NX class starship
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In the Star Trek fictional universe, the NX class was a variety of starship produced by Earth Starfleet prior to the United Federation of Planets. A retcon of sorts (based loosely on the Akira class starship), the unique design of the NX class would portend future Federation Starfleet designs that appear in the Star Trek universe. The NX class features a large saucer attached to two warp nacelles by pylons running upward. At the bow of the saucer is the gold navigational deflector while the observation lounge, aft torpedo tube, and impulse engines are at the stern. The main bridge, crew quarters, sensors and thrusters are embedded into the top of the saucer section. The ship's weapons, the grappler, a sensor dome, and cargo bays occupy the ventral section.
The ship was unique for its new and advanced technologies, most notably its transporter and its new warp engine, capable of propelling the ship to warp factor 5 (TOS scale) or 125 c. Ships of the NX class were intended to be multirole vessels capable of exploration, diplomacy, and warfare. The pathfinder of the class, the starship Enterprise (NX-01), was launched on April 16, 2151.
The finale episode of ("These Are the Voyages...") strongly implied that by 2161 the NX class of Warp 5 ships had become obsolete with the introduction of Warp 7-capable vessels. The NX-01 is decommissioned that year, but the fate of the other NX class ships is not revealed; in addition, it is not revealed whether the new Warp 7 vessels also carry NX designations (it is possible that the new ships are the oft-mentioned Daedalus class starship, which was in use around that time).
In the episode "Hope and Fear", a ship by the name USS Dauntless (NX-01-A) carries the number NX-01A; however, it is not a real Starfleet vessel but a redressed alien ship disguised by the alien Arturis.
The NX designation is also used in Star Trek series to denote prototype or experimental ship designs before their entry into frontline service, such as the starships Excelsior (NX-2000) and Defiant (NX-74205).
Known NX class starships
- Enterprise (NX-01)
- *Named for several Earth vessels, the Earth starship Enterprise was the pathfinder of her class. Commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer, the starship Enterprise was launched in April 2151 and embarked on her first mission to return a Klingon courier named Klaang to Qo'noS. The starship Enterprise made first contact with dozens of alien races, including the Romulans, the Andorians and the Tholians. The Enterprise returned to Earth in April 2153 after the Xindi attack on Earth for a refit. While in the Delphic Expanse, the Enterprise was severely damaged by Xindi forces and fought at the Battle of the Council on February 12 2154. Two days later, the starship Enterprise destroyed the Sphere network and returned to Earth with the help of a Xindi-Aquatic cruiser. The Enterprise was later involved in the Augment crisis and the Romulan incursion of 2154. The starship Enterprise was decommissioned in 2161 shortly after the creation of the United Federation of Planets and became a museum ship.
- Columbia (NX-02)
- *Named for the space shuttle Columbia lost in 2003, the Earth starship Columbia was under construction in April 2153 and was scheduled to be launched in June 2154 but suffered from engine problems. The Columbia launched from drydock in late November 2154 commanded by Captain Erika Hernandez with Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker as her chief engineer. The Columbia helped Enterprise in dealing with the Klingon-Augment situation by coming to her aid when several Klingon subroutines interfered with the warp engines on Enterprise. Fate unknown.
- Avenger (NX-09)
- *A Mirror Universe starship serving in the Terran Empire. Commanded by Admiral Black, the ship's motto, seen on the crew's mission patches, is Audentes Fortuna Imperii (roughly translated: "the Empire is fortunate and bold"). The Avenger was later destroyed by the USS Defiant (NCC-1764).
- The episode "Fortunate Son" indicated that, as of 2151, three additional NX ships besides Enterprise were in the planning stages. Aside from Columbia, the other two have never been identified. It is possible that the names of future NX-class ships will follow the naming process of the US space shuttle orbiters or their Orbiter Vehicle Designation numbers. If so, these would be Challenger (NX-03) and Discovery (NX-04).
| Star Trek starship classes |
|---|
| Starfleet: Starfleet starships |
| Akira | Ambassador | Constellation | Constitution | Danube | Defiant | Excelsior | Galaxy | Hope/Olympic | Intrepid | Miranda | Nebula | New Orleans | Nova | NX† | Oberth | Prometheus | Saber | Sovereign | Steamrunner | Wells | Other Starfleet ships |
| Other |
| Klingon>Klingon Empire: Klingon starships | Borg Collective: Borg starships | Romulan Star Empire: Romulan starships | Jem'Hadar: Jem'Hadar starships | Cardassian Union: Cardassian starships | Ferengi Alliance: D'Kora | Suliban Cabal: Suliban cell ship | Andorian Imperial Guard: Kumari | Xindi: Xindi starships | Kazon Sects: Kazon ship classes |
| † – Pre-Federation |
See also
External links
- ["NX class" at Memory Alpha]
- ["NX class" at the Neutral Zone Starship Database]
- ["Starship Gallery - NX Class" at Ex Astris Scientia]
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