A space station is an artificial structure designed for humans to live and work in outer space for a period of time. A space station is distinguished from other manned spacecraft by its lack of major propulsion or landing facilities—instead, other vehicles are used as transport to and from the station. Space stations are used to study the effects of long-term space flight on the human body as well as to provide platforms for greater number and length of scientific studies than available on other space vehicles. Some stations also serve as space ports where manned vessels may dock, take-off, discharge and pick-up passengers or affect repairs. Advanced space stations are usually equipped with some form of artificial gravity, allowing visitors and workers the ability to move about freely without having to endure the rigors of a zero-g environment. Stations that are open to a variety of clientele, such as extraterrestrial life forms, will also maintain amenities and accommodations befitting their culture and/or physiological needs.
One of the most famous space stations in science fiction history is the Death Star, a moon-sized spherical station from the Star Wars franchise that is one of the few stations capable of interplanetary travel. The original Death Star was first seen in the 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, but a second, more powerful Death Star was also featured in the final film in the franchise, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Another infamous space station is Deep Space Nine, an orbital space station that was once under the control of a conquering race known as the Cardassians, but had since been acquired by the United Federation of Planets to monitor the nearby Bajoran wormhole.
On the NBC television series SeaQuest DSV, a French space station named Liberte fell out of orbit and crashed into the ocean. It contained biological contaminants that killed the crew of an underwater facility. [1]
Appearances[]
Films[]
Television[]
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Deep Space 9 appears in all episodes)
Comics[]
- Avengers Vol 8 27 - Shi'ar prison station.
- Star Wars 68 - Death Star I in flashback.
- Star Wars: Bounty Hunters 6