2139 (Columbia)

Reference Stardates 0/8900-0/8912.31

Daedalus class (Legacy)

The starship Daedalus is launched, testing an experimental ion drive warp engine designed by Professor Victor Brodesser in competition with the Warp Five engine designed for the NX class by Henry Archer. Daedalus, commanded by Captain Monique Duvall, is destroyed upon launch when the ion drive is activated, killing all aboard, including Brodesser. (ENT: '"Daedalus" (Novel)) The class is refit with a standard warp drive, however, (possibly the Warp Two capable engine successfully tested by A.G. Robinson and Jonathan Archer in 2140 (ENT 50: "First Flight")) and enters into service with the Earth Starfleet, (ENT: "The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wings") and the class remains in active service until 2196, (TNG 215: "Power Play") although a few ships remain in service into the 23rd century, including the U.S.S. Nimrod (Star Trek: Unlimited #4 (TOS): "None But the Brave") and U.S.S. Lovell NCC-470. (SCE #64: "What's Past, Book Four: Distant Early Warning")