PATHFINDER (STAR TREK)

'Pathfinder' is a term occasionally used to describe the first ship in a given class of starship, and is used to describe the USS ''Galaxy'' in the . The term has also been adopted by fans, and is used occasionally in place of the term 'prototype' or lead ship (US)/class leader (UK). Note that the reference appears to be more of a descriptor rather than a designation, and is not canon within Star Trek.
'Pathfinder' was also the codename of a project to locate USS ''Voyager'' after the ship was lost in the Delta Quadrant. Lieutenant Reginald Barclay, formerly of the USS ''Enterprise'', was a member of the team and successfully initiated contact with ''Voyager''’s crew in 2376. This arc unfolded in the 6th season episode of the same name, Pathfinder