Type |
Speed |
Range |
Use |
Class I |
.5 c (half the speed of light)   |
200,000 kilometers |
Short range astronomical probe, capable of analyzing EM radiation, intersteller chemistry and subspace fields |
Class II |
.65 c |
400,000 kilometers |
Short range astronomical probe, capable of analyzing EM radiation, intersteller chemistry and subspace fields |
Class III |
.65 c |
1,200,000 kilometers |
Designed to land on planets and return samples, providing a detailed on-site analysis of the planet |
Class IV |
.6 c |
3,500,000 kilometers |
Used to perform close observation of stars and other high-energy phenomena |
Class V |
.5 c or Warp 2 |
430 billion kilometers |
Designed to land on planets and return samples, providing a detailed on-site analysis of the planet (Also see below) |
Class VI |
.8 c |
430 billion kilometers |
Communicator relays and emergency beacons - the beacon has no warp capability in order to limit detection by subspace sensors, but has high relativistic velocity. Once the probe's fuel is exhaused it coasts at speed, broadcasting a recovery signal toward Federation space. The probe has a navigational module to facilitate recovery and trajectory tracking. |
Class VII |
.5 c or Warp 1.5 |
450,000,000 kilometers   |
Designed to orbit an inhabited planet for up to three months, gathering data about the inhabitants and relaying it to a ship. (Also see below) |
Class VIII |
Warp 8 or 9 |
see below |
Long range sensor probe - on rare occasions has been used to ferry a lone passenger on an emergency mission |
Class IX |
Warp 8 or 9 |
see below |
Long range sensor probe - on rare occasions has been used to ferry a lone passenger on an emergency mission |