The Federation is constantly developing new technology to enable the farthest corners of the galaxy to be brought closer together via ever faster ever better communications links. This might take the form of a deep space telescope that can transmit images of distant sectors and phenomena (e.g. the Argus Array three light-years from the old Cardassian border) or a communications apparatus designed to relay messages over extended distances such as the MIDAS Array. MIDAS is a loose acronym derived from Mutara Interdimensional Deep Space Transponder Array System (source SS; ST:M and TOSTFF omit "System").

 
Source SS

SPECIFICATIONS (as at the construction year, 2367) (source SS)
Dimensions	Overall length: 293.3 meters Overall Beam: 250.6 meters Overall Draft: 20 meters (with graviton emitters not active)
Displacement	133,720 metric tons
Crew Complement	None
Velocity	N/A
Acceleration	N/A
Duration	Open-ended. Projected 10 years before major upgrads
Propulsion Systems	Warp: (2) 8 particle beam thrusters
Primary Computer System	M-16 Bio-neural Gelpack Isolinear III Processor
Primary Navigation System	Stellar Dynamic Position Control System
Weapons	None
Deflector Systems	FSD Primary Force Field and Deflector Control System

Development history: Successor to the Argus Array. Following the Borg incursion of 2366 the need for an early-warning long-range sensor and tracking system was considered increasingly important, and so the MIDAS Array was constructed in 2367 as the upgrade to the Argus Array. Ironically, by the time the MIDAS Array was deployed Starfleet had learned of the Borg's transwarp capabilities which immediately rendered the MIDAS Array out-of-date, but in the search for USS Voyager the Starfleet Communications Research Center found a practical application for the MIDAS Array's features.