Luna class

## SPACECRAFT CLASS

Class development project patch (Thomas Marrone).

*For the moon of Earth, see Luna.*
The ***Luna*-class** was a type of spacecraft developed by Starfleet in the late 24th century. It generally served in an exploratory role on extended, deep-space assignments.

## History

### Development

Development of what became the *Luna*-class began in 2369 in response to the discovery of the wormhole near Bajor. The design concept was for a deep-space science vessel that had the capabilities of the under construction *Intrepid*-class but with the ability for extended exploration missions outside of Federation space, such as in the Gamma Quadrant. Project engineers took lessons learned from the *Nova* and *Intrepid*-classes and expanded upon them to create a vessel with larger research facilities and expanded scientific capabilities.

The project was spearheaded by Dr. Xin Ra-Havreii, a Starfleet theoretical engineer at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. Field testing on the prototype USS *Luna* was underway by mid-2372 in the Alpha Quadrant, and construction of the class was scheduled to begin the following year. Unfortunately, contact with the Dominion and the subsequent outbreak of hostilities sidelined the project indefinitely, as Starfleet redirected its shipbuilding resources to refitting and repairing its fleet. The USS *Luna* was assigned to Starbase 400 near the Federation borders with the Klingon and Romulan Empires.

### Post-Dominion War

Upon the war's end in late 2375, Dr. Ra-Havreii correctly judged that the Federation's cultural psychology would eventually shift back toward its pre-war ideals, and pushed to have the *Luna*-class revisited as a major step toward resuming Starfleet's mission of peaceful exploration. Construction of an initial group of twelve *Luna*-class vessels was completed by late 2378 with them entering active service beginning in 2379. Various updates to the original design were included, such as updates to the armor, shielding, and sensors.

The USS *Titan*, the first of the new class to leave space dock since the prototype, was offered to William T. Riker, one of many command officers eager to put the strife of the last decade behind them.

## Technical specifications

### Physical arrangement

The *Luna*-class was 454.3 meters in length, with a beam of 203.9 meters, and draft (with mission pod) of 80.7 meters. This gave the vessel 19 decks and ample space for a crew of 350 and several scientific facilities.

### Mission pod

The initial mission pod of the *Luna* design contained three decks and three launch tubes, which were designed as probe launchers but could be retooled for torpedoes. The pod was generally uncrewed, but contained a control room that could be reached via transporter or jeffries tube. In an emergency, the pod could be jettisoned from the starship to serve as a lifeboat for around 70 individuals.

### Deck plan

Due to the modular nature of the design, there was great variation in *Luna*-class vessels outside of core facilities. The four decks within the mission pod were labeled Decks A through D, and standard numbering began with the first deck within the primary hull. The following was the internal layout of essential facilities aboard the *Luna*-class.

 5
 6
 7
 8
 10
 11
 12
 13
 15

### Computer systems

The original *Luna* design made use of the same Daystrom M-16 Bio-neural Gel Pack Isolinear III Processor as found on the *Intrepid*-class. By the time the class was relaunched in 2379, the computer had been updated to the Daystrom Institute's newer M-17 Bio-neural Gel Pack Isolinear IV Processor.

### Propulsion systems

The class was powered by Inova Industries' ADP-01 Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction Assembly, which had a double-refracting matrix with twin intermix chambers. The warp core was connected to two Shoshi *Nu*-class 3C Variable Warp Drive Nacelles and two Keenser/Pegg E1E Subatomic Unified Energy Impulse Engines. The efficiency of the system allowed *Luna* starships to achieve a cruising speed of warp 7 and maintain a maximum speed of warp 9.975 for 12 hours.

### Science and remote sensing systems

To fulfill one of its primary roles as an exploration cruiser, the *Luna*-class utilized a variety of advanced sensing systems. The cruiser carried the standard long-range sensors behind the deflector dish and the lateral sensor pallets, but it also utilized high-powered sensors clustered in two sensor domes, one located atop the mission pod and one on the ventral side of the primary hull. The design was initially equipped with 2 Daystrom HSCS-1SA Active Omni-directional Sensor Arrays, 15 Sierra 1a8 Multi-band Linear Sensor Suites, and 6 Omniwave Passive Sensor Matrices. When the class entered official production, these were updated to 2 Daystrom SFLB-3 Active Omni-directional Sensor Arrays,15 Sierra 3-4T Multi-band Linear Sensor Suites, and 6 Omniwave Passive Sensor Matrices.

### Tactical systems

#### Defenses

The *Luna*-class initially made use of duranium-tritanium microform composite armor, a type used by Starfleet on many of its designs in the late 2360s. By the time the class was put into production after the Dominion War, engineers had added ablative armor elements to the hull for added protection.

The shield systems initial employed the FSS Primary Force Field and Deflector Control System, but was updated to use the newer MLSS-2 Primary Force Field and Deflector Control System before the initial batch of starships entered production. This operating system was connected to 3 Gjermundbu Mod 25cc Unified Deflector Field Emitter Arrays that projected regenerative, multi-spectrum, deflector shields around the vessels. Nexus Defense Screens, that protected the crew from the effects of the Nexus and similar phenomena, were also integrated into the shield systems.

#### Armaments

The class mounted nine type-X Annular Confinement Beam-jacketed phaser arrays and five variable-payload Mk 95 direct-fire launch tubes. The initial mission pod contained an additional three launchers.

### Auxiliary systems

Holographic projectors were equipped on the bridge, in the sickbay wards, and in Main Engineering of *Luna*-class vessels. These allowed for emergency holograms to be quickly activated in a time of need. A small photonic core, located near Main Engineering on Deck 11, stored the programs for an Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) and an Emergency Engineering Hologram (EEH).

### Auxiliary craft systems

Like the *Intrepid* and *Nova*-classes before it, the *Luna*-class design included a ventrally docked support craft: the *Selenic*-class yacht. The craft was designed with the dual purpose of captain's yacht and science support. As such, the craft was warp capable and included facilities to aid in diplomatic functions and recreation. It also included a powerful sensor suite and small science lab to fulfill its science support role.

The class was designed to hold twelve auxiliary craft in its shuttlebay. The typical complement was 4 shuttlepods, 4 shuttlecraft, and 4 workpods. The afterdeck, extending from the shuttlebay doors to the stern, could also serve as a landing platform for up to two additional craft. Access to them required use of a transporter or EVA suit. The platform was designed to remove the need for craft to complete full docking procedures before the *Luna* vessel could go to warp.

## Derivatives

#### *Comet*

At the end of the 24th century, the Federation hoped to promote a new century of exploration and tasked Starfleet with ensuring that desire could be met. Though *Luna*-class starships were still in service and performing well, the Corps of Engineers saw a chance to update the design using advances made since the 2370s. The final product of that effort was the *Comet*-class. The design differed from the *Luna* aesthetically with forked pylons and a more streamlined profile. The *Comet* was also shorter, measuring only 430 meters long.

#### *Titan*

After the devastations of the Iconian War, Starfleet once again returned to its focus on scientific exploration. Starfleet Command ordered its engineers to revisit the *Luna* design once again and bring it up to current standards. The *Titan*-class, named after the notable vessel commanded by William T. Riker, coupled the capabilities of a science vessel with the defensive systems perfected during the tumultuous conflicts of the early 25th century.

## Ships commissioned

It was standard practice to name *Luna*-class vessels after moons.

## Appendices

### Connections

**Project groups:** **Union Station** (*Geneva* • *Concorde* • *Presidio*) • **Century Cruiser** (*Springfield* • *New Orleans* • *Challenger* • *Niagara* • *Freedom II* • *Galaxy* • *Nebula* • *Cheyenne*) • **Multi-Mission explorers** (*Brigid* • *Esquiline* • *Palatine*) • **Deep Shadow** (*Eclipse* • *Phantom* • *Scryer*) • **Miracle Worker** (*Scott* • *Daystrom* • *Tucker* • *Gagarin*) • **Aeronaut** (*Mercury* • *Ajax* • *Icarus* • *Shran*)

**Other named classes:** *Aegian* • *Aerie* • *Akula* • *Atlas* • *California* • *Centaur* • *Challenger* • *Cheyenne* • *Constellation* • *Constitution III* • *Crossfield* • *Curry* • *Daedalus* • *Dauntless* • *Excelsior II* • *Freedom II* • *Gemini* • *Glenn* • *Guardian* • *Inquiry* • *Iwo Jima* • *Jupiter* • *Lexington* • *Niagara* • *Obena* • *Okinawa* • *Parliament* • *Perseus* • *Pioneer* • *Ranger* • *Sagan* • *Solanae* • *Springfield* • *Turing* • *Ulysses*

**Auxiliary craft:** *Aero* • Class C • Class F • *Danube* • *Flyer* • *Gondola* • *Kodai* • *Mollard* • *Peregrine* • *Selenic* • Type 4 • Type 5 • Type 6 (Type 6A • Type 6S) • Type 7 • Type 8 • Type 9 (Type 9A) • Type 10 • Type 11 • Type 14 • Type 17 • Type 19 • *Valkyrie* • *Venture* • *Waverider* • *Yellowstone*

**Leadership:** Commander-in-chief • Joint Chiefs • Chief of Starfleet External Affairs • Chief of Starfleet Operations • Chief of Starfleet Research and Exploration • Chief of Starfleet Tactical

**Agencies:** Operations (Engineering • Judicial • Materiel Supply • Mission Operations • Personnel Management • Records Service • Shipyards Operations • Starbase Operations) • Research & Exploration (Science • Medical) • External Affairs • Tactical (Intelligence • Security • MACO)

**Notable units:** Ktarn Fleet • Task Force 77

**Facilities:** Deep Space K-7 • Deep Space K-13 • Deep Space 9 • Masamichi Array • Starbase 45-Keepsake • Starbase 82-Maat • Starbase 234-Beskerm • Starbase 247-Vershina

**Agencies:** Starfleet • Diplomatic Corps • Department of Temporal Investigations • Federation Security Agency

**Facilities:** 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards • Antares Ship Yards • Beta Antares Ship Yards • Copernicus Ship Yards • Laikan Starfleet Shipyards • McKinley Station • Memory Project • New Aberdeen Shipyards • Proxima Maintenance Yards • Salazaar Shipyards • San Francisco Fleet Yards • TL-9139 Starfleet Maintenance Yards • Tranquility Base • Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

### Sources consulted

* Luna class article at *Memory Alpha*.
* Luna class article at *Memory Beta*.
* *Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection* bonus edition 05: "U.S.S. Titan."
* Luna Reconnaissance Science Vessel article at the *Star Trek Online Wiki*.
* *Star Trek Adventures - The Command Division* by Modiphius Entertainment.
* *Star Trek Adventures - Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook* by Modiphius Entertainment.
* USS *Titan* (Complete) video from *Trekyards*, a YouTube channel.
* Luna class article at Bravo Fleet - Star Trek RPG and Community.
* Luna-class Specs article at *A Call to Duty - Advanced Starship Design Bureau*.
* Luna Class Reconnaissance Science Vessel article at the Federation Space wiki.
* Luna-class article at *Memory Zeta*, the Sixth Fleet RPG wiki.

### Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *Star Trek: Titan* novel: *Taking Wing; STA - The Command Division*, 66-67.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 USS *Titan* (Complete) video from *Trekyards*, a YouTube channel.
3. ↑ Derived from MSDs created by Lee Arundel and DEIF.
4. ↑ *Star Trek: Titan* novels: *Over a Torrent Sea* and *The Red King*