Post by Odan Thos on May 8, 2009 3:17:35 GMT -6
Tactical systems
The original Excelsior design was outfitted with 5 dual phaser emplacements on the forward saucer section, and one dual emplacement on the aft of the saucer. Phaser emplacements were also positioned laterally, located port and starboard, near the point that the primary and secondary hulls meet, as well as one emplacement located between the nacelles.
In addition, the Excelsior was equipped with two forward and two aft photon torpedo launchers. Located in the forward section, above the deflector dish, were additional port and starboard torpedo launchers, which were capable of retracting into the ship and taking in craft up to the size of a Workbee.
Excelsior-Class Explorer
Accommodation: 450 (150 Officers - 300 Enlisted Crew) - up to 130 visiting scientists, diplomats and civilians
Classification: Explorer [Exploration/Diplomatic/Defensive]
Funding for Excelsior Class Development Project Provided by: Advanced Starship Design Bureau; United Federation of Planets Defense Council. Developed by the Newport News Engineering Consortium
Development Project Started: 2252
Production Start Date: 2283
Current Status: In Service
Locations of Excelsior-Class Construction:
* Antares Fleet Yard, Antares IV
* New Aberdeen Fleet Yard, Aldebarran
* Utopia Planitia Fleet Yard, Mars
* Copernicus Fleet Yard, Luna
* Atlas V Fleet Yard, Deneb V
* San Francisco Fleet Yard, Earth
REFIT HULL DESIGN STATISTICS
Length: 511.25 meters
Width: 195.64 meters
Height: 86.76 meters
Weight: 2,350,000 metric tons
Cargo capacity: 35,200 metric tons
Hull: Duranium hull plating over duranium-tritanium structural members
WARP PROPULSION SYSTEM
Type: NNEC Mark 4.5 Standard Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Drive, developed by Newport News Engineering Consortium. Information on this Warp Drive can be found in any Starfleet Library or Omnipedia.
Normal Cruising Speed: Warp 7
Cruising Speed as pursuant to Warp Limitations, as a cause of subspace pollution: Warp 6.6
Maximum Speed: Warp 9.4 for 12 hours
IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEM
Type: Standard Scarbak VI Excelsior Class mass drivers, developed specifically for the Excelsior Class
Output: Each engine (there are two impulse engines) can propel the Excelsior Class at speeds just under .75c, or "three-quarters maximum impulse". Maximum impulse is .994c (one tenth away from 186,282 miles per second, which is warp one), and requires both engines working at approximately half strength. Standard impulse operations are limited to a maximum speed of .25c, with each engine working at .125c, due to time dilation problems.
Physical Arrangement
The Excelsior-class featured the saucer section-engineering section-warp nacelle layout common to most Starfleet vessels. However, it featured a more streamlined design than was seen in previous classes.
Design features of the primary hull included a docking port located on the port side of the hull.
SHUTTLEBAYS
General Overview: Located at the dorsal bow of the ship, the Flight bay module has replaced the shuttlebay module that is in previous Classes Starships. This Flight bay contains the latest in Starfleet shuttle and runabout designs. The Flight bay is controlled by a space/air-traffic control room, known as "Flight Ops". This is located against the forward wall of the Flight bay, next to the exit for the turbolift. The Flight bay contains the following:
* Six Type 15 Shuttlespods
* Four Type 6 Shuttles
* Two Type 9 Shuttles
* Four Work Bees
* Ordinance and Fuel
* Flight Ops
SHUTTLES
TYPE-15 SHUTTLEPOD
Type: Light short-range sublight shuttle.
Accommodation: Two; pilot and system manager.
Power Plant: Two 500 millicochrane impulse driver engines, four RCS thrusters, three sarium krellide storage cells.
Dimensions: Length, 3.6 m; beam, 2.4 m; height 1.6 m.
Mass: 0.86 metric tones.
Performance: Maximum delta-v, 12,800 m/sec.
Armament: Two Type-IV phaser emitters.
The Type-15 Shuttlepod is a two person craft primarily used for short-ranged transportations of personnel and cargo, as well as for extravehicular inspections of Federation starships, stations and associated facilities. Lacking the ability to obtain warp speeds, the Type-15 is a poor candidate for even interplanetary travel, and is traditionally used as a means of transport between objects only a few kilometers apart. The craft is capable of atmospheric flight, allowing for routine flights between orbiting craft or stations and planetside facilities. Ships of this type are stationed aboard various starship classes and stations, both spaceborne and planetside.
A variant of this type, the Type-15A Shuttlepod, shares the same specifications of its sister craft, but is capable of reaching a maximum delta-v of 13,200 m/sec. The Type-15A was a limited production craft and the information gained from its service allowed for further streamlining of what would eventually become the Type-16 Shuttlepod. Still, the 15A remains in active service, and existing Type-15 spaceframes can easily be converted to the 15A provided that off the shelf parts are available. However, it should be noted that Starfleet Operations has deemed that the 15A spaceframe exhausts its fuel supply rather quickly and its production at major assembly plants is now discontinued.
TYPE-6 PERSONNEL SHUTTLE (UPRTD)
Type: Light short-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, six passengers.
Power Plant: One 50 cochrane warp engine, two 750 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 6.0 m; beam, 4.4 m; height 2.7 m.
Mass: 3.38 metric tones.
Performance: Sustained Warp 3.
Armament: Two Type-IV phaser emitters.
The Type-6 Personnel Shuttlecraft is currently in widespread use throughout Starfleet, and is only recently being replaced by the slightly newer Type-8 Shuttle of similar design. The Uprated version of this vessel is considered to be the ideal choice for short-range interplanetary travel, and its large size makes it suitable to transport personnel and cargo over these distances. A short-range transporter is installed onboard, allowing for easy beam out of cargo and crew to and from their destination. Atmospheric flight capabilities allow for this shuttle type to land on planetary surfaces. Ships of this type are currently in use aboard virtually every medium to large sized starship class, as well as aboard stations and Starbases.
The Type-6 is perhaps the most successful shuttle design to date, and its overall structure and components are the foundations upon which the Type-8, -9, and -10 spaceframes are based.
Major technological advancements in the 2370’s allowed for further upgrades to be made to the engine systems aboard shuttlecraft. These upgrades make this craft more capable of long-range spaceflight and, like its starship counterparst, no longer damages subspace.
TYPE-9 PERSONNEL SHUTTLE
Type: Medium long-range warp shuttle.
Accommodation: Two flight crew, two passengers.
Power Plant: One 400 cochrane warp engine, two 800 millicochrane impulse engines, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 8.5 m; beam, 4.61 m; height 2.67 m.
Mass: 2.61 metric tones.
Performance: Warp 6.
Armament: Two Type-VI phaser emitters.
The Type-9 Personnel Shuttle is a long-range craft capable of traveling at high warp for extended periods of time due to new advances in variable geometry warp physics. Making its debut just before the launch of the Intrepid-class, this shuttle type is ideal for scouting and recon missions, but is well suited to perform many multi-mission tasks. Equipped with powerful Type-VI phaser emitters, the shuttle is designed to hold its own ground for a longer period of time. Comfortable seating for four and moderate cargo space is still achieved without sacrificing speed and maneuverability. As is standard by the 2360’s, the shuttle is equipped with a medium-range transporter and is capable of traveling through a planet’s atmosphere. With its ability to travel at high-warp speeds, the Type-9 has been equipped with a more pronounced deflector dish that houses a compact long-range sensor that further helps it in its role as a scout. The Type-9 is now being deployed throughout the fleet and is especially aiding deep-space exploratory ships with its impressive abilities.
WORK BEE
Type: Utility craft.
Accommodation: One operator.
Power Plant: One microfusion reactor, four RCS thrusters.
Dimensions: Length, 4.11 m; beam, 1.92 m; height 1.90 m.
Mass: 1.68 metric tones.
Performance: Maximum delta-v, 4,000 m/sec.
Armament: None
The Work Bee is a capable stand-alone craft used for inspection of spaceborne hardware, repairs, assembly, and other activates requiring remote manipulators. The fully pressurized craft has changed little in design during the past 150 years, although periodic updates to the internal systems are done routinely. Onboard fuel cells and microfusion generators can keep the craft operational for 76.4 hours, and the life-support systems can provide breathable air, drinking water and cooling for the pilot for as long as fifteen hours. If the pilot is wearing a pressure suit or SEWG, the craft allows for the operator to exit while conducting operations. Entrance and exit is provided by the forward window, which lifts vertically to allow the pilot to come and go.
A pair of robotic manipulator arms is folded beneath the main housing, and allows for work to be done through pilot-operated controls. In addition, the Work Bee is capable of handling a cargo attachment that makes it ideal for transferring cargo around large Starbase and spaceborne construction facilities. The cargo attachment features additional microfusion engines for supporting the increased mass.
SEPARATED FLIGHT MODE
During catastrophic systems failure aboard an Excelsior class starship, the Primary Saucer section can detach from the engineering hull and flee via emergency thrusters and the retained forward momentum from emergency separation. This is considered a permanent measure, as reattaching the engineering hull to the saucer section requires a Starbase facility or Repair Depot to completely integrate the two vessels again. Typically, situations that require abandoning the engineering hull result in the destruction of the engineering hull, and upon rescue of the saucer section crew, the vessel is decommissioned.
Design Upgrades
Following its initial, and somewhat unsuccessful origins, the Excelsior underwent a minor refit, which included a new bridge module, in addition to a significant modification to the aft portion of the saucer section, surrounding the impulse drive, and a modification to the cargo bay on the aft ventral portion of the ship.
Deck Listings
* Deck 1
o Main Bridge
* Deck 2
o Observation lounge
o Subspace field coil system (in the warp nacelles, extends down to Deck 8)
* Deck 3
o Captain's quarters
o Officer's quarters
o Holo Deck 1
* Deck 4
o Vectored exhaust direction assembly
o Upper sensor module
* Deck 5
o Junior officer's quarters
o Lifeboat hatches
o Navigational sensor cluster
o Dorsal type-8 phaser emitters
o Field geometry sensors (in the nacelles)
o Holo Deck 2
* Deck 6
o Impulse reaction system (extends down to Deck 10)
* Deck 7
o Main sickbay
* Deck 8
o Port and starboard computer cores (upper section)
* Deck 9
o Port and starboard computer cores (mid section)
o RCS thruster assembly
* Deck 10
o RCS mooring emitter
o Port and starboard computer cores (lower section)
o Crew lounge
* Deck 12
o Warp reactor core (top level, extends down to Deck 26)
* Deck 14
o Lower sensor platform
* Deck 15
o Deflector control room.
o Forward photon torpedo launchers
o Aft crew lounge
o Aft type-8 phasers emitters
o Aft RCS mooring emitters
o Aft lateral sensor array (in the nacelle pylons)
* Deck 16
o Aft cargo bay doors (extends down to deck 18)
* Deck 18
o Aft cargo bay (floor level)
* Deck 19
o Main engineering
o Battle bridge
o Cargo bays (upper level)
o Transporter room
* Deck 20
o Cargo bays (mid level)
o Cargo conveyor (moves cargo between Deck 20 aft and Deck 22)
o Engineering hull lateral sensors
* Deck 21
o Cargo bays (lower level)
o Tractor beam emitter
* Deck 24
o Forward photon torpedo launchers
o Engineering computer core (top level)
* Deck 25
o Aft photon torpedo launchers
* Deck 26
o Warp reactor core (lower level)
* Deck 28
o Engineering computer core (bottom level)
* Deck 30
o (Engineering section Deck 15) Section 21 Alpha
+ Deflector relays
o Primary navigational deflector
* Deck 32
o Main shuttlebay
* Deck 33
o Antimatter storage
* Deck 34
o Antimatter fill port