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First fielded in the 2240's, the Miranda class holds the Starfleet record for the longest serving Starship, still in active service some one hundred and twenty years after the launch of the USS Miranda herself. Even more amazing, seven of the ships in the current fleet were launched in that first year and have continued in service ever since! When launched the USS Miranda was a smaller, lighter and easier to build counterpart to the Constitution class then just entering service. Their smaller size was largely compensated for by a lower level of habitability for the crew and a reduction in the number of science labs from fourteen to ten. Even so the Miranda's were full Explorer type ships, fully capable of conducting long duration research missions. Their considerable armament also made them an important addition to the defence of the Federation.
