Class 8 probe
A class 8 probe was a type of probe used by the Federation in the late 24th century, usually instrumented heavily with sensor and transceiver equipment, and was designed for extended flight at velocities up to warp 9. Class-8 probes were based on the photon torpedo spaceframe.
Though not specifically designed to transport a person, it was a class 8 probe in which special emissary K'Ehleyr left Starbase 153 and arrived on board the USS Enterprise-D on stardate 42901.3. On this stardate, the sensor equipment was replaced by a life support system, capable of sustaining one person. She described it as a coffin and a Class-A probe. This unusual transport was considered the fastest available for her urgent mission. (TNG: "The Emissary")
According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (p. 117), the class 8 probe is a medium-range multi-mission warp probe used for galactic particle and field research and for early-warning reconnaissance missions. It is capable of sustaining the speed of warp 9 for 6.5 hours and is equipped with a standard sensor pallet and a subspace transceiver, plus mission-specific modules.
External link[]
- Class-8 probe at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works