CONSTRUCTION CHRONOLOGY

	The construction of any new starship is said to begin, as in the days 
of sailing ships, with the laying of the keel in the shipbuilding yard. While the 
wooden hull of old has been replaced by metal alloys and ultrastrong 
synthetic compounds, the significance of laying the keel has survived 
undiminished. The inception and completion of a conveyance, whether 
tailored for crossing distances on the scale of an ocean or the galaxy, has 
for millennia filled its creators with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
	The history of the Galaxy Class Project, and of the USS Enterprise in 
particular, is a story of technological innovation and teamwork spanning 
more than twenty years. Research and fabrication centers throughout the 
Federation, under the direct authority of Starfleet CommandÕs Advanced 
Starship Design Bureau (ASDB), combined their efforts to plan and execute 
the newest and most complex vessel to join StarfleetÕs inventory.
	When the official start for the project was announced in July 2343, 
much original theoretical work had already been accomplished, particularly 
in the propulsion field. While the attempt to surpass the primary warp field 
efficiency barrier with the Transwarp Development Project in the early 2280s 
proved unsuccessful, the pioneering achievements in warp power 
generation and field coil design eventually led to the uprated Excelsior and 
Ambassador class starships. Both vessels served Starfleet in exemplary 
fashion. They continue to do so, even beyond their original design lifetimes. 
The Galaxy class is expected to remain true to its predecessors.
	The construction of the USS Enterprise followed a path similar to that 
taken by the pathfinder vehicle, the prototype USS Galaxy, and the first 
production starship, the USS Yamato. As with any large space vessel project, 
improved materials and construction techniques were incorporated into the 
USS Enterprise assembly process, allowing the minimum flyable starship to 
be delivered to Starfleet in two years less time than the previous class. On 
June 3, 2350, the first two spaceframe components, the Deck 10 computer 
core elliptical compression member and the starboard main longitudinal 
compression bulkhead, were gamma-welded during a brief ceremony at the 
Utopia Planitia assembly site 16,625 kilometers above the surface of Mars, in 
synchronous orbit.
	The initial procurement order issued by Starfleet Command was for 
six Galaxy class ships. A projected total of twelve vessels is held as an 
option to be activated by Starfleet and the Federation, should conditions 
warrant. Once the initial spaceframe design was finalized, it was decided to 
proceed with the completion of six vessels and to take the other six to the 
end of the framework stage only. These six spaceframes have been broken 
down into manageable segments and dispersed by cargo carriers to remote 
sites within the Federation as a security measure.
	The following events describe the construction of the USS Enterprise. 
There exists little difference in the general construction logs of the 
Enterprise and those of its dockmates, the pathfinder vessel USS Galaxy, and 
the second starship off the line, the USS Yamato. Major installation and 
testing milestones for the first two ships precede those of the Enterprise by 
six months to one year. Certain design and fabrication lessons learned were 
applied to the Enterprise in rapid order, once the soundness of the yard 
changes was verified. Certain problems, such as the warp engine 
development, were common to all ships, and do not necessarily indicate a 
unique situation. Where the Enterprise experienced a ship-specific success 
or failure, it is so noted.

2343
Galaxy Class Project officially approved. Design centers begin drawing upon 
previous starships once general specifications are transmitted. Vehicle 
frame, engine systems, computer cores, and hull receive high priority.

2344
ASDB begins early definition work on Galaxy class mission simulators 
programmed with basic vessel characteristics. Detail design work continues.

2345
Mass and volume studies proceed for all internal systems, based on first cut 
of frame designs. Field narrows from forty to fifteen. Computer core and 
software architecture passes Design Review 0.

2346
Testing of hull materials proceeds; final design must include conduits for 
structural integrity field (SIF), inertial damping field (IDF), and deflector shield 
grid. Warp and impulse systems pass Design Review 0; materials difficulties 
foreseen in warp coils. Impulse system design frozen. Computer design 
passes Reviews 1 and 2. Sensor systems evolving. Habitation and workspace 
module design frozen; fabrication begins. Redesign of transporter biofilter is 
requested. Phaser emitter undergoes redesign; photon torpedo upgrade 
proceeds with standard launcher and casings. Main deflector design frozen.

2347
Warp engine systems design tenatively frozen; anticipating nacelle design 
frozen later in the year. Impulse design undergoes tweaking. Computer cores 
pass Reviews 3 and 4. Transporter biofilter design frozen; system fabrication 
begins. Phaser emitter redesign passes Review 0. Main deflector power 
supply redesigned to accommodate science instruments.

2348
Vehicle frame design and docking latch system pass Review 0. Final 
selection of frame alloys; materials ordered. Warp engine and nacelle 
designs frozen; nacelle passes Reviews 0 and 1. Warp engine components 
begin test fabrication. Impulse engine components, main computers, and 
transporter begin fabrication. Communications system and tractor beam 
design frozen; fabrication deferred for power simulations. Phaser emitter 
third redesign passes Review 0; Reviews 1 and 2 skipped as fabrication 
begins. Main deflector power redesigned; fabrication begins.

2349
Frame and docking system pass Review 1; structural latches begin 
fabrication. Hull skin design frozen; some areas remain under development. 
Warp engine materials failures slow fabrication. Nacelles pass Review 2; 
fabrication begins late in the year. Tractor beam system under construction. 
Photon torpedo launcher design frozen. Sensor pallets under construction. 
All auxiliary spacecraft under development.

2350
First frame members gamma-welded in Utopia Planitia ceremony. Warp 
nacelle shells under construction; coils remain in test phase. Impulse 
components test-fit within frame at midyear. Computer core framing 
underway. Habitat modules test-fit. Phasers and photon torpedo assemblies 
under construction.

2351
Frame construction and major hardware installations continue 
simultaneously. Hull layers begin attachment. Warp engine core 65% 
complete; nacelles pass Review 3 with assumptions of successful fixes to 
coil materials problems. Major impulse engine installation complete. 
Computer cores 50% complete off-site. First layers of habitat modules 
installed. Transporter installation deferred in labor rescheduling. Tractor 
beam emitters modified to accommodate hull skin changes. Phaser bank 
installation proceeds. All other power and consumables conduits continue 
installation.

2352
Warp engine core completed; materials difficulties eliminated. Warp field 
coil manufacture delayed by furnace facility complications; other system 
assemblies completed. Preparations made for impulse run-up tests. Main 
computer cores 80% complete; nonflight mock-ups complete fit checks. 
Habitat and connecting passages 55% installed. Transporter systems minus 
hull emitters begin installation. Phaser bank installation complete; electro 
plasma power supply to phasers deferred until warp engine power levels 
verified. Photon torpedo magnetic launcher power supplies reworked. 
Temporary gravity generators installed; network active only where 
necessary.

2353
Framing and hull skin construction continues. Docking system latches and 
pass-through fit checks continue. Deuterium reactant tanks and antimatter 
pod assemblies arrive from off-site for integration. Warp coil fixes effected; 
production of matched coil sets continues. Impulse engine system run-up 
test performed; fusion chambers powered singly and in combinations. 
Reaction control system (RCS) thruster assemblies installed. Two computer 
cores completed; one each installed in Saucer Module and Battle Section. 
Third core completion slowed by isolinear chip availability problems. Phaser 
power flow regulators and conduits installed; predicted warp core power tap 
verified as adequate. Main deflector piggyback instrument power supply 
work complete.

2354
Some hull skin sections show unacceptable welds; 2% reworked to fix 
problem. Imbedded defensive shield grid not affected. Warp engine core 
begins low-power tests; reaches Warp 2 equivalent energy. Nacelles still 
awaiting coil delivery. Impulse tests continue; RCS thruster software problem 
fixed. Third computer core delayed for additional two years; affects all 
downstream starships. Habitat layers 70% complete. Shuttlecraft, work pods, 
and lifeboats arrive for integration tests. Photon torpedo loader thermal 
expansion anomaly fixed.

2355
Final outer framing members completed; minor design change in forward 
dorsal requires added longitudinal members. Warp engine core tests 
continue. Impulse engine system complete. Permanent gravity generator 
network complete. Habitat modules and storage volumes complete. 
Transporter and subspace comm system antennae modified; made 
compatbile with deflector shield grid emissions. Structural integrity field (SIF) 
runs at low power; works out starshipÕs framing Òkinks.Ó Main deflector field 
focus test successful after start-up failure repaired. Starboard pylon phaser 
bank swapped with one from USS Yamato; better operational fit for each. 
Photon torpedo loader thermal problem returns; new fix is final. Sensor 
pallets 50% installed; minimum for flight.

2358
Starship skin 95% complete. Warp engine power up tests to Warp 8 
equivalent. Warp coils delivered and installed. Impulse fusion generators 
perform full power nonpropulsive tests. Third computer core delivered and 
installed; additional programming and tests continue. First habitat module 
swapout by transporter successful. Transporter tests complete. Final SIF and 
inertial damping field hookups complete. Comm system 90% complete. 
Impulse power to phasers certified. 30% of lifeboats delivered and docked. 
USS Galaxy is launched from orbital dock on maneuvering thrusters.

2357
Hull integrity complete; all SIF and IDF systems operational. Warp nacelles 
buttoned up and certified for flight. Final impulse system adjustments 
underway. Computer core subspace field shielding problem arises on 
Enterprise only; threatened one-third of power systems on starship, traced to 
conflicting power-up procedures, then fixed. Comm system complete after 
minor rerouting to avoid computer problem. Photon torpedo system remote 
firing successful. Defensive shields final hookup complete. Sensor pallets 
certified. USS Galaxy is commissioned; declared deep-spaceworthy and 
warp-capable; moves to outer solar system.

2358
Tests continue on total warp and impulse propulsion systems. All other 
internal spacecraft systems powered up; cross-system tests continue. New 
flight software installed in all three computer cores. Ejectable bridge module 
docked. Minimum flight test program crew completes preliminary training 
aboard ship. CaptainÕs yacht test article docked, nonflight version. USS 
Enterprise is launched; leaves dock on maneuvering thrusters.

2359
Flight test crew continues developmental shakedown trials in Mars space. 
USS Enterprise computers receive continuous performance updates from 
USS Galaxy orbiting Pluto. Tasks include extensive sensor operations, 
simulated emergency conditions, simulated combat exercises, and power 
system stress analysis. Warp field coils receive first power, nonpropulsive, 
Warp 1 equivalent. Power conditioning of warp coils continues up through 
Warp 8 equivalent. Performance analysis continues on all vehicle 
components. Main computers developing Òsystems awareness,Ó learning 
and recording how ship behaves as a total entity. USS Enterprise declared 
deep-spaceworthy and warp-capable. Yellow warp-stress visibility hull 
coatings applied.

2360-2363
USS Enterprise achieves warp flight in outer solar system. Initial vibration 
difficulties transitioning to higher warp factors smoothed out by computer 
adjustments to warp geometry control software. Skin reinforcements and 
frame stiffening performed during dock layovers. Final hull coatings and 
markings applied. Live-fire phaser and photon torpedo exercises test crew 
and systems. Low-level defensive shield power deficiencies appear; 
enhanced shield generators designs put into work. All lifeboats and auxiliary 
spacecraft docked, including flight-qualified captainÕs yacht. Operational 
bridge module docked.

4 OCTOBER 2363
The USS Enterprise is officially commissioned in a ceremony at the Utopia 
Planitia Fleet Yards. The USS Galaxy and USS Yamato send congratulatory 
messages via subspace radio.  Æ