Nova class starship (Star Trek)
Encyclopedia
The Nova class starship is a class of starship
within the science fiction
television series Star Trek: Voyager
. The first time this class of starship
appeared was in the episode entitled "Equinox" in the form of the USS Equinox.
The Nova class was designed by Star Trek: Voyager
illustrator Rick Sternbach
, based on an early design for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
' s USS Defiant
from a year earlier.
Sternbach's Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual
, published in 1991, speculated that the long-term successor to the Galaxy class starships would be given the name "Nova". The on-screen Nova does not fulfil this narrative role.
vessels. The Nova has an angular trowel
-shaped saucer section, an engineering hull, and two warp nacelles with triangularly based shapes attached to the engineering hull by pylons running aft. At the prow of the saucer is the auxiliary navigational deflector, lifeboat
s, sensor
platforms, phaser banks/arrays, and photon torpedo launchers. The ship's ventral phaser arrays, a Waverider shuttle, additional sensors, and more lifeboats occupy the ventral saucer. The engineering hull houses the main deflector dish, shield emitters
, two shuttlebays, and the warp core. The shield charging cycle takes 45 seconds. Unlike most starships, which have unsupported cruise durations of a year or more, the Nova class is designed for short-range cruises of only a few months.
The Nova class is one of the first starships built with an Emergency Medical Hologram system.
and commissioned on stardate 47007.1. The Equinox was commanded by Captain Rudolph Ransom when it was transported to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker
in 2371. While returning to the Alpha Quadrant, the ship suffered heavy damage and casualties. In 2375, the surviving crew encountered nucleogenic antimatter
life-forms from a different spatial realm, which the Equinox crew used for fuel to return to Earth. After meeting the USS Voyager
's crew, the Equinox is destroyed by a warp core breach caused by the lifeforms. Only five crew members survive.
USS Rhode Island (NCC-72701) : Named for the state of Rhode Island
, the starship Rhode Island is commanded by Captain Harry Kim
in an alternate universe in 2404 and defended Admiral Janeway's shuttlecraft SC-4 when she went back in time. The Rhode Island, unlike other Nova's, had a complete trowel-saucer; other Nova's had a small "gap" at the front. See USS Rhode Island
for other ships of the same name.
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
within the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
. The first time this class of starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
appeared was in the episode entitled "Equinox" in the form of the USS Equinox.
The Nova class was designed by Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
illustrator Rick Sternbach
Rick Sternbach
Richard Michael Sternbach is an illustrator who is best known for his space illustrations and his work on the Star Trek television series.- Early years :...
, based on an early design for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
from a year earlier.
Sternbach's Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual
Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Technical Manual is a paperback reference guide detailing the inner and other workings of the fictional Federation starship Enterprise-D and other aspects of technology that appeared in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.Authored by Rick Sternbach...
, published in 1991, speculated that the long-term successor to the Galaxy class starships would be given the name "Nova". The on-screen Nova does not fulfil this narrative role.
Description
Ships of this class are small scienceScience
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
vessels. The Nova has an angular trowel
Trowel
A trowel is one of several similar hand tools used for digging, smoothing, or otherwise moving around small amounts of viscous or particulate material.-Hand tools:...
-shaped saucer section, an engineering hull, and two warp nacelles with triangularly based shapes attached to the engineering hull by pylons running aft. At the prow of the saucer is the auxiliary navigational deflector, lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s, sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
platforms, phaser banks/arrays, and photon torpedo launchers. The ship's ventral phaser arrays, a Waverider shuttle, additional sensors, and more lifeboats occupy the ventral saucer. The engineering hull houses the main deflector dish, shield emitters
Shields (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, shields refer to a 23rd and 24th century technology that protects starships, space stations, and planets from damage by natural hazard or enemy attack...
, two shuttlebays, and the warp core. The shield charging cycle takes 45 seconds. Unlike most starships, which have unsupported cruise durations of a year or more, the Nova class is designed for short-range cruises of only a few months.
The Nova class is one of the first starships built with an Emergency Medical Hologram system.
Nova-class Starships Known to Exist
USS Equinox (NCC-72381) : The starship Equinox was built at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, MarsMars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and commissioned on stardate 47007.1. The Equinox was commanded by Captain Rudolph Ransom when it was transported to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker
Caretaker (Voyager episode)
"Caretaker" is the first episode of Star Trek: Voyager. It was originally shown as one double-length episode, but has been split into two parts for repeats...
in 2371. While returning to the Alpha Quadrant, the ship suffered heavy damage and casualties. In 2375, the surviving crew encountered nucleogenic antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
life-forms from a different spatial realm, which the Equinox crew used for fuel to return to Earth. After meeting the USS Voyager
USS Voyager (Star Trek)
The fictional Intrepid-class starship USS Voyager is the primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. It is commanded by Captain Kathryn Janeway....
's crew, the Equinox is destroyed by a warp core breach caused by the lifeforms. Only five crew members survive.
USS Rhode Island (NCC-72701) : Named for the state of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, the starship Rhode Island is commanded by Captain Harry Kim
Harry Kim (Star Trek)
Ensign Harry S. L. Kim, played by Garrett Wang, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He serves as the USS Voyagers operations officer.-Depiction:...
in an alternate universe in 2404 and defended Admiral Janeway's shuttlecraft SC-4 when she went back in time. The Rhode Island, unlike other Nova's, had a complete trowel-saucer; other Nova's had a small "gap" at the front. See USS Rhode Island
USS Rhode Island
Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Rhode Island in honor of Rhode Island.*The first was a wooden sidewheel steamer previously named John P...
for other ships of the same name.