Changes: Constellation class

Revision as of 22:34, 27 February 2016

The Constellation-class starship was a type of Federation star cruiser employed by Starfleet from the late 23rd century through the late 24th century.

History

The Constellation-class began service as early as 2285, when at least one such ship, the USS Hathaway, was constructed by Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems at the Copernicus Ship Yards on Luna. (USS Hathaway dedication plaque)

Nearly a decade after the launch of the Hathaway, the prototype for the class, the USS Constellation, was still undergoing certification trials. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Operation Retrieve chart)

During the early 24th century, the Constellation-class was noted for performing both deep-space exploration and defensive patrol duties. (TNG: "The Battle", "The Wounded")

By the mid-2360s, this class of "old-style" star cruiser was on the fringe of being phased out of the fleet. Those that had been decommissioned, including the eighty-year-old Hathaway, were stripped of their offensive systems and rendered "warp inactive," which included the removal of all antimatter. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

Those that remained in service were typically relegated to transport duties. (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data") Constellation-class starships were also used in second-line service, including the hastily-organized Federation blockade during the Klingon Civil War. (TNG: "Redemption II")

In 2369, commander of the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, regarded his former command, the Constellation-class USS Stargazer as being "an overworked, underpowered vessel that was always on the verge of flying apart at the seams," adding, "in every measurable way, my Enterprise is a superior ship." However, he did admit that there were days when he would've done anything to be back aboard the Stargazer. (TNG: "Relics")

Technical data

Propulsion systems

One notable feature of the Constellation-class was that it was one of the few classes in use mounted with four warp nacelles. This unique arrangement in a starship design was later found in one of the Nebula-class variants, as well as the Cheyenne-class and Prometheus-classes. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II"; VOY: "Message in a Bottle") The Constellation-class had a maximum speed of warp 9. (TNG: "The Battle")

During their original construction, Constellation-class starships employed Avidyne engines. By the latter 24th century these had been replaced with more effective engines. (TNG: "Peak Performance") These starships had at least two impulse reactors. (TNG: "The Battle", remastered)

Interior design

Main bridge

USS Stargazer, viewscreen — Main viewscreen

Although the layout of the main bridge of the Constellation-class of starships could be described as "standard" in terms of how Federation starship bridges are designed, the Constellation-class appeared to have two prominently different bridge types. These variations can be recognized between the USS Hathaway, launched in 2285, and the USS Stargazer, last active in 2355.

Ultimately, both bridge sets were redresses of the Galaxy-class battle bridge, (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") which was, in turn, a redress of the Constitution-class main bridge. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

USS Hathaway bridge — Bridge of the USS *Hathaway*

The Hathaway-type bridge had an unusual arrangement, with front of the bridge relatively wide open and the primary stations cramped in the rear of the bridge.

The helm and navigation stations were located on the extreme port and starboard sides of the ship with the captain's chair near the center of the bridge. This gave the captain an unobstructed view of the viewscreen located at the front of the bridge. Next to the captain's chair, set less than a meter back and off to the right, was the first officer's chair with console.

Directly behind the command chairs was the tactical station, with the engineering station to the far rear (on the port side) and science station to the far rear (starboard side). In front of the engineering station was an entryway to the bridge entryway. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

USS Stargazer bridge1 — Bridge of the USS *Stargazer*

Described as a "cramped little bridge" by Picard, the Stargazer-type was actually less cluttered than the Hathaway-type, with a design more reminiscent of the refit Constitution-class or Ambassador-class bridge. (TNG: "Relics")

Considering the more updated look of the Hathaway bridge, it may be surmised that the Constellation-class may have undergone a bridge upgrade in the early 24th century, similar to the Constitution-class bridge upgrades of the 2270s.

In the front was the viewscreen, with side-by-side helm and navigator consoles, a feature that noticeably contrasts that of the Hathaway-type. The captain's chair was directly aft the aforementioned stations; no accommodations were present for the first officer in this type.

At the rear of the bridge, a tactical station was found on the far left with monitors along the back wall behind the captain's chair, with a second primary station located on the opposite side of the bridge. The primary stations were attached to the rear wall of the bridge; support railing partially enclosed that section from the front of the bridge. On either side of the rear wall monitors and between either primary station were two turbolifts. Along the port wall, directly to the left of the captain's chair and between the tactical station and the viewscreen, was the entryway to the captain's ready room. (TNG: "The Battle")

Main engineering

Main engineering was where the ship's power systems were controlled and was the home of the ship's antimatter warp drive chamber and impulse engine controls. (TNG: "Peak Performance")

Crew cabins

USS Stargazer, Picards cabin — Picard's quarters

Cabins aboard Constellation-class starships were of typical design associated with Federation starship of the era, providing spartan accommodations for the crew. (TNG: "The Battle")

The portion of Captain Picard's quarters seen in "The Battle" were a redress of the junior officer quarters aboard the USS Enterprise-D, which itself was a redress of Captain Kirks movie era quarters.

Ships commissioned

Named

USS Constellation (NX-1974)
USS Hathaway (NCC-2593)
USS Stargazer (NCC-2893)
USS Victory (NCC-9754)

Unnamed

NCC-7100

Uncertain

Appendices

Appearances

TNG:
- "The Battle"
- "Elementary, Dear Data"
- "Peak Performance"
- "Redemption II"

Background information

The first Constellation-class ship seen, the Stargazer, was originally planned to be a Constitution-class ship, allowing the visual effects staff of Star Trek: The Next Generation to make use of the existing movie USS Enterprise-A model. Actually, the producers did not make the decision to build a new, full scale filming, or studio model, of the Stargazer until after the episode was filmed with both Wil Wheaton and LeVar Burton calling it a Constitution. The choice of the name "Constellation" was based largely on the fact that it could be dubbed over La Forge's line since the two words are so similar. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, 2003, p. 41; Star Trek Encyclopedia, 3rd Ed. p.85)

In Vonda N. McIntyre's novelization of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, the USS Enterprise is referred to as a Constellation-class starship instead of Constitution-class.

Studio model

see main article: Constellation class model

The Magazine

An Starfleet Technical Database-article appearing in Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 3, Issue 9 that was later written by designer-creator Rick Sternbach stated that this class of ship had fifteen decks and a crew complement of 535 and that the class consisted of eight vessels (including the USS Gettysburg and USS Magellan). In addition to the aforementioned, the article also stated that a USS Valkyrie (NCC 2590) and a USS Gihlan (NCC-9761) existed, the latter named after an admiral who oversaw the development of Constellation-class starships. The class's mission statements were: long-range sensor analysis within threat territories, communications, intelligence gathering, deployment and retrieval of cargo and stealth shuttles, general science and patrol duties.

External links

Constellation class at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Constellation class starship at Wikipedia

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Those that remained in service were typically relegated to [[transport]] duties. ({{TNG|Elementary, Dear Data}}) ''Constellation''-class starships were also used in second-line service, including the hastily-organized Federation [[blockade]] during the [[Klingon Civil War]]. ({{TNG|Redemption II}})
-In [[2369]], commander of the {{Class|Galaxy}} {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]], regarded his former command, the ''Constellation''-class USS ''Stargazer'' as being "''an overworked, underpowered vessel that was always on the verge of flying apart at the seams,''" adding, "''in every measurable way, my ''Enterprise'' is a superior ship.''" However, he did admit that there were days when he would've done anything to be back aboard the Stargazer. ({{TNG|Relics}})
+In [[2369]], commander of the {{Class|Galaxy}} {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, [[Captain]] [[Jean-Luc Picard]], regarded his former command, the ''Constellation''-class USS ''Stargazer'' as being "''an overworked, underpowered vessel that was always on the verge of flying apart at the seams,''" adding, "''in every measurable way, my ''Enterprise'' is a superior ship.''" However, he did admit that there were days when he would've done anything to be back aboard the ''Stargazer''. ({{TNG|Relics}})
 == Technical data ==
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 [[File:USS Stargazer, Picards cabin.jpg|thumb|Picard's quarters]]
 [[crew quarters|Cabins]] aboard ''Constellation''-class starships were of typical design associated with Federation starship of the era, providing spartan accommodations for the crew. ({{TNG|The Battle}})
-{{bginfo|The portion of Captain Picard's quarters seen in "The Battle" were a redress of his quarters aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}.}}
+{{bginfo|The portion of Captain Picard's quarters seen in "The Battle" were a redress of the junior officer quarters aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}}, which itself was a redress of Captain Kirks movie era quarters.}}
 {{clear}}
 == Ships commissioned ==
 ;Named:
-*{{USS|Constellation|NCC-1974}} (NCC-1974)
+*{{USS|Constellation|NX-1974}} (NX-1974)
 *{{USS|Hathaway}} (NCC-2593)
 *{{USS|Stargazer}} (NCC-2893)
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 === Background information ===
-The first ''Constellation''-class ship seen, the ''Stargazer'', was originally planned to be a {{Class|Constitution}} ship, allowing the visual effects staff of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' to make use of the existing movie {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}} model.
+The first ''Constellation''-class ship seen, the ''Stargazer'', was originally planned to be a {{Class|Constitution}} ship, allowing the visual effects staff of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' to make use of the existing movie {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-A|-A}} model. Actually, the producers did not make the decision to build a new, full scale filming, or [[studio model]], of the ''Stargazer'' until after the episode was filmed with both [[Wil Wheaton]] and [[LeVar Burton]] calling it a ''Constitution''. The choice of the name "Constellation" was based largely on the fact that it could be dubbed over La Forge's line since the two words are so similar. (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion]]'', 2003, p. 41; ''[[Star Trek Encyclopedia]]'', 3rd Ed. p.85)
+In [[Vonda N. McIntyre]]'s {{dis|Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|novel|novelization}} of {{film|3}}, the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} is referred to as a ''Constellation''-class starship instead of ''Constitution''-class.
 ==== Studio model ====
+:''see main article'': [[Constellation class model]]
-The ''Constellation''-class was created before ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' actually began shooting, though its designation was only established later on. The need arose in pre-production from the desire to have [[Jean-Luc Picard|Picard]]'s [[ready room]] dressed with some set pieces, amongst others, a desktop [[model]] of his previous command as mentioned in the The Writer's Bible for the show or as [[Rick Sternbach]] recalled, "''[[Andrew Probert|Andy Probert]] and I began fleshing out the Stargazer during the preproduction phase of Star Trek: The Next Generation, based on a mention of Captain Picard's previous command in the TNG writer's bible. We likely had some words with set decorator [[John Dwyer]] about a model of the ship for Picard's ready room, along with the  collaborative painting of the Galaxy class Enterprise to fill up a big empty spot over the sofa. Probert and I discussed the general configuration of the Stargazer, did a number of quick pencil and marker doodles of the major assemblies, and settled on using four nacelles to suggest that the Stargazer was a fast science vessel. [[Studio model#Kit-bash|Kitbashing]] the display model could have made use of the plastic parts from a couple of Original Series Enterprise [[Star Trek model kits|hobby kits]], but the historical era could have a bit too old. I don't believe a kit of the {{Class|Excelsior}}, eventually to  become the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-B|-B}}, had been released by that time, so we got to work playing with pieces from two NCC-1701 [[Refit]] kits.''"[http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/stargazer-kitbash-pictorial/]
-=====Desktop model=====
-[[File:NCC-7100 model.jpg|thumb|3/4 aft view of the model.]]
-[[File:NCC-7100.jpg|thumb|left|3/4 front view of the model.]]
-[[Captain]] Picard's display, or desktop model was co-designed by Probert and Sternbach, the latter also being the one who constructed the model. Probert noted on the design, "''Now, [[Gene Roddenberry|Gene]] dictated that there are no three-engine starships and no single-engine starships. When I was first designing the new ''Enterprise'' he said, "The [[Federation starships|Federation ship]]'s engines always are co-dependent". It is the same as to say they always worked in twos. So that's why when Sternbach and I came up with the Stargazer, it had two sets of twos. And then I started thinking that, back in World War II, all the nations that had fighter aircraft and airplanes did the same thing: they took off, they flew, they landed, they maneuvered. They usually had one engine, two wings, two tailwings &ndash; so they all had the same components, but they all looked different. There was a national design bias to each aircraft, but technically they all did the same thing. So my thinking was in ''Star Trek'' &ndash; since the ''Enterprise'' used to have two engines &ndash; I came up with the idea that the engines had to reach out to each other in order to work co-dependently. In other words, there would be no obstructions between the engines to disrupt the energy fields or connecting forces between them.''" {{brokenlink|url=http://oberon.spaceports.com/~tb/international/interviews/interview4.htm}} The model was mostly kit-bashed from commercially available refit-''Enterprise'' model-kits augmented with custom made parts from styrene sheets (for the enlarged saucer section). According to Sternbach, the desktop model was further detailed with several {{w|anime}} kits from ''{{w|The Super Dimension Fortress Macross}}'', ''{{w|Super Dimension Century Orguss}}'', ''{{w|Gundam}}'', and ''{{w|Crusher Joe}}''. The largest of these model kit details were the wings and wing box assemblies of a {{w|VF-1 Valkyrie}} model kit from Macross. The desktop model was finished in a dark desert yellow with blue accents and could indeed been seen as a desktop model in Picard's ready room in numerous episodes of the show. A registry number [[NCC-7100]] was applied to the model, but no name, possibly indicating a generic model of the class  [http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/stargazer-kitbash-pictorial/].
-The model first appeared in "Encounter at Farpoint" and, ironically, was absent during the first official appearance of a ''Constellation''-class ship in "The Battle", replaced with a [[Constitution_class_model#Other_physical_models|model of a modified refit-''Constitution''-class ship]], as the USS ''Stargazer'' was originally intended to be a member of that class. Probert and Sternbach later persuaded the producers to build a new miniature for the ''Stargazer'' and the desktop model remained absent for additional episodes as it was needed at [[Gregory Jein, Inc.]] for reference during the construction of the motion-control model. This later four-foot (120 cm) shooting model used parts tooled from scratch to replicate the model kit parts used in the desktop model, with the exception of the VF-1 Valkyrie parts, since equivalent parts were found from a larger-scale kit.
-The yellow model's registry was accomplished by rearranging the "NCC-1700" registry decal available in the Constitution-class models. In reality, the registry numbers intended for use on the Constellation type vessels might have been that high, but the number NCC-2893 had already been used on the ship's plaque from the script (although at that time the ship was intended to be a refitted Constitution).
-Portions of the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]]'', co-written by the designers/builders who worked on the model itself, include descriptions of starship prototype phases when new ships are painted with a yellow overcoat to reveal warp field stresses. Sternbach, who built the model, later commented on the color, "''The yellow color harmonized with the overall scheme for the ready room, and could be rationalized in a pinch as being a specialized hull coating used in initial warp field tests. Yeah, that's the ticket.''"[http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/stargazer-kitbash-pictorial/] Some fans have interpreted that Picard kept the model because the starship NCC-7100's test flight was important to him in some way.
-Rick Sternback's perspective on the model, from the Drex Files, "''It's like Camelot, it's only a model. Pretend the NCC-7100 isn't there, and it's exactly like a corporate desk model of, say, an F-22 with generic markings and no specific tail number. Yes, the model represents the USS Stargazer, and if we knew back in early 1987 what the actual reg number would turn out to be, we would have used that. Just keep saying: 'There is no 7100... there is no 7100'.''" [http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/stargazer-kitbash-pictorial/#comment-336]
-This starship was still referred to as the Stargazer by some members of the writing staff, notably in the script for "Chain of Command, Part I".
-Interestingly, the very first commercially available model of this class, the gaming miniature sized micro machine from [[Galoob]], was in this color scheme although given the name and registry number of the ''Stargazer'', the producers probably being confused by early publicized photos.
-=====Filming model=====
-The producers did not make the decision to build a full scale [[Studio_model#Studio_model|filming model]] of the ''Stargazer'' until after the episode was filmed with both [[Wil Wheaton]] and [[LeVar Burton]] calling it a ''Constitution''. The choice of the name "Constellation" was based largely on the fact that it could be dubbed over La Forge's line since the two words are so similar. The task of building the full scale, four-foot, model fell to [[Gregory Jein]], using the equivalent parts from larger-scaled VF-1 Valkyrie model kits.[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.sf.scale-models/browse_frm/thread/31e9512ecb8bb189/15ccfbb747308334?lnk=st&q=sternbach+valkyrie&rnum=6#15ccfbb747308334] [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.sf.scale-models/browse_frm/thread/85a02adde4fa066b/3c2e76a01e2c4b9a?lnk=st&q=sternbach+valkyrie&rnum=9#3c2e76a01e2c4b9a]. The ''Stargazer'' was the first new Federation starship design seen by audiences since the introduction of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} and would remain so until the introduction of the {{Class|Ambassador}} in third season's {{e|Yesterday's Enterprise}}.
-The model was eventually labeled the USS ''Valkyrie'' (an in-joke of the production staff, as it referred to the ''Valkyrie'' parts they used in constructing the model) for tour displays such as ''[[Star Trek: The Exhibition]]'', ''[[Star Trek World Tour]]'',  and ''[[Star Trek: The Adventure]]'', complete with the [[registry]] NCC-2590. [http://drexfiles.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/valkyrie.jpg] Established as an older design, the model's use as a production asset was played out early on, and the studio released it very soon afterwards for public relation purposes, probably having been on tour more than any other model, the 1994 ''Exhibition'' tour being its first. The faded name {{USS|Hathaway}} has been observed on this model underneath the ''Valkyrie'' decal, the only time the vessel was relabeled (later appearances being stock footage).
-As of 2011, the studio model itself, having escaped the [[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]], and [[It's A Wrap! sale and auction]]s, is still in the possession of [[Paramount Television]] and has been on tour as late as 2011. [http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2009/04/star-trek-exhibition-in-detroit_20.html]
-=====CGI model=====
-Since the ''Constellation''-class has already been considered an obsolete vessel in the early ''TNG''-era, no [[CGI]] model was ever constructed for live-action production purposes and has therefore not been visually present in any of the other ''Star Trek'' series.
-Still, a CGI model was eventually constructed by [[Doug Drexler]], when he was asked to do the cover for [[Michael Jan Friedman]]'s (licensed) novel ''[[Enigma]]'' in 2004. Drexler remembered on his  blog,"''Usually covers like this don't come with a lot of lead time, and the budget does not provide for building models, so I set to work converting the Directors Cut TMP CG Enterprise. Margaret Clark had spotted a cover of a novel that showed a WWII Hellcat dive bomber double exposed over the ocean blended with a map. She sparked to that and thought it was just the thing to hang the "Enigma" cover on. I grabbed a starmap that I had been admiring which [[Alan Kobayashi]] had made for Mike to hang in Captain Archer's cabin. That was the cover, and a real nice one too! Someone wrote me a note asking if I could run some Stargazer orthos. I had never made any for the blog because it was such a quickie kitbash, I figured it wouldn't hold up.''"[http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/stargazer-a-kitbash-great/comment-page-1/#comment-28896] Missing some of the details found on the physical models (especially on the ventral side), the CGI version found its way on other licensed products such as the ''[[Ships of the Line]]'' book and ''[[Star Trek: Ships of the Line (2005)]]'' calendar.[http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/14607/]
 ==== The Magazine ====
-An [[Starfleet Technical Database]]-article appearing in [[Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 3, Issue 9]] that was later written by designer-creator Rick Sternbach stated that this class of ship had fifteen decks and a crew complement of 535 and that the class consisted of eight vessels (including the USS ''Gettysburg'' and USS ''Magellan''). In addition to the aforementioned, the article also stated that a USS ''Valkyrie'' (NCC 2590) and a USS ''Gihlan'' (NCC-9761) existed, the latter named after an admiral who oversaw the development of ''Constellation''-class starships. The class's mission statements were: long-range sensor analysis within threat territories, communications, intelligence gathering, deployment and retrieval of cargo and stealth shuttles, general science and patrol duties.
+An [[Starfleet Technical Database]]-article appearing in {{STTM|3|9}} that was later written by designer-creator Rick Sternbach stated that this class of ship had fifteen decks and a crew complement of 535 and that the class consisted of eight vessels (including the USS ''Gettysburg'' and USS ''Magellan''). In addition to the aforementioned, the article also stated that a USS ''Valkyrie'' (NCC 2590) and a USS ''Gihlan'' (NCC-9761) existed, the latter named after an admiral who oversaw the development of ''Constellation''-class starships. The class's mission statements were: long-range sensor analysis within threat territories, communications, intelligence gathering, deployment and retrieval of cargo and stealth shuttles, general science and patrol duties.
 === External links ===
-* {{NCwiki|Constellation class}}
+* {{mbeta|Constellation class}}
 * {{wikipedia|List of Starfleet starships ordered by class#Constellation class|Constellation class starship}}