Info Starships Fleet Yards Treknology

Episodes Database Fandom Community

Federation Space Stations

Known Stations Uncertain Stations Unknown Stations

Known Stations

Amargosa Observatory	General description The Amargosa Observatory was a small Starfleet science outpost located in the Amargosa system as of 2371.	Known stations No further name given
	Annotations There is a scale diagram published in the Generations and First Contact Sketchbook where the width of the observatory is defined as the length of the front of the Galaxy Class to the middle of the saucer section. This gives us 192.5m.	Specifications Width: 190m

Argus Array type

General description

The Argus Array is a huge subspace radio telescope located three light years from Cardassian space.

Known stations

No further name given

Annotations

It is not sufficient to establish a size figure, but the Argus Array dwarfs the Enterprise-D in all available shots from TNG: "The Nth Degree" and "Parallels".
The Argus array may serve a similar purpose as Epsilon IX which had a similar flat structure and was huge too. In particular the fact that the Argus Array is located next to the Cardassian border like Epsilon IX was close to the Klingon border suggests that scientific observations may not be its only purpose. The Argus Array, however, is completely automated, while Epsilon IX had at least a small crew.
As the Fact Files depiction of the Argus Array is inaccurate, we have corrected it. In reality there are no gaps in the the array of hexagonal panels. Instead of that, one panel with a large tower-like central part is located between each cluster of seven panels.

Specifications

Unmanned

Atmospheric station

General description

Two large structures are located in the sky, near the Daystrom Institute on Okinawa.

Known stations

No name given

Annotations

The atmospheric stations are visible in PIC: "Remembrance", "The End is the Beginning" and in a flashback in "Nepenthe".
The stations are clearly too low to be in orbit and don't seem to change position between "Remembrance" and "The End is the Beginning". This is an amazing antigrav technology, although we could see something similar in TOS: "The Cloud Minders" and VOY: "Critical Care".

Class specifications

None available

Deep Space 9	General description The space station Terok Nor was put under common control of the Provisional Bajoran Government and Starfleet after the end of the Cardassian occupation in 2369. Gallery: Cardassian Starships	Known stations Deep Space 9 (formerly: Terok Nor)
	Annotations See Cardassian Ships	Class specifications Diameter: approx. 1km Max. accommodation capacity: 7000

Drydock type 1	General description This type of drydock is capable of servicing a ship of the size of a Constitution class.	Known stations No name given
	Annotations We see this drydock in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" as the place from where the upgraded Enterprise is launched, presumably part of the San Francisco Fleet Yards.	Specifications Length: approx. 420m

Drydock type 2

General description

This type of drydock is capable of servicing a ship of the size of an Excelsior class.

Known stations

(Name unknown) NAR-30974

Annotations

The drydock in "Star Trek: Generations" (type 2) is a redress of the above one from TMP (type 1). Essentially the mid sections of the side walls were removed, and the top and bottom parts directly connected. This obviously can't apply to the real facility, since the Excelsior-class Enterprise-B appears about as large relative to the now smaller model as the Constitution-class Enterprise is to the original configuration. The drydock type 2 has a massive structure attached to the top of the starship and a large office complex at the port side. These changes are significant enough to establish that drydock type 2 is a different, larger type.
In VOY: "Relativity", we see the smaller USS Voyager and a wider Akira class fit into the drydock type 2 as well as an Excelsior class. The VFX people at Foundation obviously had no sense of scaling the ships correctly, or they just assumed that there could be three different sizes of drydocks. Nevertheless, for the sake of consistency, we should assume they are all the same type and size. It only makes sense if there are very few standard types of drydocks suited for a variety of starships. Since there are few physical connections, there is no reason why a ship should fit exactly into the dock. Even if this were required, it would be the logical choice to devise a modular drydock that could be extended for larger starships, instead of scaling the whole structure up or down for each new ship type. The Ships of the Line Calendar 2001 even shows a Galaxy class inside a type-2 structure which we may fortunately discard as non-canon.
On the "Generations" Blu-ray DVD we can make out the drydock's registry (the only such structure with a known registry). It is NAR-30974.

Specifications

Length: approx. 500m

Drydock type 3	General description This type of drydock is capable of servicing starships as large as a Galaxy class or Nebula class.	Known stations No name given
	Annotations We see this spider-type drydock type in TNG: "Family" as part of the McKinley Station where the Enterprise undergoes repairs after the Borg attack and in TNG: "Redemption" where the Nebula-class Sutherland was prepared for launch at Starbase 234. The drydock also appears in the Utopia Planitia scene of VOY: "Relativity".	Specifications Length: 705m

Drydock type 4	General description This type of drydock is capable of servicing starships as large as a Sovereign class.	Known stations No name given
	Annotations The drydock can be seen at the end of "Star Trek Nemesis" in orbit around Earth.	Specifications Length: approx. 900m

Drydock type 5

General description

This drydock at Utopia Planitia consists of seven segments and an attached engineering/administration complex.

Known stations

No name given

Annotations

The drydock visible in SHO: "Children of Mars", set in the year 2384.
The basic construction of the drydock appeared in DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow II", as the drydock for the reboot-Enterprise in Star Trek Discovery. The number of segments and possibly several details are different. The episode was produced by the same staff as Discovery, which (in addition to being cost-saving) explains the crossover. In order to preserve the status of Picard as unrebooted Star Trek, I have to disregard a possible link to Discovery.

Class specifications

None available

Epsilon IX type	General description Epsilon IX was a large monitoring station located near the Klingon border as of 2271, when it was destroyed by V'ger. Gallery: Federation Space Stations	Known stations No further name given
	Annotations There may be several more stations of this type along the Klingon and maybe the Romulan border, considering that it seems to be a typical Cold War installation. An "Epsilon IX Sector" is mentioned in TNG, suggesting that "Epsilon IX" is not the type name plus serial number, but the location of the station (unless the sector was later named in honor of the destroyed array).	Specifications None available

Jupiter Station	General description Jupiter Station consists of two stacks with three saucer hulls each. Gallery: Federation Space Stations	Known stations No further name given
	Annotations Rick Sternbach said that he intentionally laid out Jupiter Station to use saucer hulls of the Ambassador type. The window arrangement and the lifeboats look as on a typical Federation ship of the 24th century. Since the saucer hulls don't match that of the Ambassador exactly, we may assume that the hulls are actually taken from a yet unknown older starship class. They were either available for the construction of the station after the ships had been retired, or the ship yards delivered new saucer hulls of the same type for a fast and efficient construction of the station. There may be further stations built in the same fashion, but within the "kitbash" principle there may be many variants.	Specifications Width: approx. 720m Height: approx. 660m

K-7 type

General description

Deep Space K-7 is a Federation outpost near the Klingon border in 2267. The station consists of a central core and three radial arms. Most of the internal volume is dedicated to storage and industrial processing facilities. A shuttlebay is located at the bottom of the central core.

Known stations

Deep Space K-7

Annotations

Besides Deep Space K-7 in TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles" there is at least one other station of this type, as seen in TOS: "The Ultimate Computer".
The diameter of 450m is based on a very rough comparison with the USS Enterprise and the small shuttle model in the shuttlebay of Greg Jein's reconstruction of K-7 for DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations".
The revised starbase from TOS-R: "The Ultimate Computer" is so radically different from K-7 that it is listed below as "TOS starbase".

Specifications

Diameter: approx. 450m

MIDAS Array	General description MIDAS is the prototype of a long-range communications array. Gallery: Federation Space Stations	Known stations No further name given
	Annotations MIDAS being a prototype, we may assume that there are no further arrays (yet).	Specifications Unmanned

Orbital office complex

General description

The orbital office complex is a comparably small station in Earth's orbit.
Article: Redresses of the Orbital Office Complex
Gallery: Federation Space Stations

Known stations

No name given

Annotations

It is not known what exact purpose the orbital office complex in ST:TMP serves, but it seems very likely that it houses (part of) the administration of the fleet yards where the Enterprise was being upgraded in 2271. No other stations of this type were ever shown, if we don't count the upside-down versions (Regula etc.).
The size can be determined based on the round docking hatch compatible with the aft end of the travel pod. The "floral" lateral extensions of the station are only one deck thick.

Specifications

Width: approx. 210m
Height: approx. 200m

Particle fountain

General description

This is an experimental station generating a strong forcefield aimed at the surface of the planet Tyrus VII-A. The particle fountain is part of a new mining technique.
Article: Analysis of the Qualor II Surplus Depot
Gallery: Federation Space Stations

Known stations

No name given

Annotations

For some time the particle fountain from TNG: "The Quality of Life" was believed to be a modification of a study model for a spacedock built for "Star Trek III" (see below). However, aside from the completely different extensions on the two models even the basic structures are different. The center part of the particle fountain is composed of six central tubes, whereas there are only four of them on the spacedock. The proportions of the saucer-shaped top portions are different too even if we ignore the little details attached to the spacedock. It seems that the particle fountain was newly built and was only inspired by the spacedock. It is still possible that the spacedock was disassembled and parts of it re-used though. The particle fountain also resembles the space station on the painting in Picard's quarters.
It is unknown on which occasion the particle fountain was actually built. The miniature, still without the lower cap, appeared in TNG: "Unification" in the surplus depot at Qualor II, surprisingly before the episode "The Quality of Life".
The drawing in the Star Trek Fact Files is inaccurate. Based on a photo I took on the Star Trek World Tour, I have corrected the proportions and several details.
Although not explicitly mentioned in TNG: "The Quality of Life", it is very likely that Dr. Farallon who devised the particle fountain is a Federation scientist, and that the station belongs to the Federation likewise. In particular, the complications with the exocomps that were discovered to be sentient by Data suggest that the station is under Federation law.

Specifications

None available

Regula type

General description

This is a type of space station preferably used for scientific purposes in the 23rd and 24th century. It is equipped with escape pods.
Article: Redresses of the Orbital Office Complex

Known stations

Deep Space 5
Regula I
Research Station Tanuga IV
Science Station Tango Sierra

Annotations

The Regula I station from ST:TWOK is a redress of the orbital office complex (see above) from TMP. The station was essentially turned upside down, and and antenna mounted to the new top. Some of the outer of the pods were removed, and a kind of "observatory dome" was added to one of the remaining four inner pods. Since none of the stations of this type needs to be very large, we may assume the single components are the same size as on the orbital office complex. Note that the above depiction shows the narrow side of the station.
In DS9: "Blaze of Glory", the Regula model appears as the unnamed station where Eddington is imprisoned, with the tubes at the bottom - actually stock footage from "Star Trek II". Although it may have been supposed to be a starbase, I assume that Eddington's station is of the smaller Regula type.

Specifications

Height: approx. 200m
Width: approx. 100m (narrow side)

Subspace relay

General description

To avoid subspace signals to decay and resurface (which considerably slows them down), they need to be amplified every 20 light years within the limits of the technology of the mid-24th century. This is accomplished with largely automated subspace relays. There may be different types of these stations which have in common the basic fourfold structure of a temporary habitat, a fusion reactor, a subspace antenna and a transceiver module.

Known stations

Relay Station 47

Annotations

Based on a schematic in the TNG Technical Manual, the model of the SS Birdseye from TNG: "The Neutral Zone" was modified to act as the Relay Station 47 in TNG: "Aquiel". The solar panels were removed, and there were also several changes to the main body, enough to make the relay station look considerably different.
We have never seen the station as depicted in the TNGTM on screen. It may be a preliminary sketch of the station in "Aquiel", another type of station or a typical depiction of such a station.

Specifications

Crew complement: 2

Remmler Array

General description

The Remmler Array serves to perform a baryon sweep, a maintenance measure that is periodically necessary on ships traveling at warp speeds. The array consists of two separate halves whose distance is adjustable to house starships of different widths.
Gallery: Federation Space Stations

Known stations

No further name given

Annotations

"Baryon sweep" seems like an embarrassing error. Baryons (from Greek barys = heavy) is a collective name for heavy elementary particles, which includes protons and neutrons and therefore virtually everything that matter is composed of (except for the much lighter electrons). Of course, we have to assume that the baryon sweep actually removes only a certain, not further specified type of baryons or that it initiates some sort of nuclear reaction, turning contaminated, radioactive nuclei into normal matter again. In such a respect, "baryon sweep" would not necessarily be wrong but only an inexact nickname. The fact that the baryon sweep is absolutely deadly to all kinds of living organisms complies with the suggestion that a large-scale nuclear reaction takes place.
We may assume that there are several of these baryon sweep arrays in Federation space. "Remmler Array" seems to be the proper name of the very station seen in TNG: "Starship Mine", rather than a collective (class) name for this type of station.

Specifications

Length: approx. 1100m
Unmanned

Spacedock study model	General description This appears to be a large starbase-like space station. Article: Analysis of the Qualor II Surplus Depot	Known stations No name given
	Annotations The spacedock study model was apparently originally built for "Star Trek III". Parts of it may have been re-used for the particle fountain (see above) in TNG: "The Quality of Life". Interestingly both miniatures, the original spacedock and the particle fountain without the later lower cap, appeared in TNG: "Unification" in the surplus depot at Qualor II.	Specifications None available

Spacedock type

General description

The spacedock is the largest known type of space station in the Federation. The upper portion of the mushroom-shaped spacedock may house several large starships.
Gallery: Federation Space Stations

Known stations

Earth Spacedock
Lya Station Alpha
Starbase 74
Starbase 84
Starbase 133

Annotations

The diameter of 3.8km is based on the original size chart for "Star Trek III" by ILM. At this size it is still possible for Earth Spacedock and the four spacedocks seen in TNG to have the same size. In the 23rd century, a starship of the Constitution class (refit) fits well through the doors, which are almost twice as wide as the ship when fully opened. This also allows the Excelsior to pass with some clearance. In the 24th century, the same unchanged model is used, and this time a Galaxy class ship fits through the doors, 3.3 times as wide as a Constitution refit, albeit with less clearance. The doors would have to be at least twice as wide and, at the same relative scale, the station would be 8 times as voluminous as the Earth spacedock. While it doesn't seem to be a big problem that Starfleet could built large stations that look much like the smaller spacedock, why would they exist in orbits around rather insignificant planets that would never show up again? This is why I would like to keep the size as small as possible. At the assumed 3.8km diameter, the door on the movie station would be the size as seen on screen. A Galaxy class would fit into the station through larger new doors, but could not really maneuver inside. Or maybe the larger doors are just on the opposite side that we haven't seen in "Star Trek III"?
Just for fun, the estimated volume of my "small" 3.8km wide station would be around 7km^3. If the average deck height is 6m, there would be 740 decks altogether, and this would yield a total area of roughly 1200km^2. If we take into account that most of the upper section is hollow, and that much of the lower section might be dedicated to tanks or other uninhabitable room, the useful volume and useful area would have to be reduced to about a fourth, but this would be still more than enough to sustain a crew of hundreds of thousands. While this is already a lot, I wonder what a still much larger station could be useful for.
In VOY: "Non Sequitur" we saw how Harry and Tom escaped from the spacedock with a runabout, but unfortunately totally unsuited stock footage from the Dyson Sphere door (TNG: "Relics") was used. We have to ignore the similarities of the two doors, of course, and the actual shuttlebay door of the spacedock could be located anywhere in the lower sections of the spacedock where the outer walls are vertical.

Specifications

Diameter: approx. 3.8km
Height: approx. 5.5km

Starbase type	General description Several smaller Federation starbases share this common design. Article: Redresses of the Orbital Office Complex	Known stations Starbase 173 (variant) Starbase 257 Starbase 375
	Annotations The starbase is another redress of the orbital office complex and the Regula science station. The problem is that the starbase has to be much bigger than the previous incarnations of the model. The first station of the large type, Starbase 173, could be seen in TNG: "The Measure of a Man". This station still had the cylindrical extensions at the bottom. For its two later appearances as starbases as the famed Starbase 375 and the Starbase 257 in DS9: "Valiant", these tubes were removed. This, however, is the only visible change to the model, and it is far from sufficient to suggest that the starbase is a lot bigger than the Regula-type space station. Aside from the usual scaling problems, especially the many clearly visible windows would measure around a hundred square meters each! The head section of Starbase 173 has a width of more than 1km, compared to the Enterprise-D. The size of Starbase 375 seems to vary. Comparisons with Mirandas suggest a diameter of 1km too, but it is smaller compared to the Defiant, and Sisko's Jem'Hadar fighter barely fits into the hangar in DS9: "A Time to Stand", which would give us a diameter of only 500m. Since the windows are all way too large anyway, any size between 500m and 1km could be "correct".	Specifications None available

TOS starbase type

General description

This large Starfleet starbase is in use in the 2260s. It is equipped with six docking arms for starships.

Known stations

Starbase 6

Annotations

The station appears in TOS-R: "The Ultimate Computer", where it replaces the stock footage of Deep Space K-7 (above). The new station was designed by Masao Okazaki. It first appeared as the J-Class station in the Starfleet Museum and was later adapted for the Starbase 47 "Vanguard" in the Star Trek Vanguard series by David Mack. The station is labeled "Starbase 6", although this is not readable in any of the shots.
According to the spec sheet in Harbinger by David Mack the Vanguard-type station is 849 meters in diameter, and it would allow Constitution-class ships to dock even inside the station, in the lower hemisphere of the saucer section. In the TOS-R episode the docked starship clearly looks too large to fit in. The diameter of the TV version is probably somewhat less than 600m. Owing to this size discrepancy, it is questionable whether the other specs mentioned in the book are applicable. The multi-spectrum array at the bottom of the station is extendable according to the book. We can see the accordingly extended antenna in the episode.

Specifications

Diameter: approx. 560m

Utopia Planitia type	General description This type of large orbital stations with a double mushroom structure is in use at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. Gallery: Federation Space Stations	Known stations No name given
	Annotations At least three orbital stations of this large type appear in orbit of Mars in VOY: "Relativity".	Specifications None available

Utopia Planitia type II

General description

These large structures in orbit of Mars belong to Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards.

Known stations

No name given

Annotations

The stations can be seen as they are destroyed in SHO: "Children of Mars" and PIC: "Maps and Legends", set in the year 2384.

"Children of Mars" and "Maps and Legends" show essentially the same footage of the station from the side, but for the latter episode the explosions were removed, making the station better recognizable. (Also,the drones are now decorated with the Starfleet emblem)
The design is new (and not the same as in VOY: "Relativity"), but it retains certain elements of previous Federation spacedocks, such as the mushroom shape.

Class specifications

None available

Uncertain Stations

Station on monitor	General description It is uncertain whether this is a Federation space station or something else.	Known stations No name given
	Annotations The structure appeared in "Star Trek I" on the Enterprise bridge, in "Star Trek II" on a monitor in the bridge simulator room as well as on the Reliant and finally in TNG: "Conspiracy". Actually the graphic was not meant to depict a station but a gravity generator according to Rick Sternbach.	Specifications None available

Station on painting	General description This may be another type of Federation space stations.	Known stations No name given
	Annotations The space station appears on a painting in Picard's quarters. It may be just a concept study, or a really existing station.	Specifications None available

Unknown Stations

Deep Space 3, mentioned in TNG: "Interface"

Deep Space 4, mentioned in TNG: "The Chase"

Deep Space 12, preliminary destination of La Sirena in PIC: "Broken Pieces", to have Dr. Jurati arrested

Drexler Outpost, referred to on a desktop display in VOY: "The Gift"
The text on the display reads like this: "According to arrival/departure log from the Drexler outpost in sector Omega exploration vessel 'Jefferies' left that location in 2354. No flight plan was filed and no further contact was ever established. Last known heading was 237/47." The rest is just inane blurb, but we might accept the useful part nonetheless. The "Jefferies" later became the Raven.

Hubble Space Telescope, listed on a display in TNG: "Inheritance"

This is likely a new installation, named in honor of the current Hubble Space Telescope

Star Station India, mentioned in TNG: "Unnatural Selection"

Starbases 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 27, 200, mentioned in TOS

None of these starbases could be seen, but we may assume that starbases usually have spaceborne facilities. The name "Starbase 6", mentioned in TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome", was also given to the previously unnamed station in TOS-R: "The Ultimate Computer" (see above).

Starbase 11, shown as a facility on planet M-11 in TOS: "Court Martial" and TOS: "Menagerie"

I assume that this seemingly important starbase has orbital facilities too.

Starbases 12, 14, 23, 24, 36, 39-Sierra, 47, 67, 73, 82, 83, 87, 97, 103, 105, 117, 118, 123, 129, 152, 153, 157, 185, 211, 212, 214, 218, 219, 220, 227, 231, 247, 260, 295, 301, 310, 313, 324, 328, 336, 343, 416, 440, 495, 514, 621, 718, mentioned in TNG

None of these starbases could be seen, but we may assume that starbases generally have spaceborne facilities. In particular, this should apply to Starbase 152, where the Enterprise was to undergo repairs after the Gomtuu attack in TNG: "Tin Man".

Starbases 41, 58, 63, 137, 201, 401, mentioned in DS9

None of these starbases could be seen, but we may assume that starbases usually have spaceborne facilities.

Starbases 6, 179, 515, shown as planetside facilities in TNG

I assume that these starbases have orbital facilities too.

Starbase 234, drydock type 3 shown in TNG: "Redemption"

This starbase probably consists of more facilities than the type-3 drydock, considering that not only the shown Nebula-class USS Sutherland, but several more ships were being prepared for launch there.

Starbase Earhart, interior shown in TNG: "Tapestry"

Starbase G-6, mentioned in TNG: "Hide and Q"

Starbase Lya III, mentioned in TNG: "The Defector" and TNG: "The Hunted"

Lya III probably denotes the planet where the starbase is located. It is possible that this station is identical to the stardock called "Lya Station Alpha", or that the latter is part of the starbase Lya III which may include a "Station Beta" too.

Station Lya IV, mentioned in TNG: "The Most Toys"

Since it seems to be located in the same system as the above Starbase Lya III, it is safe to assume that this is a Federation (trade) station.

Starbase Montgomery, shown as a planetside facility in TNG: "The Icarus Factor"

Station Nigala IV, Federation station, mentioned in TNG: "Déjà Q"

Station Salem One, Federation station, mentioned in TNG: "The Enemy"

Xendi Starbase 9, mentioned in TNG: "The Battle"

Maybe the Xendi are a member race of the Federation and this is their ninth starbase, which would explain the strange nomenclature.

Back to Starship Database index