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A science laboratory, also known as a science lab, research laboratory, or lab, was any area set-up for work in experimental or observational science. Areas like these were commonplace aboard explorational vessels such as Federation starships, space stations and outposts, under the auspices of Starfleet's sciences division.

Crossfield class[]

USS Discovery research lab

Lorca's research lab aboard the USS Discovery

Aboard the Crossfield-class USS Discovery, Captain Gabriel Lorca kept his own research lab containing weapons and specimens he'd collected. Located on the lower decks of the engineering hull, this lab featured a holding cell and a window viewing starboard. (DIS: "Context Is for Kings")

A monitor featuring Ripper's biology in Lorca's lab in "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry" lists "LAB-B."
USS Discovery science lab

Science lab, formerly the Captain's ready room aboard the USS Discovery

After Captain Christopher Pike made the decision to move the captain's ready room to another location in 2257, the ready room attached to the bridge was converted into a science lab. Numerous pieces of scientific equipment (including a Vulcan data module) were moved into the section. (DIS: "Point of Light")

Constitution class[]

The Constitution-class USS Enterprise had fourteen separate science labs during James T. Kirk's five-year mission during the late 2260s as commanding officer. (TOS: "Operation -- Annihilate!")

Kirk met psychologist Helen Noel at the 2265 science lab Christmas party. (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind")

In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the final draft script of TOS: "Charlie X", all the lab circuitry aboard the Enterprise (as of 2266) ran through the main corridor on deck five.

Constitution II class[]

The refit configuration of the Constitution-class also had science labs, as was typified aboard the USS Enterprise-A. In 2293, Spock and Chekov used one such lab to examine Klingon blood. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

In a scene description for a scene that (although scripted) was not included in the actual film, the science labs of the Enterprise-A were said to be on the vessel's R Deck. The only scene in the film to depict one of the science labs was originally to have been set in Spock's quarters. [1] The lab was actually a redressed version of a set that had served as the office of the chief medical officer in several Star Trek productions, beginning with McCoy's office in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and notably including Beverly Crusher's office in Star Trek: The Next Generation. (text commentary, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) DVD)

Galaxy class[]

Science laboratory, 2369

A science lab aboard the USS Enterprise-D

Galaxy-class starships like the USS Enterprise-D had at least sixteen general-purpose science laboratories plus a number of dedicated facilities studying different disciplines. Extra labs could be installed on Deck 8 if needed. (TNG: "Suspicions", "Liaisons") Typical science laboratories aboard a Galaxy-class starship included:

Sickbay laboratory

The sickbay lab

Intrepid and Nova class[]

Voyager science lab

A science lab aboard the USS Voyager

Intrepid-class and Nova-class ships shared an identical science lab design. Typical science laboratories aboard these starships included:

Sovereign class[]

Typical science laboratories aboard a Sovereign-class starship included:

The set for the Sovereign-class engineering lab in Star Trek Nemesis was built as a set on Paramount Stage 17. (Information from shooting schedule)

Starfleet Academy[]

Starfleet Academy possessed one of the most effective reconstructive analysis labs in Starfleet (TNG: "The First Duty"). The Academy also used laboratories in an academic sense as well. In this regard a "lab" was a counterpart to classroom instruction in which students could put abstract concepts to an actual practical tests. Academy labs were graded, including many having rather complex final exams, such as the Academy lab final for exochemistry (TNG: "Time's Arrow").

Miscellaneous[]

Deep Space 9's science laboratory

A science lab on DS9

Xindi-Arboreal laboratory

A Xindi-Arboreal laboratory

External link[]

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