A space-faring version of a lifeboat, the escape pod is often used in emergency situations, when the crew of a starship (or other vessel) is required to abandon ship.

On stardate 43997, during the Battle of Wolf 359, Benjamin Sisko evacuated the Saratoga, via escape pod, while his ship was destroyed during the Borg offensive.

In 2373, Captain Picard ordered all hands to escape pods when it looked like his ship, the Enterprise-E, would also succomb to a Borg attack. The pods set a course for Gravett Island, where the crew was later picked up once the crisis with the Borg was averted.