Probes
Probes are automated spacecraft used to gather information. Some probes are often used for tasks that starships are not suited to handle.
Some probes used by Starfleet are modified photon torpedo casings with extended sensor equipment and no warhead. Deep space probes have casings that contain radioactive material that can potentially contaminate the biosphere of planets if they crash land on the surface.
Class I
These probes have a range of 2×105 kilometers. They are powered by a vectored deuterium micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 0.5. Their sensors included full EM-subspace and interstellar chemical palette for use in space.
Class II
These probes are essentially modified Class I probes and have a range of 4×105 kilometers. They are powered by a vectored deuterium micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 0.65. In addition to the equipment found on the Class I, these probes have enhanced long-range particle/field-detectors and imaging systems.
By 2374, these probes a outfitted with bioneural gel packs to process data.
Class III
These probes have a range of 1.2×106 kilometers. They are powered by a vectored deuterium micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 0.65. Their sensors include terrestrial and gas giant sensor palettes with material collection, return capability, and a submodule for chemical analysis on board.
In addition to that, these probes have a limited-SIF-enhanced hull and are fully capable of terrestrial landing and subsurface penetration missions. They can survive missions in a gas giant’s atmosphere up to a pressure of 450 bar.
Class IV
These probes are essentially modified Class III probes and have a range of 3.5×106 kilometers. They are powered by a vectored deuterium micro fusion engine with an expanded deuterium storage for maneuvering which can propel them at warp 0.6. They have triple-redundant particle/field-detectors as well a a group of sensors for stellar atmosphere analysis. In addition to that, these probes have six launchable radiation flux sub-probes and are usable for non-stellar energy-phenomena.
Class V
These probes have a range of 4.3×1010 kilometers. They are powered by a dual-mode matter/antimatter engine which can propel them at warp 2. Their sensors include extended passive data gathering and recording equipment and fully automated systems for mission execution and return.
In addition to that, these probes have a hull made from stealth material and can be used for tactical purposes with the addition of a sensor jammer pallet.
Class VI
These probes are essentially modified Class III probes and have a range of 4.3×1010 kilometers. They are powered by a micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 0.8.
In addition to standard sensors, these probes have a radio/subspace-transceiver capable of transmitting at 350 megawatt and an expanded deuterium storage to power the transceiver and adjust orbit.
Class VI-T
These probes are essentially modified Class III probes and have a range of 4.3×1010 kilometers. They are powered by a micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 0.8.
These probes are equipped with a radio/subspace-transceiver and a limited-use transporter system. This system is designed to work in tandem with a starship’s integrated transporter system. The probes include an expanded deuterium storage to power the transporter and transceiver systems and come equipped with a set of pattern enhancers.
Class VII
These probes are essentially modified Class V probes and have a range of 4.5×108 kilometers. They are powered by a micro fusion engine which can propel them at warp 1.5. Their sensors include a passive data gathering system plus subspace transmitter.
In addition to that, these probes have a hull made from stealth material and a low-yield molecular detonation packet linked to detectors registering unauthorized access to the probe. They have a maximum endurance of 3.5 months.
Class VIII
These probes are housed within modified photon torpedo casings and have a range of 1.2×102 light-years. They are powered by a matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine which can propel them at warp 9 for 6.5 hours. In addition to standard sensors the probes can be fitted with mission specific modules.
Typical uses of this type of probe range from the examination of particles and energy fields to early-warning and reconnaissance missions. However, they can also be modified to carry a single humanoid by removing all sensor systems and replacing them with a life-support system. Additionaly, they can serve as log buoys, much like the Class IX probes.
Class IX
These probes are housed within modified photon torpedo casings and have a range of 7.6×102 light-years. They are powered by a matter/antimatter warp field sustainer engine which can propel them at warp 9 for 12 hours or warp 8 for 14 days. In addition to standard sensors the probes can be fitted with mission specific modules.
The typical use of this type of probe is as an emergency log/message capsule sent on a homing trajectory to the nearest Starbase or allied vessel. The USS Enterprise-D used a Class IX probe in just this manner in 2370 to send logs to Starbase 122 following an unprovoked attack in the Bandor system.
Class X
These probes are also known as multispatial probes.
Source(s):
Images: http://misc.axiom.kyInformation: Memory Alpha, Memory Beta