Development on the Nova-class starship project began in the mid 2360's at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards orbiting Mars. With the Borg and Dominion threats becoming more serious, production was stepped up and began in the early 2370's. The ship was designed and launched simultaneously with several new starship classes, including the Sovereign, Akira, Norway, Sabre and Steamrunner classes.

The Nova-class starship is a small, short-range science vessel designed for planetary research. It carries minimal weapons. The starship is designated as the modern successor to the long-lived Oberth-class science vessel. The starship design features multiple sensor arrays. It also has the capability of landing on a planet surface.

In 2371, the U.S.S. Equinox NCC-72381 disappeared in the Badlands while searching for the Maquis and the missing starship U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656.

In 2376, Project Pathfinder was able to establish communications with Voyager. Voyager's data logs were transferred to Starfleet Command and it was learned that the Equinox was discovered by Voyager. They began the journey home together until Janeway discovered that Captain Rudy Ransom was murdering an alien species to harvest their energy for an experimental engine. After the Equinox and Captain Ransom were destroyed by the aliens, Janeway stripped the surviving five crew members of their Starfleet rank and they joined U.S.S. Voyager as crewmen.