Explorer class starship
Encyclopedia
The Explorer-class starship is an exploratory starship
of the Earth Alliance
in the fictional universe
of Babylon 5
. The Explorer is built to explore, conduct research, and build Jumpgates.
" Captain Sheridan tells the crew in C&C, "Take a good look people... if you're supremely lucky, you'll see two like her in your lifetime." Sheridan's comment conveys the rare nature of Explorer-class vessels. Indeed, "A Distant Star
" is the only regular episode* in which an Explorer-class vessel appears.
In the series Crusade
, we learn that Captain Matthew Gideon
was the captain of an Explorer-class ship. This was not the EAS Cerberus, however. The Cerberus was an Omega-class destroyer.
* The episode "A Late Delivery From Avalon
" contains a flashback to the Earth Alliance
's first encounter with the Minbari
, which allegedly comprised an Earth "Explorer Division" encountering a Minbari
fleet. An Explorer ship may be visible in these brief scenes, but this has not been confirmed.
Cannons, four twin particle beam arrays, and two squadrons of Starfuries
. This makes Explorer ships large, ill-defended targets. Their massive Jump engines and powerful fusion
reactors however, enable Explorer class vessels to escape dangerous situations quickly.
Explorer ships spend a great deal of their time exploring The Rim, the uncharted and unexplored areas of space that have not been claimed by any known race. As this is the case, Explorer ships are often the first class of Earth Alliance
vessel an alien race might come into contact with. This privilege and burden of first contact is not taken lightly and, as the slightest misinterpreted action can result in tragedy, the crews and commanding officers of Explorer ships are extremely well versed in first-contact procedures.
Due to Explorer-class ships dominating the exploration field, they are equipped with the latest in sensor and communications technology, allowing greater ease in contacting and communicating with different alien species. Also, several large planetary drop ships allow Explorer ships to chart and explore entire planets within a few short weeks, laying the foundation for a more detailed expedition.
Though Explorer class ships have more than enough power to jump into Hyperspace and go where they will, the bulk of an Explorer class ship's mass consist of spare parts with which to build Jump Gates. The continual construction and distribution of Jump Gates makes it easier for other Earth Alliance vessels and commercial ship to jump into new areas of space. This provides the Earth Alliance with a quick and effective way to quickly expand humanity's sphere of influence, as well as to gain valuable resources and revenue, as Earth Alliance can charge vessels transit fees for use of Jump Gates.
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
of the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
in the fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
. The Explorer is built to explore, conduct research, and build Jumpgates.
Appearances
In the episode "A Distant StarA Distant Star
"A Distant Star" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:In the opening scenes of the episode, an EarthForce Explorer-class ship, the EAS Cortez, is seen. The ship's captain, Jack Maynard, is an old friend of Babylon 5 commander Captain John...
" Captain Sheridan tells the crew in C&C, "Take a good look people... if you're supremely lucky, you'll see two like her in your lifetime." Sheridan's comment conveys the rare nature of Explorer-class vessels. Indeed, "A Distant Star
A Distant Star
"A Distant Star" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:In the opening scenes of the episode, an EarthForce Explorer-class ship, the EAS Cortez, is seen. The ship's captain, Jack Maynard, is an old friend of Babylon 5 commander Captain John...
" is the only regular episode* in which an Explorer-class vessel appears.
In the series Crusade
Crusade (TV series)
Crusade is a spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. A race called the Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five...
, we learn that Captain Matthew Gideon
Matthew Gideon
Captain Matthew Gideon is a character in the fictional universe of the television series Babylon 5, played by Gary Cole. Gideon was the lead character in the B5 spin-off show Crusade, which ran for 13 episodes in 1998-99.-Prior to Excalibur:...
was the captain of an Explorer-class ship. This was not the EAS Cerberus, however. The Cerberus was an Omega-class destroyer.
A Late Delivery from Avalon
A Late Delivery from Avalon is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:A man arrives at the station, claiming to be King Arthur...
" contains a flashback to the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
's first encounter with the Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
, which allegedly comprised an Earth "Explorer Division" encountering a Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
fleet. An Explorer ship may be visible in these brief scenes, but this has not been confirmed.
Purpose
The primary mission of all Explorer ships is research and exploration, thus they only possess moderate defenses consisting of four turreted 52mm PulseNuclear pulse propulsion
Nuclear pulse propulsion is a proposed method of spacecraft propulsion that uses nuclear explosions for thrust. It was first developed as Project Orion by DARPA, after a suggestion by Stanislaw Ulam in 1947...
Cannons, four twin particle beam arrays, and two squadrons of Starfuries
Starfury
The Starfury fighter is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
. This makes Explorer ships large, ill-defended targets. Their massive Jump engines and powerful fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
reactors however, enable Explorer class vessels to escape dangerous situations quickly.
Explorer ships spend a great deal of their time exploring The Rim, the uncharted and unexplored areas of space that have not been claimed by any known race. As this is the case, Explorer ships are often the first class of Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
vessel an alien race might come into contact with. This privilege and burden of first contact is not taken lightly and, as the slightest misinterpreted action can result in tragedy, the crews and commanding officers of Explorer ships are extremely well versed in first-contact procedures.
Due to Explorer-class ships dominating the exploration field, they are equipped with the latest in sensor and communications technology, allowing greater ease in contacting and communicating with different alien species. Also, several large planetary drop ships allow Explorer ships to chart and explore entire planets within a few short weeks, laying the foundation for a more detailed expedition.
Though Explorer class ships have more than enough power to jump into Hyperspace and go where they will, the bulk of an Explorer class ship's mass consist of spare parts with which to build Jump Gates. The continual construction and distribution of Jump Gates makes it easier for other Earth Alliance vessels and commercial ship to jump into new areas of space. This provides the Earth Alliance with a quick and effective way to quickly expand humanity's sphere of influence, as well as to gain valuable resources and revenue, as Earth Alliance can charge vessels transit fees for use of Jump Gates.