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Design
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The basic Excelsior class design is similar to that of the earlier ''Constitution'' class: at the forefront, a circular primary hull with a bridge at the center of the dorsal side, a sensor dome at the bottom of the ventral, and impulse engines at the aft end. The saucer is attached to a backward-angled neck extending downward from the aft of the ventral side to the secondary hull, which is roughly tubular with a flat platform on the dorsal side; the hull has a navigational deflector at the front and a shuttlebay at the aft. Two warp nacelles are above the secondary hull, slightly above the primary hull, supported by pylons that attach to a bulge on the top of the secondary hull, run to the sides, and go upward from an angle (slightly less than 90°) to the nacelles. A semi-circular cargo bay lies at the bottom of the secondary hull. A different version of the class is used for the Enterprise-B and Lakota. The most notable external differences are two additional impulse engines running aft from the saucer on both sides of the original impulse system, and two raised areas on the front of the engineering hull on both sides of the deflector dish.
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Service
The pathfinder USS ''Excelsior'' was also used as a testbed for transwarp drive, a new variety of warp drive. Although the transwarp project may have been a failure, the Excelsior class design itself was successful; Excelsior class ships are in service eighty years after the pathfinder's commissioning. Numerous Excelsior class starships see service during the Dominion War.
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Known Excelsior-class vessels
USS Al-Batani (NCC-42995)
Named for astronomer Al-Batani, Kathryn Janeway served aboard the Al-Batani as science officer under the command of Captain Owen Paris before commanding the USS ''Voyager''. The Al-Batani was once trapped by gravimetric forces inside a proto-nebula for three days before escaping (Voy: "Caretaker").
USS Berlin (NCC-14232)
Named for the city of Berlin, the starship Berlin is stationed near the Romulan Neutral Zone in 2364 (TNG: "Angel One") and again circa stardate 46357.4 in 2368 (TNG: "Brothers"). Circa stardate 46360.8, the Berlin is assigned to a task force with the starships Sutherland and Aries to defend against a Cardassian attack on the Minos Korva system in Federation space (TNG: "Chain of Command").
USS Cairo (NCC-42136)
Named for the city of Cairo, the starship Cairo is commanded by Captain Edward Jellico in 2367 and meets with the ''Enterprise''-D circa stardate 46357.4 carrying Vice Admiral Alynna Nechayev. Shortly afterward, Jellico transfers to and commands the Enterprise in Captain Jean-Luc Picard's absence (TNG: "Chain of Command"). Later commanded by Captain Leslie Wong, the Cairo disappeared on patrol near the Romulan Neutral Zone, presumably destroyed by the Jem'Hadar circa stardate 51721.3 (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight").
USS Charleston (NCC-42285)
Named for the city of Charleston, the starship Charleston transports three cryogenically frozen 20th century people to Earth while heading to Arloff IX in 2364 (TNG: "The Neutral Zone"). The Charleston is later involved in the Romulan tachyon blockade at the outbreak of the Klingon Civil War in 2368 (TNG: "Redemption, Part II"). Circa stardate 46357.4 in 2369, the Charleston is assigned to a deep space exploration mission to sector 22055 (TNG: "Brothers").
USS Crazy Horse (NCC-50446)
Named for Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse, the starship Crazy Horse is part of a fleet sent to face an anticipated Borg invasion in 2369 (TNG: "Descent, Part I"). The Crazy Horse rendezvouses with the ''Enterprise''-D in Sector 1607 circa stardate 47457.1 in 2370 to pick up Rear Admiral Erik Pressman (TNG: "The Pegasus").
USS Crockett (NCC-38955)
Named for United States folk hero, soldier, and politician David Crockett, the starship Crockett transports Admiral Mitsuya to Deep Space Nine in 2370 (DS9: "Paradise").
USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-B)
Named for several naval vessels in Earth history as well as several previous Starfleet vessels, the Enterprise-B is commissioned on stardate 9715.5 in 2293 and commanded by Captain John Harriman at its launch (Star Trek: Generations). The Enterprise-B either was decommissioned, went missing, or was destroyed; the ship was succeeded by the USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701-C) some time in the 24th century (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise").
USS ''Excelsior'' (NX-2000, changed to NCC-2000)
The Excelsior is its class pathfinder, launched on stardate 8205.5 from the San Francisco Fleet Yards under the command of Captain Styles and a testbed for transwarp drive (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock). Later commanded by Captain Hikaru Sulu in 2290, it spends three years cataloguing gaseous planetary anomalies in the Beta Quadrant. On stardate 9521.6 in 2293, the Excelsior encounters the shock wave from the explosion of Praxis (). Shortly afterward, the Excelsior is involved in a failed attempt to rescue Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy and is later attacked by several K't'inga class starships (Voy: "Flashback"). The Excelsior later plays a vital role in defeating General Chang over Khitomer during the signing of the First Khitomer Accords (Star Trek VI).
USS Farragut
Named for Admiral David Farragut, the starship Farragut transports several genetically enhanced humans to Deep Space Nine in early 2375 (DS9: "Chrysalis").
USS Fearless (NCC-14598)
Named for the HMS ''Fearless'', the starship Fearless was used for testing engine and software upgrades in 2364 (TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before"). Circa stardate 46357.4, the Fearless is assigned to planetary mapping in the Beta Mahoga system (TNG: "Brothers").
USS Fredrickson (NCC-42111)
The starship Frederickson briefly docks at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in 2371 (Voy: "Relativity") and serves during the Dominion War (DS9: "A Time to Stand", "Sacrifice of Angels").
USS Gorkon (NCC-40512)
Named for Klingon Chancellor Gorkon, the starship Gorkon is the flagship of a fleet sent to face an anticipated Borg invasion circa stardate 46982.1 in 2369 (TNG: "Descent, Part I").
USS Grissom (NCC-42857)
Named for astronaut Gus Grissom, the starship Grissom assists the Enterprise-D during a contamination problem on Beta Agni II in 2368 (TNG: "The Most Toys"). The Grissom was destroyed by Jem'Hadar forces in the battle of Ricktor Prime in 2375 during the Dominion War. Only six crewmembers survived, including Vulcan science officer Lieutenant Chu'lak, who later murders several Starfleet officers on Deep Space Nine (DS9: "Field of Fire").
USS ''Hood'' (NCC-42296)
Named for HMS ''Hood'', the starship Hood is commanded by Captain Robert DeSoto and was Commander William Riker's assignment before his transfer to the Enterprise-D in 2364. The Hood is sent to the Romulan Neutral Zone to help ward off a possible Romulan attack in 2366 (TNG: "The Defector (TNG episode)"). Circa stardate 43714.1, the Hood is on a terraforming project on Browder IV (TNG: "Allegiance"). Around stardate 43798.3, the Hood transfers Tam Elbrun to the Enterprise-D in the Hayashi system (TNG: "Tin Man"). In 2368, the Hood undergoes a systems upgrade at Starbase 174 (TNG: "Brothers") and is later involved in the Romulan tachyon blockade at the outbreak of the Klingon Civil War (TNG: "Redemption, Part II"). The Hood is part of Operation Return during the Dominion War (DS9: "A Time to Stand", "Sacrifice of Angels") and fights at the First Battle of Chin'toka (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets"). The ship is part of Battle Group Omega sent to intercept the Reman warship Scimitar circa stardate 56844.9 in 2379 (Star Trek: Nemesis).
USS Intrepid (NCC-38907)
The starship Intrepid was commanded by Captain Drew Deighan when the Intrepid responded to a Klingon distress call from the Khitomer outpost following a Romulan attack in 2346 (TNG: "Redemption, Part I"). Presumed decommissioned, destroyed, or missing to give her name to the ''Intrepid'' class starship.
USS Lakota (NCC-42768)
Named after one of the Sioux Indian groups from North America, the Lakota is perhaps the most powerful refit of an Excelsior class Starship. Outfitted with the best shielding, phasers and torpedoes (including quantum torpedoes) available to Starfleet, she was put under the command of Captain Erika Benteen in the aborted coup attempt of Admiral Leyton against the UFP President. While a powerful ship, the engagement against the USS Defiant showed the limitations of the Excelsior spaceframe. Despite being far more massive then the Defiant and upgraded with the best military hardware available to Starfleet, the much smaller (but far more modern) Defiant proved a superior warship (though both ships were trying to disable, not destroy the other). The Lakota was damaged to the point that a final strike by the Defiant would have destroyed it before Benteen surrendered, it is not known if she was decommissioned or repaired after the events.
USS ''Malinche'' (NCC-38997)
Named after the 16th-century Mexican princess Malinche. On stardate 50485.2, under the command of Captain Sanders, the Malinche is transferred from its patrol near the Gamma 7 outpost to the task of capturing Michael Eddington. The ship is ambushed and disabled by a group of Maquis raiders led by Eddington soon after (DS9: "For the Uniform").
USS Melbourne (NCC-62043)
Named after the city of Melbourne, the Melbourne is Admiral J. P. Hansen's flagship at the Battle of Wolf 359, where it is destroyed by the Borg (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", DS9: "Emissary, Part I").
USS Repulse (NCC-2544)
The Repulse was Katherine Pulaski's assignment prior to joining the Enterprise-D crew (TNG: "Unnatural Selection") and is listed on the mission status chart seen on screens from season 4 of TNG onward (TNG: "Brothers"). It also appears on a casualty report seen in DS9 ("In the Pale Moonlight").
USS Roosevelt (NCC-2573)
Destroyed at the Battle of Wolf 359 (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II").
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