Starfleet Probe Classifications

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

  • Class V and VII probes are built with "stealth" technology that makes them harder to detect with sensors. This isn't equivalent to a cloak, however it is enough to be invisible to all sensing capabilities used by presteller civilizations.
  • A class VIII's range depends upon which speed it uses. It can use warp 8 to travel a distance of about 12 light-years. At warp 9 it can travel for a maximum of 6.5 hours. A Class VIII's probe's long range senors have a range of 6 light-years.
  • A class IX's range depends upon which speed it uses. It can use warp 8 to travel a distance of about 76 light-years. At warp 9 it can travel for a maximum of 12 hours. A Class IX's probe's long range senors have a range of 12 light-years.