Mass: 4,500,000 tons
Crew: 780 including family members
Propulsion: One cochrane warp core feeding two warp nacelles; two subatomic unified energy impulse engines
Armament: 8 x Type X Phaser arrays
3 x Type 3 burst fire photon torpedo tubes + 180 torpedoes
Antimatter spread emitter
Defense Systems: High capacity shield system
Standard Duranium/Tritanium double hull plus 9.0 cm High Density armor.
Standard level Structural Integrity Field
Warp Capabilities: Normal Cruise : Warp Factor 6
Maximum Cruise : Warp Factor 9
Maximum Rated : Warp Factor 9.4 for twelve hours
Hull Life: 100 years
Refit Cycle: Minor : 1 year
Standard : 5 years
Major : 20 years
Dimensions: Length : 452 m
Beam : 470 m
Height : 145 m
Decks : 36 (including pod)
Shuttle Compliment: shuttlebays: 3
shuttles: 2 type-7 personal shuttles, 2 type-8 personal shuttles, 4 type-9 personal shuttles, 6 type-10 cargo shuttles, 6 type-11 personal shuttles, 4 type-18 shuttle pods, runabouts: 6
The Nebula Class was designed to be a companion ship to the Galaxy Class, with a similar design of the Miranda Class. The ship is constructed of Galaxy Class parts with a few minor modifications, making it a compact version of the Galaxy Class, although not as powerful. The interchangeable upper module is designed to make the Nebula Class more mission specific. The ship is fitted with a different module for each mission. For example, if the ship was to go on an evacuation mission, a crew quarters module would me installed; if the ship were to go on a combat mission, a pod with extra armaments would be installed.
The Nebula Class is a part of the Miranda family (the ships have a similar design other ships of this family are the Centaur Class, and Nebula Class), designed as a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy Class. The ship was designed to be more mission specific than the Nebula Class (a battle ship), with a large upper interchangeable upper module (see description for more details).
The Nebula class was fielded in the 2350's to provide a smaller, more numerous counterpart to the Galaxy class then under construction. The design was intended to parallel that of the Galaxy class as closely as possible in order to allow for many identical systems to be installed in both classes; this has resulted in significant improvements in the design and construction processes for the Nebula class and thus allowed comparatively high numbers to be fielded. Compared to the Galaxy class the Nebula has a more compact shape the engineering hull is mounted directly to the underside of the saucer section, a measure which saves some 200 meters in length.
The major difference in capability is the addition of a prominent housing aft of the saucer section of the Nebula class. This enables the vessel to carry any one of a variety of special equipment pods current models include a high capacity sensor pod, an enhanced weapons pod, a colony transport pod, an emergency field hospital unit, or a science laboratory pod. Although the basic Nebula design has approximately 80% of the capability of a Galaxy class vessel in most areas, the addition of the mission pod brings that figure up to 95% or more in that specific area. This flexibility actually allows the Nebula design to accomplish almost identical missions despite its smaller size.
In service the Nebula class has proved highly satisfactory, and in many ways these ships form the backbone of Starfleet's exploratory and scientific programs. Like the Galaxy class they have received regular upgrades to their systems, most notably a new Warp Core design. With the advent of the threats from the Romulan, Dominion and Borg, Starfleet invested in sixty seven new enhanced weapon pods for the Nebula class; most of the vessels now carry this as a standard item. the pod carries eight standard torpedo tubes and a stock of 300 casings, approximately doubling the ships overall rate of fire.
As part of Starfleet's war effort many of its ships have been upgraded to increase their combat capabilities. The uprated Nebula design has a maximum warp speed of Warp 9.9 and incorporates improvements to the weapons and targeting systems, a high level structural integrity field, and various other classified changes. All Nebulas now being produced are of the uprated model, and all of these are launched with the enhanced weapons pod as standard.
Weapons Module This module fits in the upper connects on Deck One. It contains, 3 Quantum, 4 Photon, and 1 Tricobalt Torpedo Launchers. It has 450 Photon, 300 Quantum, and 12 Tricobalt Torpedoes.
Habitat Module The Habitat Module is used when transporting colonists or troops. It has room for 500 people and their belongings.
Troop Transport Module This is a very mission specific module. It has room for 300 Ground Troops, a command HQ, and a subspace relay with Starfleet Command.
Medical Triage Module This very useful module is a completely sealed off hospital. It has operating rooms, and ICU, medical labs, and it all runs off its own power, thus minimizing the risk of spread of infectious disease.
Shield Module A heavily armored module in itself, it includes extra shield generators, and metaphasic shield generators, thus insuring the ship con go almost anywhere freely.
Cargo Module The Cargo Module is just that. It is big and bulky, but it adds and extra 100,000 metric tons to the cargo capacity of the ship.
Diplomatic module For special operations, this small module is attached. It has quarters for 250 people, negotiating rooms, and a small entertainment center. It is designed to be a neutral area where negotiations can be staged.
Propulsion Module This is essentially two extra Warp Nacelles with its own M/ARA and power supply. This supplements speed when you need to get somewhere far away fast.
Science Module The Module itself is nothing more then a big bundle of sensors with a hull and connects Gamma welded to it. It makes a science ship's sensor array look like a tricorder.
Transporter Module This unusual module is used in conjunction with other Starships. During a rescue operation, the most common cause of death while awaiting rescue is failure to transport fast enough from the Hazard Area. So, if needed, the Nebula can beam over 30,000 persons an hour with this module. It runs off its own power supply, so other ship systems won't be affected.
Deck Layout http://www.ussmiranda.com/images/ships/nebula1.jpg" border="0">
(Edited by marianne webber at 4:36 pm on June 4, 2004)