The USS Odyssey (NCC-81639) was the prototype of a new class of Federation starship that was first commissioned following the Dominion War. The Odyssey was intended to be a smaller, more cost-effective version of the larger Galaxy-class and Sovereign-class starships. The Odyssey-class was designed as a deep space exploratory vessel, although given the geo-political concerns of the time, the ship was also intended to be a capable tactical vessel as well. (Star Trek: The Nomad Frontier)