Shuttlecraft (Star Trek)

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1 SC-4
2 Romulan shuttle
3 See also
4 External links

A shuttlecraft, in the Star Trek fictional universe, is a smaller type of ship, usually capable of atmospheric transport, detachable from a larger starship's shuttlebay. Larger classes of shuttlecraft usually have their own weapons, defenses, and communication systems, as well as emergency transporters in case of a crash. As of Star Trek: Voyager, advanced shuttles are capable of speeds of up to Warp 4.

The USS Enterprise traditionally names its shuttlecraft after renowned explorers and scientists. The three original named shuttlecraft were Galileo and Columbus, which appeared during The Original Series, and Copernicus, which appeared in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "The Slaver Weapon". Galileo and Copernicus, at least remained traditional names for USS Enterprise shuttlecraft among the many incarnations of that starship. Many other shuttlecraft (or shuttlepod) names were introduced during Star Trek: The Next Generation as homages to more contemporary scientists such as Farouk El-Baz, Marie Curie, Ellison Onizuka, Robert H. Goddard, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking.

[edit] SC-4

SC-4 in Voyager's shuttle bay.

Ablative armor deployed

SC-4 is the designation of a 25th century Federation Starfleet shuttlecraft appearing in the episode Star Trek: Voyager episode "Endgame".

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Shuttlecraft SC-4 belongs to Admiral Kathryn Janeway and sports advanced weaponry and defenses, and a stealth generator.

[edit] Transphasic torpedoes

See also: Weapons of Star Trek

SC-4 carries a complement of transphasic torpedoes capable of destroying a Borg cube with one direct hit. These torpedoes are successfully adapted for use by the USS Voyager.

[edit] Stealth generator

The stealth device is incompatible with Voyager's systems; Admiral Janeway uses the SC-4's stealth device to hide "on the door step" of the Borg Queen's transwarp hub when the Queen attempts to trick Janeway.

[edit] Ablative hull armor

See also: Ablative armor

The SC-4 is fitted with ablative hull armor generators later adapted for use by Voyager. While deployed, neither SC-4 nor Voyager can fire phasers, although they can fire torpedoes.

SC-4's ablative armor is capable of withstanding a direct attack from the disruptors of a Klingon Negh'Var class battleship. When used by Voyager, the ship withstands an attack by three Borg cubes with minimal damage to the ablative armour, though the Borg quickly adapt.