"A dedicated science vessal can do more..."

[Santaman]

1)
2) I don't think the Oberth has ever demonstrated the ability to "zip" anywhere. With her tiny engines, she's probably like the Nova, slow as molasses, best employed on longterm studies like the ones we saw in TNG (hanging around a dying star, hanging around the Black Cluster, hanging around a dull gas giant, etc.). Onscreen, an Oberth never spearheaded the push into the unknown.

Timo Saloniemi

I can't remember anything mentioned about the speed of an Oberth, I guess to me it just looks quite fast, as for the rest, well Grissom was the first Starfleet and IIRC only starship orbiting/being around the Genesis planet so maybe she DOES spearhead into the unknown now and then.

 

[ALF]

Of course, the resourceful Mr. Schnieder has an article covering this: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/oberth-size.htm

 

[Crazy Eddie]

^^ I think that the Oberth isn't called a scout vessel for nothing, it zips in, takes a thorough look at the planet to see if there's at least no big threats around and also keep an eye on the solar system and immediate space for troubles and when she's done she calls in the long term scientist troups and moves onto the next planet, makes sense to me.

Then that would also apply to the Nova class, in which case both class starships may actually be "survey" or "scout ships," both terms being applicable.

Unless someone can think of a reference, I think this leaves room for the existence of the large planet-explorer vessels I described earlier. Perhaps a Galaxy Class or something of similar size and capacity to scope out the entire planet in blanket search of goodies. In either case, we have probably never seen any of these planet explorers in action; by the time Our Heroes get to the scene, the planet's already been colonized and mapped and the explorers have moved on.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I always tended to view the Oberth as a scout, in terms of mission rather than size.

Consider this definition:

Scout: lookout: a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

The bird of prey fits that definition. It is a small ship sent for the express purpose of gathering information about a possible enemy encounter. In other worlds...reconnaissance.

The oberth is a science vessel. Not a combat vessel. It would be out runned and out gunned and it's shields wouldn't survive one encounter as we saw.

Which simply means it's not a military scout like the BOP is. The Oberth is intended to explore new scientific anomalies, and therefore could be classified as a science scout. That's how I tend to view it.

Maybe we can look to the non-canonical TNG Tech Manual for something of a compromise. Among the starship types listed there is that of "surveyor," which may be the more official name for a science vessel.

That would still leave room for the existence of dedicated scouts (also listed among the starship types in TNG TM).

 

[Mysterion]

Sems to me an effective solution to this owuld be to use a variation of the cargo/tug idea from FJ's Technical Manual. Just have the pods be configurable lab/research facilities. The ship tows them out to where they need to be, puts them into an orbit around whatever needs to be studied. when the researchers are done, another tug comes along and schleps it back to base. Jackills books play with a fairly wide variety of pods for various functions, IIRC.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

Well, Chekov said he might have seen a scout class vessel. Kirk responded if it could be Grissom. The question is how could Kirk confuse the Grissom for a scout class vessel if the Grissom was something else?

 

[Longinus]

Well, Chekov said he might have seen a scout class vessel. Kirk responded if it could be Grissom. The question is how could Kirk confuse the Grissom for a scout class vessel if the Grissom was something else?

Kirk assumed that Chekov had mistaken Grissom for a scout, as scouts tend to be rather small, as was Grissom.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

No, Kirk is the one that assumed the ship that Chekov might have seen was the Grissom.

 

[Longinus]

No, Kirk is the one that assumed the ship that Chekov might have seen was the Grissom.

That's what I said.

 

[EmperorTiberius]

I think detailed study of a planet would be done from the ground. I'd imagine a base would be established and they would go from there. A small vessel could be in orbit if they need to change the continent or do a small scan, but they can do that with a medium automated satellite as well. Other than that, I'd think they would use shuttles to get to different parts that they want to take a look at. There is no need to permanently tie a vessel to a specific spot for months. An Oberth or Nova would do general surveys and scouting of a planet, not massive research and catalog projects.

Also, I haven't read the Titan series, but is Luna class supposed to be one of those dedicated research vessels?

 

[C.E. Evans]

I think detailed study of a planet would be done from the ground. I'd imagine a base would be established and they would go from there.

We've actually seen this before in Trek, most recently with the cloaked base on the Ba'ku homeworld in Insurrection.

A small vessel could be in orbit if they need to change the continent or do a small scan, but they can do that with a medium automated satellite as well. Other than that, I'd think they would use shuttles to get to different parts that they want to take a look at.

Additionally, the Nova-class is supposedly capable of planetfall (like the Intrepid-class), to further conduct its scientific investigations. The ship itself can serve as a planetside base if necessary.

Also, I haven't read the Titan series, but is Luna class supposed to be one of those dedicated research vessels?

The novels generally list the Luna-class as an explorer, albeit a noticeably scaled-down one compared to a larger vessel like a Galaxy-class or Sovereign-class...