Scientific Analysis Centre

Developed in the 2360s as part of the Nebula class' sensor pod project, the Scientific Analysis Centre (SAC) is an automated system used to enhance the ability to gather and study scientific data by certain vessels. It is designed as a interchangable pallet, complete with it's own small Computer Core, battery of customized sensors, and power generators that can be inserted into a ship's exterior pod. At first, many ship designers saw this as a redundant system as all Starfleet vessels are equipped for scientific study on one level or another. However, it was soon shown that the SAC could be quickly and easily converted for more specific missions. It can readily reconfigure and recalibrate its sensors at much faster speeds than done by personnel. It gives ships unprecedented amounts of resources to survey space and the celestial bodies contained within at ranges that would have required additional missions by lesser equipped vessels.

The SAC is standard eqiupment on the Nebulas and Springfield class, as well as the new Luna class ships, and can be retrofitted to the Akira, Miranda, and Normandy classes.