Delta-Class Medium Science Vessel
Despite being a somewhat older basic design, the Delta class is still the standard ship for long-term research missions for the Exploration and Defense Fleet, having been kept up to date in terms of sensors and scientific equipment through multiple refit cycles.
Variants
Through its lifetime, the Delta class has seen several updates, broadly categorized into 4 generations typically labelled A through D. Most Deltas still in service have been updated to the D variant, though the EDF still operates a few Delta-C ships, and there are some older variants still in existence that have been sold to civilian organizations. In total, 43 Delta-D, 11 Delta-C, and 3 Delta-B are currently in operation. Additionally, a single Delta-A is still functional, but operating as a science and technology museum.Sensors
The Delta class sports one of the most comprehensive sensor suites among EDF ships, with four sets each of active and passive wide-angle wide-spectrum scanners, two large multi-sensor telescopes with one standard 5-band visual, one interchangeable narrowband filter type, and one 32-band hyperspectral, as well as an advanced particle detection system.
Additional & auxiliary systems
Uniquely, Delta class vessels feature modular sensor and laboratory expansions which can be decoupled from the main hull and exchanged externally, allowing rapid adaptation to various research missions at space docks, without extensive internal refits. This significantly reduces mission-specific refit time over other research ships and is a major part of the reason why the Delta class is still in use.
Hangars & docked vessels
A small craft hangar is present, but any significant support capabilities require added modules. This allows planetary exploration missions to carry large amounts of fuel and support materials (such as orbital ascent boosters) for multiple support craft, while stellar and deep space missions can reduce this to a single support shuttle with limited fuel to increase other scientific capacities.
Width
65m
Length
180m
Height
70
Speed
c+v8
Complement / Crew
50 + 50-100 research staff
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