USS Navigator NCC-1105
The Federation starship USS Navigator NCC-1105 was a Gemini-class long range exploration ship from the early 23rd Century. Notable for its distinctive twin saucer sections, the Gemini-class was the last gasp of Starfleet’s early period of experimentation with starship configurations that produced the Daedalus-class.
At this early period of Federation history there was a certain amount of experimentation on the part of Starfleet R&D to find the “best” configuration for efficient warp field geometry, and many of these experiments found their way into production as NX vessels. A few of these proved interesting enough to make it all the way into true Federation starship classes, and the dual saucer Gemini design was one of the most promising of these.
Designed to replace the Daedalus-class in the long-range exploration role, the dual saucer was intended to combine the greater internal volume of the Daedalus with the more optimal warp configuration of the saucer shape. Development began in the early 2180s, but owing to political dynamics within Starfleet R&D the first prototype USS Gemini NX-1100 was not completed until 2197, one year after the decommissioning of the last of the Daedalus-class.
For most of the 2180s, sections of Starfleet’s exploration division were in the grip of a coterie of Daedalus enthusiasts led by Admiral Rafael Cruz. Advocates of the spherical primary hull’s greater internal volume over the now-conventional saucer, they were willing to put up with the lower sustainable warp velocities that a sphere configuration ship could produce, in order to maintain the greater living and working space that they felt was psychologically necessary for long voyages. Admiral Cruz refused to authorise construction of any Starfleet exploration ship that was not designed with a spherical primary hull.
The dual saucer design was developed by Andorian Captain Hyel Tashar of Starfleet R&D, in order to try and work around Admiral Cruz’ stubborn adherence to the sphere design. However it was not until the Admiral’s 2189 retirement that construction of the prototype was ordered.
Following successful builders’ trials an initial flight of six Gemini-class vessels (including the prototype NCC-1100) were ordered by Starfleet exploration division, who were by now desperate for any vessel that could replace the decommissioned Daedaluses in the long-range explorer role.
The Gemini design was a very successful one in terms of its fitness for its role, as the ship’s paired 89m-diameter saucers provided a substantial amount of internal space for a ship so much smaller than classes like the NX and Constitution. This allowed the Gemini--class to incorporate large amounts of laboratory facilities and crew amenities in quite a small hull footprint, making them highly sought-after vessels by Starfleet captains of explorer ships.
The Gemini-class’ downfall in terms of ship lineage sprang from the same root as its success. The dual saucer section added a level of complexity that resulted in elongated construction times for the class, and three similarly-sized single-saucer ships could be constructed in the time it took to produce two Geminis. Given the increasing tensions with the Klingon Empire throughout the early 23rd Century, Starfleet was more interested in numbers of hulls as a deterrent to Klingon aggression rather than in the particular qualities of the Gemini design. The class remains the only dual-saucer production design in Starfleet’s history.
USS Navigator NCC-1105 was the last of the class to be constructed, and commissioned in 2219 according to the Terran calendar. She performed admirably in several three-year long range exploration missions between the 2220s and 2250s, pushing the boundaries of Federation explored space into the Beta Quadrant.
Specifications:
Length:222.25m
Beam:94.3m
Height:48.6m
Decks:15
Complement:280 officers, crew and researchers
Inservice Date:2197-2244
Speed (old scale):Warp 5.8 (cruising)
Warp 7.2 (maximum safe speed)
Weaponry:8 single-emitter phaser turrets
1 forward photon torpedo tube
Defences:Deflector shield
Auxiliary craft:6 shuttlecraft
USS Navigator NCC-1105
The Federation starship USS Navigator NCC-1105 was a Gemini-class long range exploration ship from the early 23rd Century. Notable for its distinctive twin saucer sections, the Gemini-class was the last gasp of Starfleet’s early period of experimentation with starship configurations that produced the Daedalus-class.
At this early period of Federation history there was a certain amount of experimentation on the part of Starfleet R&D to find the “best” configuration for efficient warp field geometry, and many of these experiments found their way into production as NX vessels. A few of these proved interesting enough to make it all the way into true Federation starship classes, and the dual saucer Gemini design was one of the most promising of these.
Designed to replace the Daedalus-class in the long-range exploration role, the dual saucer was intended to combine the greater internal volume of the Daedalus with the more optimal warp configuration of the saucer shape. Development began in the early 2180s, but owing to political dynamics within Starfleet R&D the first prototype USS Gemini NX-1100 was not completed until 2197, one year after the decommissioning of the last of the Daedalus-class.
For most of the 2180s, sections of Starfleet’s exploration division were in the grip of a coterie of Daedalus enthusiasts led by Admiral Rafael Cruz. Advocates of the spherical primary hull’s greater internal volume over the now-conventional saucer, they were willing to put up with the lower sustainable warp velocities that a sphere configuration ship could produce, in order to maintain the greater living and working space that they felt was psychologically necessary for long voyages. Admiral Cruz refused to authorise construction of any Starfleet exploration ship that was not designed with a spherical primary hull.
The dual saucer design was developed by Andorian Captain Hyel Tashar of Starfleet R&D, in order to try and work around Admiral Cruz’ stubborn adherence to the sphere design. However it was not until the Admiral’s 2189 retirement that construction of the prototype was ordered.
Following successful builders’ trials an initial flight of six Gemini-class vessels (including the prototype NCC-1100) were ordered by Starfleet exploration division, who were by now desperate for any vessel that could replace the decommissioned Daedaluses in the long-range explorer role.
The Gemini design was a very successful one in terms of its fitness for its role, as the ship’s paired 89m-diameter saucers provided a substantial amount of internal space for a ship so much smaller than classes like the NX and Constitution. This allowed the Gemini--class to incorporate large amounts of laboratory facilities and crew amenities in quite a small hull footprint, making them highly sought-after vessels by Starfleet captains of explorer ships.
The Gemini-class’ downfall in terms of ship lineage sprang from the same root as its success. The dual saucer section added a level of complexity that resulted in elongated construction times for the class, and three similarly-sized single-saucer ships could be constructed in the time it took to produce two Geminis. Given the increasing tensions with the Klingon Empire throughout the early 23rd Century, Starfleet was more interested in numbers of hulls as a deterrent to Klingon aggression rather than in the particular qualities of the Gemini design. The class remains the only dual-saucer production design in Starfleet’s history.
USS Navigator NCC-1105 was the last of the class to be constructed, and commissioned in 2219 according to the Terran calendar. She performed admirably in several three-year long range exploration missions between the 2220s and 2250s, pushing the boundaries of Federation explored space into the Beta Quadrant.
Specifications:
Length:222.25m
Beam:94.3m
Height:48.6m
Decks:15
Complement:280 officers, crew and researchers
Inservice Date:2197-2244
Speed (old scale):Warp 5.8 (cruising)
Warp 7.2 (maximum safe speed)
Weaponry:8 single-emitter phaser turrets
1 forward photon torpedo tube
Defences:Deflector shield
Auxiliary craft:6 shuttlecraft