Challenger (NX-03)

For other uses, see Challenger.

Challenger
Class:	NX-class cruiser/light cruiser
Registry:	NX-03
Affiliation:	United Earth Starfleet (2150s), Federation Starfleet (2410s)
Commander:	Roy Dunsel
Launched:	August 2155
Status:	destroyed (March 10, 2156) active (2410)

Challenger (NX-03) (or Ch'lenjer in Romulan) was a Human starship, an NX-class cruiser in the service of the United Earth Starfleet in the mid-22nd century. (ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing) Challenger sported the same deflector as Enterprise (NX-01). (ST reference: Ships of the Line)

History

As of Thursday, May 22, 2155, Challenger was still under construction in the skies above San Francisco. On that date, while on an assignment to patrol Earth Cargo Service trade routes, Captain Jonathan Archer of Enterprise pondered whether he might be able to persuade Starfleet to rush Challenger into service, re-christening it Sisyphus, to take on his less than engaging mission. (ENT novel: Kobayashi Maru).

Challenger was launched circa August, 2155, alongside Discovery NX-04. (ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)

Sometime after, Challenger was part of a task force alongside Enterprise and Columbia NX-02. The three ships left ion trails in a nebula as they soared towards Romulan space. (ST reference: Ships of the Line)

On March 10, 2156, it was destroyed in the Battle of Andoria, when Captain Roy Dunsel activated the ship's self-destruct and rammed the Romulan warbird ChR Dhivael in a successful effort to prevent it from attacking Andoria and take control of Challenger. All hands were lost. (ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)

With the relaunch of the NX- and Columbia-classes in the early 25th century, Challenger reentered active duty in the year 2410. Challenger became the default representative for NX-class light cruisers in Starfleet's shipyards, including Earth Spacedock. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

It is unestablished if the new Challenger is a replica, reconstruction, or the original that was never destroyed.

Crew manifest

• commanding officer:
  • Captain Roy Dunsel
• first officer:
  • Lieutenant Commander Estelle Granger
• tactical officer:
  • Lieutenant Rubin
• communications officer:
  • Ensign Hendricks
• helmsman:
  • Ensign Kaye

Appendices

Appearances

• ENT episode: "Fortunate Son" (indirect mention)
• ENT novel: Kobayashi Maru (mentioned only)
• ST reference: Ships of the Line (partially visible)
• ENT novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing

External link

• Challenger (NX-03) article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.