Probes such as this deploy from Daedalus between 7.2 and 1.2 years before encounter. They are intended to explore wide areas of the star system including any planets and moons.

A typical main probe, weighing 10 tonnes, is shaped like a narrow conical frustrum 65.6ft (20m) long to facilitate stowage in the payload bay. Smaller interstellar probes are deployed by the wardens; their purpose is to study charged and neutral particles in space.

The probes have their own ion engines to increase cross-range capability to better target any planets or moons that may be detected after the probes have been launched. Smaller sub-probes are also carried.