The Class S-4 shuttlecraft was a type of aquashuttle, an auxiliary vehicle specifically constructed by the Federation Starfleet for submersible undersea operation as well as spaceflight in the 23rd century.
History and specifications[]
The S-4 class was an experimental shuttle type configured to explore deep oceans while having relatively similar internal control systems to the class F shuttlecraft. It featured a small power plant and specially belted and padded seats. Customized sensor arrays were specialized for underwater studies. This class of vessel was assigned for evaluation to several Constitution-class starships in the late 2260s. It was armed with a phaser cannon intended for defense against threatening undersea lifeforms, with firepower comparable to twice that of a phaser rifle. (FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook)
The Mark 1 model was designed in conjunction with the Xindi Hadopelagic Institute to endure a sustained pressure of 300 atmospheres with short visits to depths up to 1,000 atmospheres. It had a reinforced hull, improved damage control reporting, and was buoyant enough to float in emergencies. (Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide)
The S-4 class was designed primarily for maneuverability within a liquid, and secondarily as a spacecraft. As such, it took some experience to pilot the craft smoothly through a planetary atmosphere. The vessel was fitted with a recorder-sampler to collect data from the water. Storage lockers contained survey equipment, including tricorders and a self-powered mesh that would return samples of microbial life for analysis. The ship's window was made of a plexalloy. (TAS - Log Five novelization: The Ambergris Element)
Aquashuttle NCC-1701/5A was armed with two forward phasers set at stun force, charged by a power pack. It had a hatch and could also travel on top of the water like a boat. (TAS episode & Log Five novelization: The Ambergris Element)
The Mark 2 model entered service in the late 2280s decade with a duel environment capacity so as to be operated by cetacean as well as humanoid personnel. (Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide)
Shuttles[]
Appendices[]
Background[]
- Geoffrey Mandel's unlicensed USS Enterprise Officer's Manual featured scale diagrams of this vessel, indicating the placement of a hatch on the port side.
Connections[]
| Starfleet shuttlecraft and auxiliary spacecraft classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federation, Starfleet | named classes | Aeroshuttle • Danube • Epoch • Flyer • Greyhound • McCall • Mercury (warpshuttle) • Pulsar • Sphinx • Tesla • Valkyrie • Venture (scout) • Waverider • Wraith • Yellowstone • Zodiac (warp shuttle) | alphanumeric designations | 2 • 4 • 5 • A • C • F • G • H • R10 • S3 • S4 • S5 • S6 • S7 • S10 • S11 • S12 • S20 • SC22 • SW7 • SW21 |  
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| type designations | type-1 • type-3 • type-4 • type-5 • type-6 • type-6A • type-6C • type-7 • type-8 • type-8 cargo • type-9 • type-9A • type-10 • type-11 • type-14 • type-15 • type-15A • type-16 • type-17 • type-18 • type-18H • Zhang Sui | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| others | mark II • Academy trainer craft • aquashuttle • captain's skiff • captain's yacht • unnamed Federation shuttlecraft classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Federation, Starfleet (Kelvin timeline) |
military shuttle • passenger shuttle • Starfleet shuttle (2230s) |  
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances and references[]
Appearance[]
References[]
- FASA RPG module: Cadet's Orientation Sourcebook
- Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide
External link[]
- Class S-4 shuttlecraft article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.