An away team is a team of specialized starship or starbase crewmembers assembled to perform missions on planet surfaces and other starships.
These missions, deemed away missions, may include exploration, first contact, diplomacy, scientific research, or even combat. These missions are typically launched using a ship's transporter to send the crew to their destination, or by shuttlecraft, such as when use of the transporter is impossible.
22nd century usage
The Earth Starfleet of the 22nd century used the term "away team", most notably the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01).
23rd and 24th century usage
The name fell out of favour in the 23rd century with Federation Starfleet personnel. Such a team was referred to as a landing party.
The term was brought back in the 24th century. In this era, the first officer usually forms and leads the away team (Star Trek: The Next Generation). It is standard procedure for the second officer to be part of such a team. (TNG: "Time's Arrow")
Starfleet regulations, specifically Starfleet Code Section 12, Paragraph 4, prohibit the captain from joining away missions. (Star Trek: Nemesis) Data once reminded Commander Riker of the captain's place on the bridge. (TNG: "Gambit, Part I")
Other teams
- Arctic Archaeology Team
- A-6 Excavation Team
- Assault team
- Engineering team
- Diagnostic team
- Forensic team
- Observer team
- Security team
- Survey team
Background
This term entered common use at the beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and continued its usage throughout the subsequent television series, up to and including the prequel Star Trek: Enterprise.
A recurring plot device throughout Star Trek: The Original Series was that a red shirted member of the landing party would be dead in the following ten minutes of the episode.
External links
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