- For other uses, see Saturn.
The Saturn class[6] was a 31st century[4] Federation starship type, a ring-shaped science vessel[3] in Starfleet service since before the Burn. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")
History and specifications[]
Red-shining impulse engine.
31st century[]
The Sol-based engineers who built this class dubbed it the Saturn class because its primary hull reminded them of the ring planet Saturn. The design allowed for experimental torus-shaped deflector shields and warp fields. It enabled a Saturn-class science vessel to utilize the negative space within the ring to isolate and study dangerous phenomena in close proximity, as well as pioneering a more efficient method of energy manipulation for space flight at both impulse and warp speeds. The latter feature improved the Saturn-class ships' value to the remnants of Starfleet after the Burn.
The Annan's chakram projector.
Besides the cloaking device and phaser beam arrays typical for Starfleet of its era, the Saturn-class science vessels were equipped with the chakram projector. This ring-like turret could operate independently once deployed and would seek out opponents to attack near the mothership. (STO website: Reflections: Voyage to Saturn and Beyond)
The Saturn class was one of the few vessels in its era that did not include detached components in its design. Like the larger Angelou-class ringship, the hull was essentially a circle. Two stubby warp nacelles extended from the aft of the ring, nesting a red-shining impulse engine between them. Stretches of white light marked the saucer's outside rim at regular intervals, including the front where a deflector dish was situated on older classes that also lacked a secondary hull. (DSC episode: "Die Trying")
The overall shape of a ring-like saucer followed by short warp nacelles was reminiscent of the smaller, more traditionally designed 25th century Scryer-class intel science vessel. (STO - Delta Rising mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
The saucer did not form a complete ring, and it included a negative space in its center. The outer cut-off points at the aft held facted, blue-gleaming impulse engines. (DSC episode: "Die Trying")
Underside view.
Overall, the Saturn class appeared dark grey, with its hull dotted by white lights from windows and position lights, and blue-shining warp plasma in the nacelles. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")
It was one of nine Federation classes active in the 3060s decade. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")
Top-down view.
In 3069[7] three ships of this class operated in the sensor range of the unnamed Federation relay station when the Burn occurred and destroyed all starships with an active warp core across the galaxy by destabilizing their dilithium. When the ships' dilithium crystals went inert, matter/antimatter containment failed, and the vessels detonated instantaneously.
32nd century[]
The Annan in 3189.
In the year 3188, acting communications chief Aditya Sahil shared his station's sensor logs with Commander Michael Burnham. These included graphics of the Starfleet ship locations and a visualization of their destruction when the Burn was triggered. Burnham reported these findings in a transmission to her ship, the time-displaced USS Discovery on stardate 865211.3. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")
Ships of this type was still in service in the 32nd century. In the 3180s decade, they operated from inside the distortion field surrounding the Federation Headquarters space station.
In 3189, ships of the class, including the USS Annan, were present as the time-displaced USS Discovery made its way through the distortion field towards Federation HQ. (DSC episode: "Die Trying")
25th century[]
The Annan in 2411.
In the 25th century, the 32nd century-version of the Saturn class was aquired by the Khitomer Alliance. The Alliance rated this type as a tier 6 intel science spearhead. (STO website: Reflections: Voyage to Saturn and Beyond)
This categorization combined intel starships with a science vessel/destroyer, known as a science spearhead to differentiate from science destroyers. (STO - Reflections mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Known vessels[]
Appendices[]
Connections[]
| Saturn-class starships | ||
|---|---|---|
|
USS Annan • unnamed Saturn-class starships | 
|
External links[]
- Saturn class article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Saturn Intel Science Spearhead article at Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Voyage to Saturn and Beyond dev blog on the official ARC website.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 DSC episode: "Die Trying"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 STO - Reflections mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 STO website: Reflections: Voyage to Saturn and Beyond
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 DSC episode: "People of Earth"
- ↑ DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 2"
- ↑ DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 2" promo image
- ↑ DSC episode: "Die Trying"
- ↑ DSC episode: "People of Earth"
- ↑ DSC episode: "Die Trying"