Matsumoto-Class Data Sheet by Martechi on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

The Matsumoto is a Starfleet research vessel specializing in stellar cartography and surveying. Operating primarily in deep space inside Federation territories, starships of this class help to maintain and expand Starfleet's detailed star charts and network of navigation beacons.

General Information
The wide saucer section of the Matsumoto integrates both a vestigial secondary hull and nacelle struts, creating a distinctly compact design. The dominant primary hull was chosen by the Beta Doria Design Bureau as a compromise to accommodate the large staff and equipment necessary for the Matsumoto's mission, while at the same time adhering to the tried and tested profile of 'Kollarian Sundippers', a highly specialized type of starship utilized by one of the Federation's younger member worlds for centuries to dive deep into stellar coronaspheres.

The "Hammerhead" design, perfected by the Kollarians, extends the vessel's shape via specialized shield emitters, creating a quasi wing allowing the craft to take full advantage of select plasma-particle streams to maneuver within the extreme environments of stellar bodies. The compact nature of the design further reduced the complexity of the structural integrity fields needed to keep the hull intact despite massive strain and gravitational shears.

Mission Profile
For most of its assignments, the Matsumoto Class acts as an astrography surveying vessel, charting stars and celestial bodies in deep Federation space. However, the class specializes in in-depth stellar expeditions, coming extremely close to active stars and sampling matter, charged particles, and radiation to gain insight into internal compositions, life-cycles, and phenomena within stellar bodies.

As these missions often take the craft into the scarcely traveled region within Federation space, it is designed to operate for prolonged amounts of time on its own.

Class History
The introduction of the Kollarian League into the Federation brought with it an influx of highly advanced, specialized technologies regarding stellar exploration and exploitation. The species had become experienced in this field after being forced to cope with a highly unstable star in their home system nearly two centuries ago. In the time since their skill and knowledge regarding stars and their life cycles has steadily grown and is considered unparalleled in the Alpha and Beta Quadrant.

To take full advantage of this new expertise, the Federation initiated a joint development program for a new class of starship, designed to follow the path of Kollarian stellar exploration. In exchange for their aid in this project, the Kollarians were granted guaranteed access to these mission's findings and postings on their mobile research facilities.