Galaxy Class

Galaxy
Affiliation	United Federation of Planets / Starfleet
Year Beginning Service	2350s
Design Specifications
Ship Type	Battleship
Length	642 meters
Beam	464 meters
Height	195 meters
Crew	1,000+
Tactical Specifications
Armament	12 Type XII Collimated Phaser Array, 2 Quantum Torpedo Launchers (One Forward, One Aft)
Defenses	Deflector Shields, Cloaking Device
Engineering Spefications
Top Speeds	Warp 7.0 (Standard Cruising), Warp 9.5 (Maximum Cruising), Warp 9.9+ (Maximum Attainable)
Impulse Engines	Two Impulse systems

History

Design and Development

The Galaxy-class began development in the 2350s at 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-one 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.

Upon its launch, the Galaxy-class had become the most technologically sophisticated and complicated ship ever built by the Federation. (TNG: "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"; 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. The ship had experienced massive system-wide failures which eventually led to a loss of antimatter containment. Further investigation by the Enterprise-D 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 USS Enterprise-D, which, apart from two brief periods under the commands of William T. Riker and Edward Jellico, was commanded for its entire nine year career by Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Enterprise made first contact with a multitude of new species, including the Q Continuum, the Ferengi Alliance 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 unwarranted act led to 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 the class also played a major strategic role, grouped into Galaxy wings, (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")

Later Status

Several more starships entered the fleet inventory during the 2370s. (VOY: "Relativity") By the latter half of the decade, Galaxy-class ships were seen all around Federation space, from stations near Earth to near the Romulan Neutral Zone. (VOY: "Endgame"; Star Trek Nemesis)

In an unknown, alternate future timeframe, 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 Galaxy-class shared similar design characteristics with the slightly smaller Nebula-class.

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 even capable of crash-landing on a planetary surface. (Star Trek Generations)

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

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") Each Galaxy-class vessel carried a total of three independent computer cores; two located in the saucer section and one in the engineering section.

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 acceleration delay between slow-reverse impulse and top warp speed, or about warp 9, was 0.300 milliseconds. (TNG: "The Last Outpost") The maximum speed was warp 9.6, which could be maintained for approximately twelve hours. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Best of Both Worlds") 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 Intrepid-class ships introduced 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")

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.

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"; 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")

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 ten phaser banks, located 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. 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 supported a high-capacity deflector shield grid, with a weakness where the impulse exhaust destabilized the shields. (TNG: "Conundrum", "Preemptive Strike")

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") Certain Galaxy-class ships, such as the USS Venture, were refitted with additional phaser strips on the dorsal surfaces of their nacelles by 2372. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

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")

Interior Design

With the presence of families and non-Starfleet personnel aboard, the Galaxy-class interior was mostly designed for their comfort and the well being of the crew in general. While the major command sections maintained form and functionality above all, there remained a much more "relaxed" feel about the design of many of these areas.

Main Bridge

The main bridge of the Galaxy-class was located on Deck 1 of the saucer section. As with most starships, the main bridge was modular and could be completely replaced with another bridge if the need called for it. 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 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. Smaller backless seats were located on the edges of the command area, for other officers to sit, should the need arise.

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, Environment, Emergency Manual Override, and Propulsion Systems. 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.

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. Other safeguards included seven redundant safety interlocks to prevent the life support from being turned off, on the bridge. (TNG: "Brothers")

Upgrades

The bridges of Galaxy-class ships were subject to several minor cosmetic changes over their first decade of service. The first major refit came in 2371 as seen aboard the USS Enterprise-D. 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 Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

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, affectionately known as the pool table, 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")

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")

Morgue

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

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 Price")

Scientific department

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

Stellar cartography

The vessel also housed a stellar cartography department, located on Deck 9. There were at least two laboratories based there; one, a smaller facility similar to the other labs aboard the ship; 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 laboratory was redesigned in 2368 and altered to become much more rectangular, although it still featured the shell assembly. (TNG: "I Borg", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

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")

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 shuttlebays were on Deck 13 in the engineering hull. (TNG: "The Next Phase")

Embarked craft

• Type-6 shuttlecraft (TNG: "Darmok")
• Type-7 shuttlecraft (TNG: "Coming of Age")
• Type 15 shuttlepod (TNG: "Time Squared")
• Danube-class runabout (DS9: "Emissary", TNG: "Timescape")
• Captain's yacht

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")

Crew quarters

Most crew quarters on the Galaxy-class were located in the ship's saucer section, in order to provide safety for civilian and non-essential personnel during a saucer separation. However, the engineering hull also contained crew quarters, generally containing engineering personnel and their families. (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:

• Junior officers' quarters - These small-unit quarters were located on the interior of the ship and lacked windows. They were comprised of a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Crewmembers of Lieutenant Junior Grade were given their own quarters; ensigns were required to share quarters. (TNG: "Lower Decks") The living area contained a replicator terminal and was customizable with a variety of furniture and decorations.
• Officers' quarters - These quarters lined the edge of the saucer section and contained a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom area. (TNG: "Schisms", "Frame of Mind", "Genesis") They were generally reserved for lieutenant commanders and above. Similar quarters were also available to enlisted and civilian personnel with families. (TNG: "The Wounded")
• Captain's quarters - The captain's quarters, located on Deck 8, were similar to the officers' quarters but were slightly larger. The captain had a large desk area and work terminal. VIP and diplomatic guest quarters shared the same layout. (TNG: "Too Short a Season", "Sarek")

Recreational facilities

Ten Forward

Located at the forward-most section of the saucer module on Deck 10 (deck 10, forward station 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")

Holodeck

The Galaxy-class carried sixteen holodecks, which are 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", "Second Chances") 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 usually fenced with fellow crewmembers. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris", "I Borg")

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")

Salon

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

Replimat

At the Replimat, 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 Using This Class in Star Trek: Second Fleet Online

There are currently no ships in ST:SFO using this class.

References

Specifications for the ship: Memory Alpha and Ships of the Starfleet, Volume I

Pictures: From Paramount and CBS through Memory Alpha

Galaxy Class Battleship

Galaxy Class' Saucer Separation