Second starship to bear the name, this version of the U.S.S. Pathfinder carries the name forward using the hull design of the Constitution-class heavy cruiser.

It's name come from Matthew Fontaine Maury -- Pathfinder of the Seas.

Matthew Fontaine Maury (January 14, 1806 – February 1, 1873), United States Navy was an American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, and educator.

Maury gained his nickname as Pathfinder of the Seas and Father of modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology and later, Scientist of the Seas, due to the publication of his extensive works in his books, especially Physical Geography of the Sea 1855, the first extensive and comprehensive book on oceanography to be published. Maury made many important new contributions to charting winds and ocean currents, including pathways for ships at sea.

Before moving about the stars, two ships existed that plowed the oceans of Earth.

One such USS Pathfinder (AGS-1) was a survey vessel for the United States Navy during World War II. Before and after the war she was USC&GS Pathfinder for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Pathfinder was built by the Lake Washington Shipyard of Houghton, Washington in 1929. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy and commissioned 31 August 1942, with Capt. Bascom H. Thomas, USNR, in command.

The second such ship was the USNS Pathfinder (T-AGS 60) which served as an oceanographic survey ship, and the lead vessel of her class.

The first U.S.S. Pathfinder to find itself among the stars was one of the last NX-class starships, lost when the ship's captain and crew sacrificed the ship to save lives during an encounter with the Klingons.

At present, the current U.S.S. Pathfinder was first christened and thrown into the fires of war in the first weeks of 2263.

Currently, this ship remains in dry-dock at Starbase Hatteras where as Starfleet Engineering Corps completes repairs to damage received during the recent Battle of Moekata.

During this time, the ship is being resupplied and crew replacements brought aboard.