Constellation class starship - Definition and Overview

The USS Hathaway (NCC-2593), a Constellation class starship

The Constellation class is a class of starships once used by United Federation of Planets's Starfleet organization in the Star Trek fictional universe. The Constellation class is a contemporary to the refitted Constitution class and Miranda class as seen in its similar primary hull and identical warp nacelles. A Constellation class starship is composed of a saucer-shaped primary hull with two backward-angled pylons at the aft end. The pylons rise vertically from the ventral side and dorsal side and each supports two warp nacelles at its end. The class was likely first produced in the late 23rd century and was mostly obsolete and underpowered by the mid-24th century. As of the 2370s, the Constellation class is no longer in production.

In real life, the Constellation class starship was designed by the visual effects staff of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Specifications

• Production facility: Copernicus Ship Yards, Luna
• Type: Starcruiser
• Dimensions:
  • Height: 90 m
  • Length: 310 m
  • Beam: 170 m
• Decks: 15
• Accommodation: 535 crew
• Propulsion:
  • One or more nuclear fusion Avidyne impulse engines
  • One matter/antimatter reactor powering four Leeding Engines FWG-1 warp engines
• Performance: Unknown; warp-capable
• Weaponry:
  • Seven double phaser turrets
  • Four photon torpedo launchers
• Defenses: Deflector shields
• Auxiliary vessels: Unknown shuttlecrafts and/or other vessels in several shuttlebays

List of known Constellation class ships

• USS Constellation (NCC-1974, ex-NX-1974)
  • Named for the USS Constellation, the starship Constellation was the pathfinder of its class. The Constellation was sent to Deep Space Nine to transport a captured Jem'Hadar to Starbase 201 in 2372. Circa stardate 51408.6 in 2374, the Constellation was ordered to assist the USS Defiant to search for survivors from the USS Honshu (NCC-60205), a Nebula class starship.
• USS Gettysburg (NCC-3890)
  • Named for the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the starship Gettysburg was formerly commanded by Admiral Mark Jameson who, as captain, rescued hostages from Mordan IV in the 2320s in exchange for weapons. The Gettysburg visited Deep Space Nine for maintenance in 2375 during the Dominion War.
• USS Gihlan (NCC-9731)
  • According to an article by Rick Sternbach in Star Trek: The Magazine, the starship Gihlan was named for Commodore Gihlan't'aehn, the director of the Copernicus Yards in 2280 who oversaw development of the Constellation class starship.
• USS Hathaway (NCC-2593)
  • Named for Anne Hathaway, the starship Hathaway was launched from the Copernicus Ship Yards in 2285. The ship was decommissioned but was reactivated circa stardate 42923.4 in 2365 and was briefly commanded by Commander William Riker to fight war games against the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) circa stardate 42923.4 in the Braslota system. The Hathaway was later involved in the Romulan tachyon blockade at the outbreak of the Klingon Civil War in 2368.
• USS Magellan (NCC-3069)
  • Named for explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the starship Magellan was commanded by Captain Conklin and docked at the Arkaria Base circa stardate 46682.4 in 2369. During the Magellan's stay at the Arkaria Base, the ship's crew put on a talent show and Captain Conklin did a poetry reading. Presumed later destroyed, decommisioned or lost in action.
• USS Stargazer (NCC-2893)
  • Formerly commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard earlier in his career, the Stargazer performed an exploratory survey of Sector 21503 and was attacked by a Cardassian warship and barely escaped. The Stargazer later fought against and destroyed a Ferengi Marauder during the Battle of Maxia in the Maxia Zeta system in 2355. However, the Stargazer was severely damaged and was subsequently abandoned by the crew. The ship was returned to Starfleet by a Ferengi daimon circa stardate 41723.9 in 2364 and was turned into a museum ship. After the loss of the Stargazer, Captain Picard was court-martialed but cleared of wrongdoing.
• USS Valkyrie (NCC-2590)
  • Named for the Valkyries of Norse mythology, the starship Valkyrie participated in the Romulan tachyon blockade at the outbreak of the Klingon Civil War circa stardate 45020.4 in 2369.
• USS Victory (NCC-9754)
  • Named for the HMS Victory, the starship Victory was Commander Geordi La Forge's first Starfleet assignment under Captain Zimbata. Circa stardate 42286.3, the Victory rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) at coordinates 3629 by 584. Circa stardate 46357.4, the Victory was assigned to a stellar nuclei population survey somewhere within sectors 21538 to 23079.
• (Name unknown) (NCC-7100)
  • This unnamed starship is the subject of a model in Captain Picard's ready room aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D).

Trivia

• In her novel, Enterprise: The First Adventure, which details the first voyage of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), Vonda McIntyre erroneously refers to the Enterprise as a Constellation class vessel (instead of Constitution class).

External links

• "Constellation class" (http://www.memory-alpha.org/en/index.php/Constellation_class) at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek WikiWiki
• "Constellation class" at STARTREK.com (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/ships/article/123182.html)
• "Constellation class" by Stephen Pugh (http://steve.pugh.net/fleet/constellation.html)
• "Constellation class" at LCARScom.Net (http://www.lcarscom.net/fsd/starships/constellation.html)
• "Constellation class" at the Neutral Zone Starship Database (http://www.neutralzone.de/database/Federation/StarFleet/Constellation.htm)