Kataan probe

The Kataan probe was a probe launched in the Silarian sector from the planet Kataan in the 14th century. It was the last surviving operable technology of the extinct Kataanian species.

History and specifics[]

Kataan probe schematics — Probe schematics.

Composed of talgonite and paricium, it contained a Kataanian memory trace, a means of sharing Kataanian culture and history. The probe was able to generate a nucleonic scanning beam and a particle stream capable of traveling through a starship's shields. It also could maintain relative position with a starship while the beam was operable, but would shut down after a single use. Inside was a Ressikan flute. (TNG episode: "The Inner Light")

It had a symmetrical, hexagonal hull design and was launched using chemical fuel, leaving a radiation trail in its wake. (Fact Files Issue 62: "File 42, Card 4: The Kataan probe")

The USS Enterprise-D encountered the probe in 2368 and via the memory trace, Captain Jean-Luc Picard experienced the adult life of Kamin. (TNG episode: "The Inner Light", TNG eBook: The Stuff of Dreams)

In a holodeck program devised by Badgey in 2381, Beckett Mariner was influenced by the Kataan probe and experienced several years of life living as Kamin's daughter Cheminée. When Kamin showed Cheminée the probe and explained its purpose, Mariner's normal memories resurfaced. (LD video game: The Badgey Directive event: "The Inner Light")

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Connections[]

Interstellar and deep space probes
United States (NASA)	Pioneer 10 • Voyager series (Voyager 1 • Voyager 2 • Voyager 6)
United Earth	Milky Way probe • Stellar series (Nomad • UNSS U Thant) • Wells series (Drake probe)
Federation Starfleet	gravimetric microprobe • Kepler series (Orpheus) • Quadros series (1 • 3 • 4) • Starfly One Bioprobe
Others	Barzan probe • C/2018-G2 • Cetacean Probe • Conqueror VI • Cytherian probe • Janvar Five • Kataan probe • Kelvan Expeditionary Return Probe • Kukulkan's probe • "Pup" • Tan Ru