Knight Hawk ASC-590N45
Liberty Class
Scout/Research
Launched 2210
Turned to civilian use 2256
Currently operated by Civilian Transport services (2270)
Decks: 3
Crew: minimum 3 standard 6
Passengers: 6 to 12
Cargo: up to 100 metric tons depending on configuration
Regular Operating Capacity: 6 months, cargo can increase this to 18 months
Length: 414.2 ft (126m)
Width: 179.9 ft (54.83m)
Height: 57.95 ft (17.66m)
Cruising Speed: Warp 3
Maximum Speed: Warp 6.7 (up to 12 hours)
Liberty Class Notes
Designed by Starfleet Core of Engineers 2195
First ship completed 2200
Production run ends 2245
Designed primarily as a long term but small staffed research vessel and scout, the Liberty, was at the time, extremely fast and agile for her size. With an advanced scanner suite she was able to get accurate and quick scans and get out of a system quickly. As technology advanced, she began to be relegated into more of a research role and eventually began being used exclusively by civilians in the Federation. With large cabins, reliable propulsion and low maintenance, she became a favorite and still finds widespread use almost 75 years after her initial design and launch.
While most civilian versions only have the Deflector pod slung underneath the Engineering deck, options had been created that contained not only a Deflector but a probe launcher, or with some modifications, a proper photon torpedo launcher. These are a bit harder to come by as Starfleet dismantled those decades ago for use elsewhere. One popular modification is a cargo claw and a Deflector attachment on the lower saucer sensor dome allowing the Liberty to act as a light freighter by hauling cargo containers and cargo trains underneath the Engineering hull and out behind her.
The Liberty's warp nacelles house the M/AM reaction chambers as well as the Anitmatter pods which is reclaimed from the Fusion engines and processes involved in powering the ship. While the Liberty will have to re-fuel it's Dueterium after a stretch of long use, the Anti-Dueterium rarely, if ever, has to be replenished. It's Emergency systems include the ability to discard the nacelles as well as the standard emergency buoy and two life rafts that are integrated into the lift system and launch from behind the bridge on top of the saucer.
Equipped with a science suite, a 2 person sickbay, a 3 person transporter, and a large cargo bay for it's size as well as accommodations for the crew and several passengers, the Liberty has found service in recent years as a limited cargo and personnel transport.
. Some scenes from it are portrayed in the link above. When the movie is made (HA!) I want Pam Grier to play Capt. DaVega.
* and Capt Shade and my own 1999-05 pencil drawings
