Ortho:
Cross section:
Renders:
The following is the polished version of the description I wrote for Bernds JOAT page where the images are hosted (I posted them to imageshack so as not to leech off of his BW):
Note that my engineering knowledge is approximately that of an intelligent ape, so any tech stuff was just bullshittery on my part. Also, see that utterly retarded "grappler" on the bottom?Design by Flagg, 3D by Nixon's Head
Launched: 2092
Length: 229m
Width: 66m
Height: 55m
Crew complement: 28
Shuttle Craft: 2
Max. Speed: Warp 2.9
Impulse engines: 4 (8 reactors)
Weapons: 2 plasma cannons, 2 probe launch bays capable of deploying nuclear mines (8 on board)
In the last decades of the 21st century the newly formed United Earth Space Probe Agency embarked upon a new endeavor: constructing the first dedicated exploration ship capable of achieving warp speed and being deployed for long term solar and interstellar mapping and exploration. The original design was the Sol Class prototype UESPAS-Sol. It was launched in 2092 for extensive testing. It was able to reach a maximum of warp 1.9 at launch, with a desired peak capability of warp 2.5. The initial attempt at breaching the warp 2 barrier resulted in disaster as the nacelles ruptured and exploded, causing a cascade effect which resulted in a warp core breach, killing all crew members. It was discovered upon investigation of sensor logs that the initial 2 nacelle design was overpowered, there was simply too much energy being put into the nacelles for them to cope past Warp 1.9. Rather than completely sacrifice the concept, the UESPA hit upon a solution. They improved the efficiency of the warp coils and added another pair of nacelles to cope with the energy output. The second ship of the class, UESPAS-Mercury, was launched in 2103 and went on to achieve a maximum speed of Warp 2.9, far beyond the initial expectations. A total of 11 Sol-class vessels (including the ill fated UESPAS Sol, Sol-01) were completed and put into service.
UESPAS - Sol, Sol - 01 2092-2092 (destroyed)
UESPAS - Mercury, Sol - 02 2103-2128 (missing)
UESPAS - Venus, Sol - 03 2105-2113 (heavily damaged, scrapped)
UESPAS - Mars, Sol - 04 2106-2148 (decommissioned) 2156-2161 (recomissioned during Romulan War)
UESPAS - Jupiter, Sol - 05 2106-2148 (decommissioned) 2156-2161 (recomissioned during Romulan War)
UESPAS - Saturn, Sol - 06 2107-2148 (decommissioned) 2156-2159 (destroyed during Romulan War)
UESPAS - Uranus, Sol - 07 2108-2152 (scrapped)
UESPAS - Neptune, Sol - 08 2108-2134 (destroyed)
UESPAS - Pluto, Sol - 09 2109-2152 (scrapped)
UESPAS - Sol, Sol - 10 2110-2210 (placed In Smithsonian Orbital Exhibit)
UESPAS - Luna, Sol - 11 2111-2119 (missing)