Design Bureau · Chapter 2 · Pathfinder-class Survey Cruiser
2.3 Sensor & Science Systems
The reason the class exists — a quantum-resolution multispectral sensor envelope feeding a dedicated astrometrics core.
SCH-11 Sensor & science suite envelope
The Pathfinder is, before anything else, a sensor platform. Concentric navigational, lateral, long-range and gravimetric/subspace arrays give it a survey envelope an order finer than a line cruiser's, and every band feeds a dedicated astrometrics core sited just below the bridge.
Astrometrics core
- Real-time three-dimensional stellar cartography of unexplored space.
- Multispectral sensor fusion across a dozen bands into a single tactical-survey picture.
- Subspace anomaly and phenomenon detection at long range.
- Coordination of the autonomous probe complement as a distributed sensor array.
The suite is built to turn raw data into charts and conclusions aboard ship, so the Pathfinder returns with answers rather than just readings.