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For other uses, see Challenger.

The Challenger class[5] was a 24th century Federation starship type, a multirole explorer[1] in Starfleet service from the 2360s[1] to the 2410s[2] decade. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)

In the 25th century, the Challenger-class was rated at tier 6 temporal destroyer specifications, akin to the Atlantis-class, and served in the Khitomer Alliance as well as Federation Starfleet. (STO - Both Worlds mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

History and technical specifications[]

24th century[]

Challenger-class side

Side elevation of the USS Buran in 2367.

The Challenger-class was a 24th century design, consisting of a commonly-used type of saucer section, with a secondary hull attached directly to the aft saucer. Two warp nacelles were attached above and below the stardrive hull extension. (ST reference: The Star Trek Encyclopedia)

Ships of the class were named after famous aircraft, spacecraft and their pilots. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)

The NASA space shuttle Challenger was a 20th century Earth spacecraft. (PIC episode: "Two of One")

The Challenger class was launched in the year 2360. Part of its design was based on the Galaxy-class development project. This led to the Challenger class being fitted with Galaxy-class warp coils and subspace field theory work. This class was equipped with a warp field repeater developed by Yoyodyne Propulsions. Following delays caused by the Federation-Klingon War of 2372-2373 and the Dominion War, the first refit was scheduled for the year 2380. This refit included the installation of Defiant-class warp field repeaters. Yoyodyne used the USS Red Baron as a technical testbed and replaced its warp nacelles with those of the Sovereign-class. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)

Ships of the class were 390 meters long and housed a crew of 300 individuals. In the 2360s, the Challenger class had a top speed of Warp factor 9.6 and was armed with both phasers and photon torpedos. Visible on the ventral saucer section was Galaxy-class captain's yacht. (TOSC Issue 114: "Challenger class")

One of the famous members of this starship class was the USS Buran, lost at the Battle of Wolf 359. (TNG episode: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

Some Challenger-class starships were operated by Starfleet Intelligence. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)

25th century[]

In the 2410s, the Challenger class shared the specifications of the tier 6 Atlantis-class temporal destroyer. Both classes were modular, meaning their components were interchangeable between each other. As a temporal destroyer, the Atlantis- and Challenger-class combined the characteristics of a timeship with that of a destroyer. (STO website: Both Worlds : 14th Anniversary Bundle!)

Typically for starships of its time period, an Challenger-class vessel was equipped with phaser beam arrays and photon torpedo launchers. It was equipped with a impulse engines, warp core and quantum slipstream drive, enabling it to reach impulse, warp, transwarp and quantum slipstream velocities. Cloaking was not an innate ability but various mechanisms could be installed to serve as a cloaking device. The hull was modular and could be modified at Khitomer Alliance shipyards operated by New Romulus Shipyards, Klingon Defense Force Order of Builders and Starfleet Shipyards Operations at Alliance facilities across the Milky Way Galaxy. (STO - Both Worlds missions: "Explore the Flotilla", "First City", "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

Specifically, a ship of the class included five forward weapon mounts and four aft. Bridge officer stations allowed for a lieutenant-ranked tactical officer, a commander combining tactical and temporal operations, an engineering ensign, a lieutenant commander science officer and an intel officer position. The Atlantis class could equip dual cannons. As a timeship, it included the molecular reconstruction mechanic. The experimental weapon mount held a focused particle cannon. As an Alliance destroyer, a battle-hardened ship benefitted from precise weapon systems, enhanced weapon banks, devastating weaponry, enhanced weapon systems and temporal tunneling. The Atlantis-class USS Atlantis was the first ship equipped with the disassembler emitter, which became standard on the Challenger class[3] as well. This emitter was a powerful technology that causes localized disruptions to molecular bonds, resulting in disintegration. The area of effect was cone-shaped. This weapon was considered to deal exotic damage. (STO website: Both Worlds : 14th Anniversary Bundle!)

Known vessels[]

Buran-57580

The USS Buran in 2411.

Appendices[]

Connections[]

Ships named Challenger
Cardassian Union, Central Command CDS Challenger Seal of the Cardassian Union. United States of America Challenger (OV-099, space shuttle) Flag of the United States.
United Earth, Starfleet USS ChallengerChallenger (NX-03, NX-class) Seal of United Earth. Seal of the Earth Starfleet.
Federation, Starfleet USS Challenger (Ranger-class)USS Challenger (NCC-1715, Constitution-class)USS Challenger ("Mongrel"-class)USS Challenger (NCC-2032)USS Challenger (NCC-2023, Excelsior-class)USS Challenger (NCC-71099, Galaxy-class)USS Challenger (Sovereign-class)see also: Challenger-class Seal of the United Federation of Planets. Seal of the Federation Starfleet.
Federation, Starfleet
(Kelvin timeline)
USS Challenger Emblem of the United Federation of Planets. USS Enterprise assignment insignia.
Klingon Defense Force IKV Challenger Klingon Empire flag image.
Starship classes of the Federation Starfleet
subclass groups

Akira (AlitaArmitageThunderchild) • Ambassador (AlaskaNarendraYamaguchi) • Apollo (Akula frigate / light cruiser) • Cardenas (Buran) • Chesapeake (Mongrel) • Cheyenne (DakotaStargazer) • Concorde (Geneva battlecruiserPresidio) • Constellation (Challenger deep space explorer) • Chimera heavy destroyer (Manticore) • Constitution (AchernarBonhomme RichardTikopaiEnterpriseExeterExcaliburVesperKirkCrossfield (Glenn32nd century refit) • Danube (Yellowstone) • Decatur (Dreadnought) • Defiant (GallantIncursionNachthexenSao PauloValiantVigilant escort) • Dervish (GryphonHermes escortMaelstromTempest) • Destiny (NimbusOracleTrident) • Engle (Earhart) • Excelsior (BismarckCurryKirovNew JerseyResolute) • Galaxy (Andromeda (25th century)CelestialEnvoyGalaxy XMonarch cruiserRossVenture cruiserYamato dreadnought) • Hermes scout (CygnusMonoceros) • Inquiry (Avenger battlecruiserArbiter) • Hoover (Edison) • Intrepid (BellerophonCochrane science vesselDiscovery (25th century)JanewayPathfinderTrailblazerYeager) • Kumari (CharalKhyzon) • Luna (CometPolarisSolTitan) • Magee (Shran (escort)) • Malachowski (Helios (tug)) • Miranda (AntonReliantSoyuz) • Merian (Merian (dreadnought)) • Nebula (Magellan) • New Orleans (Lafayette) • Nimitz (Europa) • Norway (Oslo) • Nova (AuroraQuasarRhode Island) • NX (ColumbiaPoseidon) • Oberth (ClarkeGagarin (23rd century)GrissomSagan) • Odyssey (VerityYorktown (cruiser)) • Olympic (HopeHorizon science vessel) • Prometheus (CerberusHephaestusHestiaPhoenix) • Ptolemy (DollondDopplerKeppler) • Remora (Charger) • Saladin (CochiseSiva) • Santa Fe (Newport) • Saber (GladiusRapierUshaan) • Sentinel (EmissaryNomad cruiserVanguard) • Shepard (Gagarin (25th century)) • Solanae (HeliosMontgomeryOmega) • Sovereign (ArchonImperialMajesticNoble cruiserRegent) • Steamrunner (AppalachiaZephyr) • Vesta (AventineRademaker) • Walker (GeorgiouShenzhou ) • Wells (EternalOuroborosVerne)

Emblem of the United Federation of Planets. Seal of the Federation Starfleet.
other named classes

AA classAakennAchillesAdvanceAegianAeolusAerieAkula destroyer / escortAmbassador HardinAndesAndorAndromeda (24th century)AngelouAntaresApacheAquariusArcherArchimedesArk RoyalArielAscendantAtroxAvenger (scout)BabcockBaderBakerBaton RougeBerenaBodeBolarusBonaventureBradburyBrentonCaliforniaCanadaCanopusCapellaCastorCentaurCentaurusCeresCestusChallengerChandleyChariotChimerChimera fast frigateChristopherClarke (25th century)Cle DanCochrane transportColumbiaCondor (raider)ContinentContortrixCopernicusCourageDaedalusDauntlessDeckerDefenderDeltaD'KyrDenevaDerfDrexlerDurrettEagleEclipseEdwardEinsteinEisenbergEl Doradofuture EnterpriseEpochEpsilonErewonEternalFederationFenlonFermiFijiFreedomFriendshipFrontierGagarin (24th century)GalenGallantGangesGenevaGenserGracefulGraysonGriffonGuardianGeminiHaleHermes fast cruiserHestonHoganHokule'aHorizon cruiserIcarusIlthirinIndomitableIntrepid (22nd century)IowaIstanbulIwo JimaClass JJupiterKarekhKeithKethkinKievK'KmarakKolm-AnKorolevLarsonLauroLaweyaLegacyLenthalLexingtonLibertyLokiLoknarLondonMadisonMakinMannMarklinMarsMarshallM'BengaMediterraneanMercedMercury (courier)Mercury (escort)Mercury (scout)MerianMerian (dreadnought)MessierMeteorMidwayMissionMissouriMobulaiMoKalMoscowMulciberNarcineNautilusNelsonNiagaraNoble laboratory vesselNomad escortNorthamptonOberonOdinOdysseusOkinawaOppenheimerOrionOsakaOverfieldPaladin battlecruiserPaladin destroyerParliamentPaladin (24th century)PerseusPioneerPhalanxPhantomPhiladelphiaPinnaclePiperPolluxPortsmithPralimPremonitionProtostarProximaPyotr VelikiyPyreneesRakotaRanger battlecruiserRanger explorerRanger scoutRenaissanceRickenbackerRigelRochesterRoyal SovereignSagittariusSamsonSaturnSawyerScorpioScryerScyllaSequoiaSevaijenShiKahrSierraSolarSpringfieldSulekSurakSydneyTangentTheophrastusThomas PaineThucydidesThufirTiberiusTiconderogaUniverseTheseusTripperTritiumTyphonTyphoonUkoraUlyssesUralUtahVenture scoutVigilant scoutVoyagerWallenbergWambunduWei-FaWellingtonWilkersonWizardYamatoYorkshireYorktownZodiacunnamed

general type

Defiant pathfinderRaging QueenSun TzuValley ForgeFederation assault shipFederation battleshipFederation cargo shipFederation colony shipFederation construction shipFederation cruiserdeep galaxy shipFederation dreadnoughtFederation freighterFederation frigateFederation galaxy shipFederation holoshipFederation heavy cruiser (2380s heavy cruiser) • Federation light cruiser (Constitution-variant light cruiserIntrepid-variant light cruiser) • Federation medium cruiser (Excelsior-variant medium cruiser) • Federation mining freighterFederation repair shipStarfleet tanker

Background[]

This section is written
from the Real World
point of view
.
Memory Beta

The Buran model was built for the battle sequence in "The Best of Both Worlds" and later described to Star Trek fans by Michael Okuda's appearances at conventions, where he showed slide with images of the behind-the-scenes models.

Apocrypha[]

The ebook The Dominion War Sourcebook: The Fires of Armageddon, published by Last Unicorn Games after they had lost their Star Trek license lists the USS Veliko (NCC-62503) as a Challenger-class vessel.

References[]

External links[]

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