Space technology
Space technology was a level of technological advancement that allowed a species to enter orbit, achieve spaceflight, and reach out into and explore space. More specifically this included those technologies used for creating and operating artificial satellites, marker beacons, probes, spacecraft, and space stations.
During the mid-23rd century, Doctor Richard Daystrom's advances in multitronics, from the M-1 through M-4, had purportedly culminated with the design of his M-5 multitronic unit in 2267. According to Commodore Bob Wesley, the M-5's ability to solve "a series of routine research and contact problems, [...] plus navigational maneuvers and the war games problem," would ultimately realize a new "revolution in space technology as great as warp drive." (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer")
According to Jean-Luc Picard, the decision for the Federation to establish first contact was determined when a society reached a level of technology that indicated they were clearly about to initiate warp travel. As was the case of the Malcorians of Malcor III in 2367. However, according to the Malcorian Minister Krola, many of his people believed that the very same threshold was an indicator that they had perhaps "gone far enough," emphasizing how "all these new ideas, new technology, and now space travel [..] confuses [and] frightens them." (TNG: "First Contact")
In 2372, Captain Kathryn Janeway noted that, an unspecified number of years beforehand, Starfleet used a technology to assist deep space travel by keeping the body in stasis and providing an artificial environment, or mental landscape, to keep the mind active and alert. (VOY: "The Thaw")
Related technologies
- Aviation technology
- Slipstream technology
- Warp technology