Probe
A probe, space probe, or interstellar probe was an automated spacecraft used to gather information. Probes were often used for tasks or environments that were not well suited for manned-missions.

Such tasks included:
Collecting information in environments that were too small for starships to examine (; );
Collecting information in environments that were too dangerous for starships to examine (; ; );
Extreme long-term deep space exploration (; ; );
Recording and transmitting remote sensor telemetry to a starship or base that was occupied with other mission objectives ().

The United Earth Space Probe Agency (or UESPA) was an Earth organization responsible for the exploration of space during the early 22nd century, and was later combined with Starfleet. ()

Some probes used by Starfleet were modified photon torpedo casings with extended sensor equipment and no warhead. (; ) Deep space probes had casings that contained radioactive material that could potentially contaminate the biosphere of planets if they crash landed on the surface. ()

Two probes were deployed by the  to scan the region of space close to a cosmic string, which led to the discovery of a species of two-dimensional beings. ()

Using the data obtained from a series of probes, and the sensor logs of the  and the Enterprise-D, Data concluded that the two starships were trapped in a rupture in space. ()

A probe was launched by the Enterprise-D to examine a neutrino emission with no visible source in the planet s star system. When the probe disappeared suddenly, this suggested the presence of null space. ()

A probe was launched by the Enterprise-D to follow a radioactive trail left behind by the Kataan probe, in order to trace its origins. ()

It was speculated that a small glowing ball of energy that left a spatial rupture created by solanogen-based lifeforms shortly before it was closed was a probe of some kind. ()

A probe was launched by the  into the corona of the Trialan sun in order to scan the sun's core. ()

Probe was also the designation of some manned spacecraft, such as the Borg probe, a starship class used by the Borg Collective, () and the Earth-Saturn probe, the first manned flight to Saturn. ()

Starfleet probe classes 

Class 1 probe

Class 2 probe

Class 3 probe

Class 4 probe

Class 5 probe

Class 6 probe (see: Warning buoy)
Class 7 probe (see: Reconnaissance probe)
Class 8 probe

Class 9 probe (see: Log buoy)
Class-A probe

Other Federation probes 
Atmospheric probe ()
Deep space probe ()
Quadros 1 ()
Vega 9 ()
Hydraulic probe ()
Interface probe ()
Long-range impact probe ()
Microprobe ()
Gravimetric microprobe ()
multi-spatial probe ()
Reconnaissance probe (, )
Scanner probe ()
Sensor drone ()
Class-5 intelligence drone ()
Sensor probe ()
Solar probe ()
The Egg ()
Survey probe ()
Telemetry probe ()
Temporal rift probe ()

Ancient Earth probes 
Earth-Saturn probe
Friendship 1
Mariner 2
Nomad
Pioneer spacecraft
Pioneer 5
Pioneer 10
Ranger spacecraft
Ranger Block I
Ranger Block II
Ranger 5
Sputnik I
Voyager series
Voyager 6

Alien probes 

Barzan probe ()
Bajoran science probe ()
Iconian probe ()
Cytherian probe ()
Ilia probe ()
Kataan probe ()
Kukulkan's probe ()
"Pup"'s probe ()
Orbital probe (Romulan) ()
Bajoran science probe (Bajoran) ()
Whale Probe ()
Tan Ru ()
Transwarp probe ()
Possible alien probe destroyed by a Cardassian ATR-4107 ()
Extra galactic probe encountered by  ()
Srivani medical probes ()

See also 
Assault probe, a fictional device described by the Kyrians
Bio-probe, a multi-purpose Vidiian device
Borg probe, a starship
Cortical probe, a medical instrument
Duotronic probe, a small tool
Electro-dynamic probe, a tool
Hunter probe, a ranged weapon device
Mind probe
Romulan mind probe, an interrogation device
Subdermal probe, a medical device
United Earth Space Probe Agency, an exploration agency
Xindi probe, a spatial weapon

Appendices

Background information 
Detailed information on the types of Federation probes are given in the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual.

Several early Earth probes are visible on computer screens during .

The "class V planetary probe" in  is the same graphic as the "multiphasic probe" in "Extreme Risk".

While Enterprise was preparing to head into the Arachnid Nebula (containing gravimetric shear) in the first draft script of  (which had the working title "Equilibrium"), the captain of the  Vahklas commented to Enterprise captain Jonathan Archer that, if Enterprise was a Vulcan ship, he would probably want to send a series of automated probes into the nebula while his craft remained outside it, in relative safety.

External links
 
 

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Spacecraft classifications