Why are science ships so small?

[Takeru]

I'm talking about dedicated scientific vessels, Oberth class and Noca class for example, why are they so tiny with very little internal space and small crews? Take a single M-class planet for example, if starfleet wants to actually explore it thousands of scientists could work there for years, biologists, botanists, geologists, paleontologists, archeologists, several hundred thousand new species both on land and in the oceans, millions of years of evolution, maybe ancient civilizations that existes 50.000 years ago ...

A galaxy class sized science vessel (or bigger!) with dozens of runabouts to explore could be parked in orbit and actually do a decent job, but starfleet always seems to send like 50. Scanners are powerful on the show but they can't be that good, we know Keiko climbed through caves on Bajor to study moss or whatever and that was a planet with a civilization thousands of years old but there's still a need for exploring by actual people.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Science vessels are generally single-purpose ships. They're basically little more than warp-powered sensor platforms, IMO. Unlike larger multipurpose ships, they don't really need large crews or the space to carry a large number of people if a mission requires it. Ideally, science ships go where other larger ships have already gone before and spend weeks if not months conducting the tedious and unglamorous follow-up research initially started by an earlier exploration ship. And given how much more advanced Federation computer and sensor technology could be, it really shouldn't take years to study a single M-class planet unless there's something on that planet that requires repeated visits to it over time.

 

[Shawnster]

Arent they all science vessels? Janeway sure did act like science took priority over getting home. Even the dedicated warship Defiant made science survey missions

Do we ever hear Starfleet refer to Federation ships as cruiser, destroyer frigate, etc?

 

[trekfan39]

They are all Science ships to a point but the dedicated Science ships seem to be more capable of conducting themselves better at preforming just that task for some reason. My guess is they probably do have Equipment that regular Starfleet ships don't have or their Equipment is just kept state of the art compared to other ships.

 

[fireproof78]

They are dedicated vessels to a particular place (Genesis planet, etc) that require more scientists but are less likely to be long term missions without support.

 

[Tenacity]

A display labeled the enterprise a "space crusier."

If starfleet wanted to truely survey a world long term they wouldn't tie down a starship (even a small one). they would place a spacestation in orbit.

 

[timmy84]

I think the mistake we are making is assuming a science ship does science. It does, but specific fields in science. The Galaxy-Class (for example) ships discovery and make initial observations of something. Then Starfleet Command will send a science ship with only specialists in that field. They are not out in the middle of no where because they will not be able to handle all fields like the larger ships.

 

[Takeru]

Arent they all science vessels? Janeway sure did act like science took priority over getting home. Even the dedicated warship Defiant made science survey missions

They all do science missions but starfleet also used the Enterprise D to ferry cargo from A to B and as a transport for ambassadors. They seem to use ships for wring tasks all the time it seems.

I still think a dedicated large science ship that does nothing else would be useful in many situations. Do smaller vessels have a purpose too? Sure but they're all we ever see. Where are the big ones? Starfleet is primarily about exploration (at least that's what they like to claim) but their science vessels are all single task vessels? Watch a star go supernova is a job for an oberth, fine. But certainly there must be missions that require a broader spectrum, do they send 10 ships then?

A display labeled the enterprise a "space crusier."

If starfleet wanted to truely survey a world long term they wouldn't tie down a starship (even a small one). they would place a spacestation in orbit.

Then they'd have to semd ships to build the station and to drop of the scientists there and after they're done exploring they have a space station sitting there that they no longer need. Why not just send a ship, turning off the warp drive and parking it there won't waste more ressources than building an entire station u d unlike the station a shop can be moved easily.

 

[MAGolding]

Arent they all science vessels? Janeway sure did act like science took priority over getting home. Even the dedicated warship Defiant made science survey missions

Do we ever hear Starfleet refer to Federation ships as cruiser, destroyer frigate, etc?

In "A Taste of Armageddon" Anan 7 twice calls the Enterprise a star cruiser.

ANAN: All security personnel, Federation prisoners have escaped. They are to be found. They are armed. If they resist, do what is necessary. Planetary disruptor banks, calculate orbit of star cruiser now circling. Stand by to fire. Full power.

ANAN: In ten seconds, open fire. Destroy the star cruiser. Those are the orders of the Council.

In "The Way to Eden" a presumably civilian ship is called a cruiser:

SPOCK: It is definitely the stolen space cruiser, Captain, the Aurora. I read six aboard.

CAPTAINS LOG: Captain's log, stardate 5832.3. The son of the Catullan ambassador is one of six we have beamed aboard from the stolen cruiser Aurora. We have been ordered to handle him with extreme delicacy, because the treaty negotiations now in progress between the Federation and Catualla are in a crucial phase.

KIRK: Lieutenant Palmer, notify Starbase we have the six aboard who stole the space cruiser Aurora. Regrettably, the space cruiser itself was destroyed.

KIRK: But we don't steal space cruisers and act like irresponsible children. KIRK

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock:

TORG: Yes. ...Federation Battle Cruiser. Have they scanned us?

Of course it is a Klingon who describes the Enterprise as a battle cruiser.

In "Relics":

SCOTT: I actually served on two. This was the first. She was also the first ship I ever served on as Chief Engineer. You know, I served aboard eleven ships. Freighters, cruisers, starships, but this is the only one I think of. The only one I miss.

Scott counts cruisers and starships as different types of Starfleet vessels.

The Arsenal of Freedom":

ANNOTATION: Captain's log, stardate 41798.2. We have been ordered by Starfleet to proceed to the Lorenze Cluster and investigate the disappearance of a light cruiser, USS Drake, which was in that system trying to unravel a mystery of its own which began when recent long range probes indicated that all intelligent life on the planet Minos has disappeared.

According to Memory Alpha, the 3rd edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia describes the Drake as:

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 122) this vessel was a Wambundu-class starship, with the registryNCC-20381.

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Drake_(2364)

But the various editions of the Star Trek Encyclopedia seem to have differing informatin about the Drake.

In "Conspiracy":

WORF: Captain, sensors are detecting three Federation starships already in orbit around the planet.
PICARD: Identify.
WORF: Two are frigates. The Renegade commanded by Tryla Scott, and the Thomas Paine, Captain Rixx commanding.
DATA: The third is just coming into range now, sir. It is Ambassador Class heavy cruiser, USS Horatio.

It is not odd that Worf considers an Ambassador Class heavy cruiser a starship, but it is more unusual that Worf considers two frigates to be starships.

"Sacrifice of Angels":

SISKO: Sisko to all ships. Cruiser and Galaxy wings, drop to half impulse. You too, Commander.

And:

NOG: Attack fighters in Theta formation. Cruiser and Galaxy wings at half impulse.

Sisko says Galaxy class starships are not cruisers, so perhaps they are counted as battleships during the war. He didn't say what classes of ships are counted as cruisers.

SISKO: Mister O'Brien, have Destroyer units two and six move in closer. They need more cover fire. And tell Captains Diego and Reynolds to stay alert. They may try to outflank us.

So there are ships described as destroyers in the Federation fleet.

In "Judgement" Captain Archer identifies himself as:

ARCHER: Captain Archer of the battle cruiser Enterprise.

Of course NX class spaceships of the United Earth Starfleet are not the same as Federation Starships centuries later.

So the various classifications of Starfleet fighting vessels are not very clear. Which is not too surprising since the uniforms that Captain Ramart and navigator Tom Nellis of the Antares wear in "Charlie X" look like Starfleet uniforms:

Captain's Log, star date 1533.6. Now manoeuvring to come alongside cargo vessel Antares. Its Captain and First officer are beaming over to us with an unusual passenger.

KIRK: This must be a space first. A transport ship that doesn't need anything?

Captain's Log, star date 1535.8. UESPA headquarters notified of the mysterious loss of science probe vessel Antares.

SPOCK: Your mind is not on the game, Captain. Check. The Antares?
KIRK: A survey ship with twenty men aboard lost. No reason. Obviously, Captain Ramart was not aware of any trouble. I can't figure it.

http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/8.htm

So Kirk describes the Antares as having four different types of assignments, missions or duties!

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Antares

 

[F. King Daniel]

Isn't Discovery called a science ship repeatedly?

 

[trekfan39]

Isn't Discovery called a science ship repeatedly?

Yes it is which means science ships don't have to be small but it seems like most are or at least the Nova and Oberth class are anyway.

 

[MacLeod]

A lot of this has no doubt already been covered

A number of scenarios for when a science ship would be used

• To follow up on worlds that might be of interest following a visit by a more exploratory vessel such as the Constitution or Galaxy Classes.

• To study some event within borders such as studying the Genesis Planet.

As far why they are smaller a more multi-purpose vessel such as the Galaxy Class would have to be equipped to carry out a wide variety of roles whilst more specific purpose vessels only need to be outfitted for one role so don't need the extra equipment and thus the space that it requires. To a certain extend all Starfleet ships seem to be capable of carrying out most missions even the Defiant Class can do basic science missions but lacks the equipment for detailed work.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Science ships are the ones that follow up on the big discoveries of others, so with the number of new planets and anomalies being initially charted by larger starships then Starfleet would need a lot of science ships--so it would make sense for them to be smaller and more specialised.

 

[Shawnster]

In "A Taste of Armageddon" Anan 7 twice calls the Enterprise a star cruiser.
In "The Way to Eden" a presumably civilian ship is called a cruiser....

Thanks. I specifically said Starfleet, so Anan 7 and a Klingon don't count. The references to cruiser you shared are not in a military sense. While they do answer my question in a literal sense, they don't in the context of military terms. Arsenal of Freedom and Conspiracy definitely fit what I was thinking of!

 

[Tim Thomason]

Discovery was also an experimental prototype (or rather, one of a class of prototypes) built to a specific configuration as determined by calculations for the spore drive. Something about the spore drive maybe requires the vehicle to be a certain mass or shape in order to facilitate ease of use.

 

[MacLeod]

Discovery was also an experimental prototype (or rather, one of a class of prototypes) built to a specific configuration as determined by calculations for the spore drive. Something about the spore drive maybe requires the vehicle to be a certain mass or shape in order to facilitate ease of use.

If that was the case why haven't we seen the USS Crossfield or heard about it having the spore drive, sure there could be any number of reasons

It was destroyed or Lost

Or perhaps rather than been built for the spore drive specifically it was the one that was easiest to adopt to the drive.

 

[Spot261]

Discovery was also an experimental prototype (or rather, one of a class of prototypes) built to a specific configuration as determined by calculations for the spore drive. Something about the spore drive maybe requires the vehicle to be a certain mass or shape in order to facilitate ease of use.

I'm not sure this has actually been stated, it's merely speculation based on the fact both spore drive equipped ships were of the same class not seen elsewhere (even that's uncertain, we've seen glimpses of similar ships) a class which has the specific facility for spinning it's saucer segments for....reasons.

It could, however, just as easily be a repurposed vessel with modifications made to the saucer section, especially given pretty much everything else about her screams out "tactical".

 

[The Wormhole]

Arent they all science vessels?

No, only the Oberth and Nova classes were specified as science ships. Though I think I should limit how much further I answer this for fear of drifting near the Forbidden Topic.

Do we ever hear Starfleet refer to Federation ships as cruiser, destroyer frigate, etc?

The TOS Writer's Guide does establish Kirk had worked his way up the ranks serving on frigates and destroyers.

Isn't Discovery called a science ship repeatedly?

Eh, the closest it's come to actually being called a science ship was when Saru was telling Michael about its ability to conduct three hundred science missions simultaneously. Michael asks "so this is a science ship?" and Saru becomes cagey and refuses to answer her.

Although, Lorca did claim the crew were "meek scientists" when he took command.

Discovery was also an experimental prototype (or rather, one of a class of prototypes) built to a specific configuration as determined by calculations for the spore drive. Something about the spore drive maybe requires the vehicle to be a certain mass or shape in order to facilitate ease of use.

Discovery is of the Crossfield class, Discovery itself and the USS Glenn having been appropriated for the Spore Drive research.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Only reason non-science vessels are so big is to have lots of extra space to transport diplomats.

 

[XCV330]

Although, Lorca did claim the crew were "meek scientists" when he took command.

In Fairness, Lorca probably would have considered Admiral Marcus a meek scientist.
It does seem like the larger ships, if not haulers, are multi-role ships at best, whereas its hard to see what other role there is for an Oberth but science. How the heck to you even get to the secondary hull if something breaks during a battle on one of those, anyway?