With exploration as one of the main goals of Starfleet, most starships are equipped to perform highly detailed scientific missions. Even if not not outfitted for extended scanning and analysis tasks, the typical Starfleet vessel's suite of onboard systems is well suited for the majority of the standard astrophysical, biological, and planetological sweeps and accompanying data reduction. Starships also typically carry a loadout of ten or more mixed class probes for extended range and reduced risk scanning and exploration.

The external long- and short-range sensors aboard most starships utilize standard sensor pallets and are set behind selectively EM-opaque hull plating. In standard battle situations, the sensor clusters can retreat into reinforced wells until action levels have been reduced and then brought into closer contact with the hull plates. All sensor inputs are recorded and analyzed within the computer core and displayed at the science station on the bridge. Even on combat-oriented vessels the science station plays a role, although most sensor systems have been optimized for reconnaissance and spacecraft combat maneuvers rather than detailed scientific exploration and analysis.