction one year prior to " Encounter at Farpoint ". GalaxyEnterprise

Upon its launch, the Galaxy-class had become the most technologically sophisticated and complicated ship ever built by the Federation. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Lonely Among Us", "Contagion")

Early years

Service aboard a Galaxy-class starship was considered an extremely prestigious assignment and they attracted some of Starfleet's finest officers. (TNG: "Ménage à Troi", "Ensign Ro"; VOY: "Relativity") They were noted for their impressive abilities among Federation citizens and other Alpha Quadrant races. (TNG: "Tin Man", "Chain of Command, Part I"; DS9: "Valiant"; VOY: "Infinite Regress") Some Galaxy-class ships were able to house large civilian populations; many assigned personnel even brought their families aboard to live with them.

In 2365, the safety of the Galaxy-class, in particular its warp propulsion system, came into question when the USS Yamato was lost in a mysterious accident near the Romulan Neutral Zone claiming the lives of all personnel and their families. The ship had experienced massive system-wide failures which eventually led to a loss of antimatter containment. Further investigation revealed the malfunctions were the result of an Iconian software transmission and not a design flaw inherent to the ship. (TNG: "Contagion")

Undoubtedly the most prominent early Galaxy-class starship was the Federation flagship USS Enterprise-D, which, apart from two brief periods under the commands of William T. Riker and Edward Jellico, was commanded for its entire service history by Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The Enterprise-D made first contact with a multitude of new species, including the Q Continuum and the Borg Collective. Its diplomatic efforts helped cool tensions between smaller, regional powers and prevent dramatic upheavals to the security of the Federation during the Klingon Civil War, and frequently checked Romulan and Cardassian operations in tense situations. It fought off some of the Federation's toughest foes, most notably preventing the assimilation of Earth during the Borg invasion of 2367. (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Dominion War

A Galaxy-class ship was involved in the disastrous first contact with the Dominion. The USS Odyssey had entered the Gamma Quadrant in order to rescue several Federation citizens who had been taken captive by the Jem'Hadar. While the Odyssey was retreating, a Jem'Hadar attack ship made a suicide run at its stardrive section, causing a massive hull breach and resulting in the complete destruction of the ship. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar") This act marked the beginning of three years of hostilities between the Federation and the Dominion, culminating in the outbreak of the Dominion War.

Galaxy-class starships saw action in many of the major fleet actions of the war including Operation Return, where ships of the class played a tactical role as leaders for Galaxy-wing squadrons, (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels") the First Battle of Chin'toka, (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets") and the Battle of Cardassia. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Analysis of the battle from " Sacrifice of Angels " showed no less than ten Galaxy-class vessels in the combined Federation fleet during Operation Return. This would indicate that there were more than the initial six Galaxy-class starships referenced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual. The total of six ships stems from Roddenberry's assumption that Starfleet would not have constructed vessels of that large a size in substantial numbers. The Manual however also states that an additional six space frames were constructed and laid up to be completed at a moment when circumstances so dictated. GalaxyGalaxyStar Trek: The Next Generation Technical ManualManual

Later status

Several more starships entered the fleet inventory during the 2370s. Several Galaxy-class ships were shown under construction at Utopia Planitia. (TNG: "Parallels"; VOY: "Relativity") By the latter half of the decade, Galaxy-class ships were seen all around Federation space, from stations near Earth where a number of Galaxy-class ships were part of the fleet assembled to intercept a Borg sphere in 2378, to ships operating near the Romulan Neutral Zone. (VOY: "Endgame"; Star Trek Nemesis)

By 2399, a hologram of a Galaxy-class vessel was occasionally displayed at the ceiling of Starfleet Headquarters. (PIC: "Maps and Legends")





Alternate timelines

In an alternate timeline 2366, in which the United Federation of Planets was at war with the Klingon Empire, the Enterprise-D was the Federation's first Galaxy-class warship. It featured 42 decks and was capable of transporting over 6000 troops. Though the vessel's exterior appearance was similar if not identical to that of the vessel in the normal timeline, there were interior changes. The ship's bridge was darkly lit, while Ten Forward featured much brighter lighting. Certain features, such as the command chair, possessed a more militaristic appearance, and this chair was not surrounded by seats for the first officer and an additional officer. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

In an alternate future, refitted Galaxy-class ships remained in service long after 2370, although some attempts had been made to decommission them. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

Technical data

Physical arrangement

The Enterprise-D had an overall length of 641 meters, an overall width of 473 meters, and an overall height of 133 meters. The gross vehicle mass of this ship was 5,000,000 metric tons. The ship had a standard crew complement of 1,012 persons, with a maximum evacuation capacity of 15,000 persons. The environmental standard on the ship was equivalent to M-class. The maximum sustainable speed was warp 9.2 and the maximum rated speed was 9.8. (TNG: "New Ground" okudagram)

Andrew Probert had originally wanted to make the Galaxy-class exactly 2,000 feet long, but the final design is slightly longer because Gene Roddenberry asked him to lengthen the nacelles in order to match the traditional Enterprise proportions more closely. The vast majority of informed sources state that the Galaxy-class is 2,108 feet (642.5 meters) long, including Ed Whitefire's unpublished blueprints which were created with the help of the Star Trek art department. [2] [3] GalaxyEnterpriseGalaxyStar Trek

The design included two hull sections: a saucer-shaped primary hull, and a detachable secondary hull which housed the ship's primary engines. They could be reversibly separated, and were both equipped with independent flight and combat capabilities. Generally, civilians and non-essential personnel would evacuate to the saucer module, while the senior staff confronted a threat in the battle section, which contained the majority of weapons systems. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") The saucer was able to withstand a crash landing on a planetary surface. (Star Trek Generations) However, in dire situations, the saucer section could still be used in combat. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

Although children appeared to be evacuated from the star drive section in Generations, Ronald D. Moore commented: "I believe the children were actually being rushed to their "crash stations" or "emergency stations" or something, not being brought up from the battle section. The same goes for the patients in sickbay." (AOL chat, 1997) GenerationsI believe the children were actually being rushed to their "crash stations" or "emergency stations" or something, not being brought up from the battle section. The same goes for the patients in sickbay.

The interior space of the Galaxy-class was left somewhat customizable; areas such as Deck 8 were designated as unfinished and multipurpose, in the event that extra space was needed for a specific mission. (TNG: "Liaisons")

According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, when the Enterprise-D was initially launched from Utopia Planitia, a full 35% of the customizable space was left empty, to be later filled with individual modules as seen fit.

Command and control systems

The computer system on board the Galaxy-class was isolinear-based. (TNG: "The Naked Now") Computer systems were concentrated in a computer core, which was accessible through a maintenance room. (TNG: "Evolution", "The Bonding") There was a starboard computer core. (TNG: "The Nth Degree") Each Galaxy-class vessel carried a total of three independent computer cores; two located in the saucer section and one in the engineering section.

According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, all of the ship's essential computer processing functions may be handled by a single core.

Propulsion systems

Galaxy-class ships achieved warp flight through two warp nacelles, which housed multiple pairs of warp coils. (TNG: "Eye of the Beholder") The warp core was one of the most powerful in Starfleet, generating approximately 12.75 billion gigawatts of power. (TNG: "True Q") The efficiency of the warp drive could be tweaked to a point where it rivaled the new USS Intrepid in 2370. (TNG: "Force of Nature") The warp core spanned twelve decks in the engineering hull. The deuterium tanks were above the core, while antimatter storage pods surrounded the base of the core on Deck 42. (TNG: "Liaisons")

The acceleration delay between slow-reverse impulse and top warp speed, or about warp 9, was 0.300 milliseconds. (TNG: "The Last Outpost") Warp speeds above 9.3 were beyond the red line. The maximum warp speed was warp 9.6, which could be maintained for a few hours. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Best of Both Worlds") It was also possible to achieve warp 9.65. (TNG: "Q Who") Warp 9.8 was also achievable in theory, but at extreme risk. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") As of the year 2366, the USS Enterprise-D, a Galaxy-class vessel, was known to have been the fastest ship in Starfleet. (TNG: "Tin Man")

There were three impulse engines, two on the saucer section and one in the stardrive section. In early ships, only the impulse engine in the stardrive section was usually active. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

Upgrades

Upgrades to the propulsion systems were tested in 2370 aboard the Enterprise-D; the ship received a new warp core manufactured with interphase technology. (TNG: "Phantasms") A major overhaul of the nacelles was also conducted that year. (TNG: "Eye of the Beholder") By the mid 2370s, most Galaxy-class ships began operating with all three impulse engines activated. (DS9: "Favor the Bold", "Tears of the Prophets"; VOY: "Timeless")

Scientific systems

Galaxy-class ships supported a wide variety of scientific equipment and laboratories studying many different disciplines. (TNG: "Liaisons") The departments often had to compete for limited resources such as sensor time, which were allocated by the operations officer or, on occasion, the executive officer. (TNG: "Lessons")

In addition to sensors, Galaxy-class ships were equipped with a variety of probes and scientific devices that could be launched from the torpedo launchers. These included basic scanner probes and reconnaissance probes, class-A probes and probes from class-1 to class-5. (TNG: "Where Silence Has Lease", "Force of Nature", "Ship in a Bottle", "Chain of Command, Part I") The ships were also equipped with a number of space buoys including the basic stationary beacons, warning buoys and emergency buoys. (TNG: "Where Silence Has Lease", "Identity Crisis", "Descent, Part II")

Upgrades

Sensor systems could be customized and upgraded as necessary for a specific mission. Additional equipment could be added as required. (TNG: "Cause and Effect", "Schisms") The latest technologies were generally outfitted to Galaxy-class ships as they left the experimental stages. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

Tactical systems

The Galaxy-class was equipped with twelve phaser banks, distributed in phaser arrays at various points along both hulls. One array was located on the dorsal of the battle section and could only be used following a separation. Multiple phaser beams could be fired simultaneously from a single array. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels") There were also fore and aft torpedo launchers on the engineering section. (TNG: "Conundrum") Each launch tube was capable of firing at least five photon torpedoes simultaneously, each torpedo capable of being independently targeted. (TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Yesterday's Enterprise") In the 2360s, Galaxy-class ships typically carried about 250 photon torpedoes. The torpedo launchers were also capable of launching probes. The Galaxy-class also carried antimatter mines and supported a high-capacity deflector shield grid. (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part II", "Conundrum")

While "Conundrum" establishes that there were only ten phaser banks aboard the ship, a visual inspection shows twelve arrays and effects in " The Best of Both Worlds " and " Darmok " have established extra emitters on the nacelle pylons and in the forward torpedo launcher. Schematics of the Enterprise created by Rick Sternbach include an aft-firing launcher on the saucer section, [4] but this launcher was not incorporated to the filming model. The Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual states that ten torpedoes can be launched simultaneously from a launcher and 275 torpedoes are usually carried by the ship. The script of " Conundrum " also uses the figure 275, instead of the 250 mentioned on-screen. [5] In TNG : " Preemptive Strike ", Ro stated there was a weakness in the aft shields where the impulse exhaust destabilized them, but this appeared to be a ruse, as Captain Picard gave the order to let Ro's ship come through. Enterprise

Additionally, the engineering crew of the Enterprise-D discovered a way to convert the main deflector dish of the Galaxy-class into a beam weapon of unprecedented power. This weapon was successfully tested against a Borg cube in 2367, and possessed enough firepower that the Borg cube would likely have been destroyed in a single shot had it not been for the fact that, with the assimilation of Jean Luc Picard, the Borg had managed to preemptively adapt to the frequency of the energy. Initial usage of the weapon burned out the main deflector dish and required the crew of the Enterprise-D to spend several hours conducting repairs. However, the only other time the weapon was used, it appeared not to have caused any of the system damage that it had previously been observed to cause, though it was not fired for the same length of time. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", "Night Terrors")

Certain Galaxy-class ships, such as the USS Venture, were fitted with additional phaser arrays on the dorsal surfaces of their nacelles. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

The additional phasers were originally designed for the modified four-foot Enterprise-D model in TNG : " All Good Things... ". The "bumps" containing the phaser arrays on the Venture were rotated a full one-hundred eighty degrees from those on the Enterprise-D. The Venture was the only ship seen with these weapons; none of the CGI Galaxy-class ships used exclusively since the fifth season of DS9 (including the Venture itself) had these weapons. EnterpriseVentureEnterpriseVentureGalaxyVenture

Upgrades

The Enterprise-D received weapons systems upgrades in 2370, including a loadout of higher-yield photon torpedoes and enhanced targeting sensors programmed by Lieutenant Worf. (TNG: "Genesis")

Crew support

While Starfleet policy permitted the immediate family of officers and crew to stay aboard starships prior to the advent of the Galaxy-class, it was the first class specifically tailored to accommodate civilian as well as Starfleet personnel. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") Civilians were allowed to hold varying positions in the science division aboard the Galaxy-class. (TNG: "Night Terrors")

Regarding the presence of families on starships, Ronald D. Moore commented "Perhaps [still] on some Galaxy-class ships, but I think this was an experiment that failed." (AOL chat, 1997) "I think that the "family friendly" starship notion was an interesting idea, but one that didn't pan out. There was always something awkward about Picard ordering the ship into battle situations with kiddies running through the corridors. And no matter how much lip service we paid to the "our families are part of our strength" concept, it never seemed very smart or very logical to bring the spouse and kids along when you're facing down the Borg, or guarding the Neutral Zone, or plunging the ship into uncharted spatial anomalies." (AOL chat, 1997) Perhaps [still] on some-class ships, but I think this was an experiment that failed.I think that the "family friendly" starship notion was an interesting idea, but one that didn't pan out. There was always something awkward about Picard ordering the ship into battle situations with kiddies running through the corridors. And no matter how much lip service we paid to the "our families are part of our strength" concept, it never seemed very smart or very logical to bring the spouse and kids along when you're facing down the Borg, or guarding the Neutral Zone, or plunging the ship into uncharted spatial anomalies.

Interior design

The predominant color scheme of the corridors aboard possessed blue carpeting on the corridor floors and silver-blue wall paneling.

In Star Trek Generations , the interior lighting scheme of the Enterprise-D was noticeably darkened. Enterprise

Main bridge

The main bridge of the Galaxy-class was located on Deck 1 of the saucer section. Different Galaxy-class starships had different bridge designs. The following describes the bridge design used in at least two Galaxy-class starships, including the USS Enterprise-D.

The theory of different bridge designs for different Galaxy-class starships comes from the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual. In DS9 : " The Jem'Hadar ", the USS Odyssey featured a completely different bridge design from that of the USS Enterprise-D. GalaxyStar Trek: The Next Generation Technical ManualOdysseyEnterprise

The forward bulkhead was dominated by the main viewscreen. Directly aft of this were the operations officer and conn positions. At the very center of the room was the command area – the captain's chair at the center, flanked by chairs for the first officer to the right, and an additional officer (typically the ship's counselor or chief medical officer) to the left. Each of these command stations included consoles for shipboard systems access. Smaller backless seats were located on the edges of the command area, for other officers to sit, should the need arise.

In the pilot, as well as early in the first season, the forward bridge consoles did not seem to be dedicated specifically to either helm control or operations since Data, the operations officer, can be seen in both the left and right stations at different times. The console seats were also more reclined in earlier seasons, but became more upright in later seasons.

It should be noted that helm control could either be operated from the left or right forward stations, or in some cases from the tactical station. It also should be noted that the operations console was capable of communications, scanning, and course navigation.

The tactical console, positioned directly behind the captain, was located in the wooden handrail that encircled the rear half of the central command area. The aft bulkhead carried several additional consoles. These could be customized as needed, (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I") and were reconfigured at least twice. In 2364, the consoles, from starboard to port, were Science I, Science II, Propulsion, Emergency Manual Override, and Environment. By 2365, they were Science I, Science II, Mission Ops, Environment, and Engineering. The stations featured pullout seats below the console, which were normally flush with the panel below the stations. The bridge was also equipped with two food replicators. (citation needed • edit)

In Star Trek: Bridge Commander, the "tactical" console was reconfigured for engineering and sciences.

By necessity, the bridge had easy access to and from all other important areas of the ship. In all, there were six doors leading from the room. Moving clockwise from the main viewscreen, the first door, level with and to the right of the conn, led directly to the battle bridge emergency turbolift. At the rear right of the bridge, a shallow alcove contained two doors, one of which led to a head, the other to a corridor leading to the observation lounge. The door at the rear left of the room opened onto a standard turbolift. Continuing around, the fifth door led into the captain's ready room, the sixth to another turbolift. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

As the main bridge housed so many critical systems, numerous emergency environmental and power backups were included so that duty personnel could continue to work for up to 72 hours in the event of a major shutdown or incapacitation of the vessel. (citation needed • edit) Other safeguards included seven redundant safety interlocks to prevent the life support from being turned off on the bridge. (TNG: "Brothers")

The USS Yamato's bridge had a very similar configuration to the Enterprise-D bridge. (TNG: "Where Silence Has Lease", "Contagion")

Upgrades

The bridges of Galaxy-class ships were subject to several minor cosmetic changes over their first decade of service. Aboard the USS Enterprise-D, these could be seen as early as 2365, the starship's second year of service. The computer access panels on the port and starboard walls were replaced; pin-striping was added to the tactical console bulkhead behind the captain's chair; the reclined conn and ops seats were replaced with upright versions; the cushioned end seats were removed from the command area; the "flip-open" captain's chair consoles were replaced with permanently open units; and the direction of the viewscreen beacon was reversed. (TNG: "The Child") Several changes were also made to the bridge's carpeting in subsequent years.

The Enterprise-D bridge's first major refit came in 2371. Six new stations were added, three on each side of the bridge replacing the equipment lockers. The aft stations were accordingly reprogrammed and moved to different locations. The three starboard stations were designated Science I, II, and III. Science IV became the first aft station, followed by Mission Ops, Environment, and Engineering I/II. The port side of the bridge had three communications stations, consoles which were not common to the bridges of 24th century ships. In addition, the command chairs were raised two steps above the helm and ops stations, to provide the captain with an unobstructed view of the forward viewscreen. New carpeting and handrails were also added. (Star Trek Generations)



Observation lounge

The observation lounge was located directly aft of the main bridge. The room was usually used as a conference room for the vessel's senior staff. It featured large, aft-facing windows that offered a spectacular view of the back of the starship and space beyond. A conference table with seating for ten people was the main feature of the room, (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") with LCARS screens on the port and starboard walls for information displays and retrieval. (TNG: "The Child") Holographic emitters embedded within the table could also be used for presenting data. (TNG: "The Last Outpost") Some starships featured artwork along the wall opposite the windows; when this was not present the bare wall showed several structural supports. (TNG: "Darmok")

Battle bridge

The battle bridge was located on Deck 8 and was connected to the main bridge and other vital areas of the ship by an emergency turbolift. It was designed to control the stardrive section following a saucer separation. Unlike the main bridge, there was much more focus on combat and tactical systems and no science stations. The battle bridge was modular, like the main bridge; at least two variants have been seen aboard Galaxy-class ships. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

The battle bridge also had an auxiliary turbolift located on Deck 17, according to TNG : " Heart of Glory ".

Main engineering

Engineering systems spanned twelve decks of the engineering section. Engineering itself was located on Deck 36, (TNG: "Liaisons") and was an open-plan facility, directly accessible from the corridor. Consisting of two levels, it provided direct access to the vessel's warp core and primary engineering support systems. The corridor bulkhead housed the Master Situation Monitor. Inside the main section, the master systems display was the operational focus of the room. Beyond this, heading towards the warp core, the chief engineer's office and several support consoles were located on the left, and the assistant chief engineer's console on the right. These formed part of the bulkhead protecting the main part of engineering from the warp core. Access to the upper level, a circular area surrounding the warp core, was provided by a ladder to the left of the warp core or an elevator on the right. The upper level had access to other warp core maintenance systems. (TNG: "The Dauphin", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

Engineering could also serve as a backup to the main bridge if it was damaged or disabled. (TNG: "Brothers")

In the event of a major failure, such as an imminent warp core breach, engineering was equipped with isolation doors and force fields to contain various sections of the facility, usually to seal off the warp core prior to detonation or ejection. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "Violations"; Star Trek Generations)

Medical facilities

The Galaxy-class medical department was charged with providing health care to the ship's company and all attached personnel.

Sickbay

There were at least three sickbay wards aboard the ship, (TNG: "Tapestry") with at least one in the saucer section (TNG: "Genesis") and another in the stardrive section. (TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom") There were four recovery biobeds on the periphery of the room with a main surgical biobed opposite them, covered by a large overhead sensor cluster and capable of hookup to a surgical support frame. Equipment storage and various control panels were located throughout sickbay. The chief medical officer's office was a small space just off the main sickbay, with desk and workspace for the CMO. A small foyer connected the office to the sickbay; it contained a replicator terminal.

Separate, private recovery rooms were also located near sickbay, (TNG: "Ethics") as was a nursery (TNG: "Home Soil", "Data's Day") and a diagnostic center. (TNG: "Transfigurations")

A Galaxy-class sickbay also had the facilities to isolate parasitic protoviruses. (TNG: "Brothers")

In an alternate timeline caused after the USS Enterprise-C traveled from 2344 to 2366 via a temporal rift, there was a null-G ward of sickbay. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

Medlabs

Galaxy-class ships had at least four medical laboratories of varying sizes. There was a small laboratory accessible through the foyer outside the chief medical officer's office where minor experiments run by on-duty personnel could be monitored. (TNG: "Home Soil", "Evolution", "Clues", "The Game") Other larger medlabs similar to standard science labs were elsewhere. (TNG: "Ethics")

Surgical suite

Surgeries too complicated for the sickbay ward could be conducted in a separate surgical area which had a large variety of bio-support systems. (TNG: "Ethics")

Emergency bio-support unit

There was a separate room located near the main sickbay facility on Deck 12 that contained the emergency bio-support unit. Patients with severe burn injuries could be treated here in a closed cell. (TNG: "Transfigurations")



Physical rehabilitation bay

Similar in size and design of the room housing the emergency bio support unit, this space was used for the physical rehabilitation of patients in sickbay. Several weights were available in racks as well various scanners, including the prominently placed unit located in the center of the ceiling. (TNG: "Transfigurations")



Morgue

A morgue facility with storage slots for several bodies was located adjacent to sickbay. (TNG: "Man of the People", "Suspicions", "Night Terrors")

Counselor's office

The ship's counselor had their own office, located on Deck 9. Crew members needing emotional support could meet in private with the counselor here. (TNG: "The Icarus Factor", "The Price", "Realm of Fear", "Man of the People", "Dark Page")

Scientific department

The Galaxy-class starship housed over one hundred (citation needed • edit) separate scientific research labs. Very few of the research labs remained under the same discipline of science for more than six months. (citation needed • edit) Most shared the same design; only a few had extremely specialized equipment.

Stellar cartography

Stellar cartography was located on Deck 9. There were at least two laboratories based there; one, a smaller facility similar to the other labs aboard the ship (TNG: "Lessons"); another, a much larger cylindrical room spanning three decks. The walls of the room were designed to be a three-dimensional display. (Star Trek Generations)

Cybernetics lab

Aboard the Enterprise-D, the cybernetics lab was a circular room, with a raised platform in its center containing a shell which could hold a cybernetic body. The entire assembly could retract into the ceiling and was directly controlled by a console to the side. There were additional wall-mounted consoles throughout the room. (TNG: "The Offspring", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II") Another laboratory was of a rectangular design, although it still featured the shell assembly. (TNG: "I Borg")



Arboretum

The arboretum was capable of studying and supporting a wide variety of plant life, and also doubled as a social area. (TNG: "Night Terrors", "Imaginary Friend", "Dark Page")

Cetacean labs

The Galaxy-class starship carried a complement of cetaceans. Among the crew, these facilities were also known as "the dolphin tanks" (TNG: "The Perfect Mate") or the "aquatic lab." (TNG: "Genesis")

In an alternate timeline, these facilities were also known as Cetacean Ops. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

These labs are shown in the saucer section in the Star Trek: The Next Generation USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D Blueprints and are mentioned in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual. While the area itself was unfortunately never seen on the show, their existence has been confirmed in dialogue. Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual

Transport and cargo

Transporter rooms

Galaxy-class starships had twenty transporter rooms located throughout the vessel. (TNG: "11001001") Four transporter rooms were located on Deck 6 in the saucer section, (TNG: "The Game") while two more were on Deck 14 in the stardrive section. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

Shuttlebays

There were three shuttlebays aboard each Galaxy-class starship, supporting many varieties of shuttlecraft. The main shuttlebay was located on Deck 4 in the saucer section. It was so massive that an explosive decompression of the air within the bay would contain enough force to propel the ship forward. (TNG: "Cause and Effect") Two smaller bays, shuttlebays 2 and 3, were on Deck 13 in the engineering hull. (TNG: "The Next Phase")

Galaxy-class starships were equipped with five hangars, hangars 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, for the overhauling, refitting, testing, and storage of auxiliary craft. (TNG: "Evolution", display graphic)

The main shuttlebay would have been prohibitively expensive to build as an actual set, and was only seen in miniature form during " Cause and Effect ". During the first few seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Shuttlebays 2 and 3 were erroneously shown on Deck 11.

Embarked craft

Cargo bays

There were numerous multi-level cargo bays located all throughout the ship. Most of these bays contained sufficient room for storage, cargo transporters, and anti-grav units for the transportation of cargo. (TNG: "The Hunted", "Hollow Pursuits") Cargo bay four was the only cargo bay with direct access to the exterior hull. (TNG: "Power Play", "Disaster")



Crew quarters

Crew quarters on the Galaxy-class were located throughout both the saucer section and the engineering hull. (TNG: "Imaginary Friend"; Star Trek Generations) Pets, including cats and dogs, were also allowed aboard ship. (TNG: "Data's Day")

There were several types of crew quarters aboard:

Recreational facilities

Ten Forward

Located at the forward-most section of the saucer module on Deck 10 (deck 10, forward section one), Ten Forward served as the social center of the ship. It had a battery of recreational games including three-dimensional chess as well as a fully stocked bar which carried syntheholic beverages. The replicators were also able to produce other food and drinks for the crew to enjoy in a relaxed social setting. Its large, panoramic windows permitted a staggering view of the ship's passage through space. (TNG: "The Child", "Power Play")

To date, Ten Forward has only been shown on board the Enterprise-D. However, there is no evidence that it was not a feature of every Galaxy-class ship. Given the extended duration of their missions, it is likely that designers included this feature on her sister ships to serve their recreational and social needs as well. In the novel The Return, Ten Forward is replaced by "Shuttlebay Four" aboard the USS Challenger. The novel Resistance establishes that before leaving the USS Enterprise-E for the USS Titan, Commander Riker named the ship's bar lounge the "Happy Bottom Riding Club," which was a name Worf absolutely hated and refused to use under any circumstances. EnterpriseGalaxyChallenger

Holodeck

The Galaxy-class carried sixteen holodecks, which were located on Decks 9, 10, and 11. (TNG: "11001001", "Homeward")

Phaser range

The phaser range was located on Deck 12. A person stood on a platform in the center of the room, illuminated only by the light which came from above the platform. Colored circular lights, approximately the size of a Human hand, whirled across the walls, and the person aimed and fired at selected targets. After completing a round, the number of hits and misses, along with the percentage of accuracy, were tallied by the ship's computer. There were at least fifteen levels of difficulty, and the range could be customized for two-player competition.

The phaser range was also used by security officers to train personnel in marksmanship. (TNG: "A Matter Of Honor", "Redemption II")

Gymnasium

The gymnasium, which was also on Deck 12, contained a variety of recreational equipment for a variety of sports. In addition to aerobic studios (TNG: "The Price") and martial arts areas, (TNG: "Clues", "Man of the People", "Second Chances", "Lower Decks") there was a parrises squares area, (TNG: "Second Chances") a squash court, (TNG: "Suddenly Human") and an anbo-jytsu court. (TNG: "The Icarus Factor") The gymnasium also featured a fencing room. Aboard the Enterprise-D, Captain Picard typically fenced with fellow crewmembers. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris", "I Borg", "Lessons")



Theater and concert hall

There was a large theater aboard, which was equipped to seat large groups of people. The theater could also be used as a concert hall for musical performances by crew members. (TNG: "Sarek", "Frame of Mind")

The theater set was a reuse of the Ten Forward set.

Salon

The salon was an area where crewmembers could get personal care ranging from a simple haircut to an elaborate spa treatment. (TNG: "Data's Day", "The Host", "Schisms")

Relaxing area

Relaxing areas were open rooms which were used by crewmembers to meet and talk. They were equipped with a couch, plants, and a viewscreen. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

This type of room only appeared in "Encounter at Farpoint" and was a reuse of the sickbay office set.

Replicating center

At the replicating center, crewmembers could replicate items which were too large or complicated for a standard food replicator terminal. They could "shop" for certain items by reviewing the fabrication database. (TNG: "Data's Day")

Educational facilities

There were several small schools of varying sizes located throughout the ship, ranging from actual classrooms (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks") to specialized workshops. (TNG: "Imaginary Friend", "Rascals", "Masks")



Ships commissioned

Named

Unnamed

Uncertain

Appendices

Appearances

Background information

The Galaxy-class starship was first (and mostly) seen as the USS Enterprise-D. It was designed by Andrew Probert. Interiors were supervised by Herman Zimmerman in both the first season of TNG and Star Trek Generations, and by Richard James for the intervening six seasons.

Technical specifications for the Galaxy-class were visible on a display in the conference lounge of the Enterprise-D beginning with the episode TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I".

A Galaxy-class starship appears in the series finale of all four Star Trek spin-offs; the Enterprise-D appears in "All Good Things" and "These Are the Voyages", while unnamed Galaxy-class ships appear in "What You Leave Behind" and "Endgame".

Studio model

Designing the bridge

Andrew Probert made a series of drawings refining the new look for the Enterprise's bridge. An early writers' bible for the new series described the new bridge as combining "the features of ship control, briefing room, information retrieval area, and officers' wardroom. In other words, much the same kinds of things happen here as in the old bridge, but with less emphasis on the mechanics of steering the starship."

That new, less mechanistic approach can be seen in the preliminary designs featuring viewing couches and a conference table on the bridge.

Technical specifications for the Galaxy-class were visible on a display in the conference lounge of the Enterprise-D beginning with the episode TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I".

Technical Manual

The Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual and the Star Trek: The Next Generation USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D Blueprints show that the Galaxy-class was equipped with a third aft torpedo launcher in the saucer section that was exposed upon the separation. This launcher however did not appear on the filming model.

The Technical Manual (pp 177-178) features several preliminary designs of a ship class that would one day replace the Galaxy-class as the primary explorer ship of the fleet. One of the designs for the Nova-class was a down-sized ship with much less internal volume that allowed each ship to be refitted for specific mission types. A smaller ship of this class first appeared on screen in VOY: "Equinox", though it was identified only as a class designed for short-term planetary research missions in the episode. In alternative futures seen in VOY: "Endgame" and ENT: "Azati Prime" the Nova-class is seen in long-term deep space assignment and battle ship roles as well.

The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual lists the class' statistics as follows:

Type: Explorer

Production Base: ASDB Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Mars

Accommodation: 1,012 officers and crew; 200 visiting personnel; 15,000 personal evacuation limit

Power Plant: One 1,500+ Cochrane warp core feeding two nacelles; one impulse system in stardrive section, two impulse systems in saucer section

Dimensions: Length: 642.51 meters Beam: 463.73 meters Height: 195.26 meters

Mass: 4,500,000 metric tons

Performance: Warp 9.6 for 12 hours (standard); warp 9.9 for 12 hours (uprated)

Armament: Eleven type-X phaser emitters; two photon torpedo launchers

Apocrypha

The 2001 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Calendar depicted the Galaxy-class USS Ronald D. Moore (NCC-70564) docked at Deep Space 9. According to Gary Hutzel, this ship was named after both Vice Admiral Ronald D. Moore and "a certain writer on a 20th century show." [6]

In the novel The Buried Age, set between the destruction of the USS Stargazer and Picard assuming command of the Enterprise-D, while on his first mission with Picard, Data discovers an attempt to implant a quantum virus in Starfleet computers that would introduce multiple subtle faults in the plans for the Galaxy-class as a means of discouraging future space exploration. While removing this errors would delay development of the Galaxy-class for a year or so compared to the original plans, Data's actions earn him an award for commendation for preventing the sabotage, and he is assured that he will have a place on one such ship when they go into service.

In the Star Trek: Armada series of computer games, the Galaxy-class is referred to as a battleship in gameplay. On screen, the USS Enterprise-D has been casually referred to as a battleship in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "All Good Things...". However, these instances take place in alternate timelines and it is not known if "battleship" is an actual starship type within Starfleet. In the episode TNG: "Conundrum", the Galaxy-class Enterprise-D was described as a battleship, based on her specifications.

In Peter David's New Frontier line of novels, Captain Calhoun and crew are given a Galaxy-class replacement for the lost Ambassador-class USS Excalibur. It is notable for also possessing a designation as the Excalibur-A, something only previously seen with Kirk's USS Enterprise.

In the Star Trek: Typhon Pact novel Rough Beasts of Empire, Benjamin Sisko assumes command of the Galaxy-class USS Robinson. The Robinson also appears in Plagues of Night.

Several Galaxy-class starships have been mentioned in novels and games:

The Galaxy-class (along with five sub-classes) is also seen in the game Star Trek Online, first obtainable when the player reaches a rank of Captain under the classification of "Exploration Cruiser". There's also a special version, the "Exploration Cruiser Refit", at that same rank that gives players the ability to use Antimatter Spread, confusing opponents visually. A third version appears at Vice Admiral-level which gives players the ability to use Saucer Separation. The modified version from "All Good Things..." is also available for Vice Admiral-level players, and is referred to as a "Federation Dreadnought Cruiser."