TREKCORE > DEEP SPACE NINE > SHIPS & STATIONS > Federation Starbase / Spacedock

In the early days of Starfleet, exploring the Galaxy often saw ships heading off for long missions into unchartered territory, far from the Federation. These days, however, even if Earth is only a distant memory, a Federation Starbase is never far away.

DETAILS

Starbases are massive orbital space stations. Their primary function is to act as service structures for the maintenance of starships and other space vehicles, and as test sites for experimental vessels and other new technologies. These facilities are operated by both the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet, with the administration of some installations shared by both organizations. Other space stations administered, or jointly administered, by Starfleet are run in conjunction with non-Federation races. As in the case of Deep Space Nine in the Bajoran system, this often benefits planets seeking Federation membership, serving as a first foothold into the organization. There are also a number of planet-based stations; the vast majority of starbases, however, are orbital facilities both built, owned and administered by Starfleet.

The dominant feature of most orbital starbases is the vast interior mooring bays used by all types of starships and other spacefaring vessels. Ships access the interior of most starbases through an enormous entrance port. The massive doors of the incoming port are closed behind an exiting or entering ship, sealing the mooring bay from open space. Once inside the station, a starship is guided into its berth by mooring tractor beams, and locked into position. On many ships, the internal turbolift cars can link directly with the turboshaft system of the starbase, allowing personnel to catch a turbolift direct from their quarters onto the station.

Starbases serve a variety of purposes for continued space exploration, operation and security. They serve as transit points for both members of Starfleet and non-Starfleet personnel, and are important centres for both crew reassignment and for the transfer of personnel during regularly scheduled crew rotations.

On the fringes of Federation space, starbases are a valuable line of defence, often the first to detect dangers posed by both known and unknown alien races. But their most important function is to serve as a link between outlying planets and Starfleet Headquarters. In areas of the galaxy far from Earth, starbases can provide a vital touchstone to the planets Starfleet personnel have left behind, making a vast and lonely galaxy seem a little more like home.