- For other uses, see Aurora.
The USS Aurora (NCC-72321) was a 24th century Federation starship, a Nova-class science vessel in Starfleet service in the 2370s decade. (Decipher RPG module: Starships)
Service history and disposition
Namesake
The Aurora borealis was a bright glow in a planet's atmosphere caused by charged particles colliding with the magnetic field. It was best visible at night. (TOS novel: Where No Man Has Gone Before)
Active service
Following the disappearance of the Nova-class USS Equinox in the Badlands in the year 2371, Starfleet reassigned the Aurora to conduct extensive mapping of the plasma storm-ridden Alpha Quadrant region. (Decipher RPG module: Starships)
By the time of the Dominion War, Starfleet operated another ship named USS Aurora. This larger Aurora was destroyed in the war in 2373. (TNG - The Dominion War novel: Behind Enemy Lines)
Legacy

The Aurora in 2409.
By the 2400s, Starfleet had commissioned variants of the Nova class. One of the new types, the tier 2 Aurora-class science vessel, was led by the USS Aurora (NCC-91270), which was active in the year 2409 and participated in the Federation-Klingon War of 2405-2410. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Neutral Zone Diplomacy")
Appendices
Connections
Ships named Aurora | |||
---|---|---|---|
Federation civilian registry | Aurora (NC-17740) | ![]() | |
Federation, Starfleet | USS Aurora (NCC-72321, Nova-class) • USS Aurora (Ambassador-class) • USS Aurora (Galaxy X-class) • USS Aurora (NCC-91270, Aurora-class prototype) | ![]() ![]() | |
Federation Starfleet (Kelvin timeline) |
USS Aurora (Arbiter-class) • USS Aurora (Constitution-class) • USS Aurora (Defender-class) • USS Aurora (Guardian-class) • USS Aurora (Interceptor-class) | ![]() ![]() |
Nova-class science vessel starships | |||
---|---|---|---|
Federation Starfleet (primary universe) |
standard configuration | Anticipation • Asimov • Aurora • Binary • Charribey • Equinox • Everett • Forrest-B • Foundation • Freeman Dyson • Huxley • Lionheart • McCoy • Morgan • Norfolk • Nova • Nova-B • Pulsar • Quasar • Solstice • unnamed | ![]() ![]() |
variant configurations | Aurora-subclass: Aurora • McCoy • Equinox-subclass: Equinox • Galen-subclass: Galen • Quasar-subclass: Forrest • Quasar • Rhode Island-subclass: Jhamel • Rhode Island | ||
Confederation of Earth, Corps (alternate timeline) |
standard configuration | Dougherty • Quinn | ![]() ![]() |
Terran Imperial Starfleet (mirror universe) |
standard configuration | Nova-B • Nova-C • Nova-F • unnamed | ![]() ![]() |
variant configurations | Equinox-subclass: Equinox • Rhode Island-subclass: Rhode Island |
Appearances and references
Appearances
- Decipher RPG module: Starships (first appearance)
References
Apocrypha
The Last Unicorn Games ebook, Ship Recognition Manual, Volume 1: The Ships of Starfleet, published after they lost their license, lists the Aurora's registry as NCC-74692.