Difference between revisions of "Starbase 74"
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==Size== | ==Size== | ||
Starbase 74 is significantly larger than [[Earth Spacedock]] (seen in ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]''), even though the two structures have the same outward appearance. In fact, the proportions of Starbase 74 compared to the ''[[Enterprise-D]]'' seem to be similar to the proportions of Spacedock compared to the original [[Enterprise (TOS)|''Enterprise'' ]]. Given the vast size difference between a refit Constitution class 305 meters length x 140 meters beam <ref>Star Trek Encyclopedia size comparison charts</ref> and a Galaxy class starship of approximately 642.5 meters x 467 meters <ref>Star Trek Encyclopedia size comparison charts</ref> <ref>Star Trek the Next Generation U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Blueprints</ref> <ref>SciPubTech Cutaway poster</ref>. Four hundred and seventy meters divided by 140 meters = a ratio of 3.36 to 1 between the two class ship's widths. This makes Starbase 74 | Starbase 74 is significantly larger than [[Earth Spacedock]] (seen in ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]''), even though the two structures have the same outward appearance. In fact, the proportions of Starbase 74 compared to the ''[[Enterprise-D]]'' seem to be similar to the proportions of Spacedock compared to the original [[Enterprise (TOS)|''Enterprise'' ]]. Given the vast size difference between a refit Constitution class 305 meters length x 140 meters beam <ref>Star Trek Encyclopedia size comparison charts</ref> and a Galaxy class starship of approximately 642.5 meters x 467 meters <ref>Star Trek Encyclopedia size comparison charts</ref> <ref>Star Trek the Next Generation U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Blueprints</ref> <ref>SciPubTech Cutaway poster</ref>. Four hundred and seventy meters divided by 140 meters = a ratio of 3.36 to 1 between the two class ship's widths. This makes Starbase 74 approximately 3.36 times longer than Earth Spacedock and gives it more than twenty times Spacedock's overall volume. | ||
Secondary sources describe Earth Spacedock as approximately 3.6km in diameter and 4.6km tall<ref>ST3 ILM size charts</ref>. Based on the size comparison using starships, Starbase 74 is approximately | Secondary sources describe Earth Spacedock as approximately 3.6km in diameter and 4.6km tall<ref>ST3 ILM size charts</ref>. Based on the size comparison using starships, Starbase 74 is approximately 12.09 kilometers in diameter and 15.46 km tall (excluding the antenna towers at either end of the station, which would make the station over 18 km in overall height). | ||
Comparing the spacedock doors as was done by Graham Kennedy for his Daystrom Institute Technical Library gives a ratio of 2.3 to 1, and would make Starbase 74 a diameter of 8,781 meters and an overall height of 13,360 meters. <ref>www.ditl.org</ref> | Comparing the spacedock doors as was done by Graham Kennedy for his Daystrom Institute Technical Library gives a ratio of 2.3 to 1, and would make Starbase 74 a diameter of 8,781 meters and an overall height of 13,360 meters. <ref>www.ditl.org</ref> | ||
Revision as of 22:18, 27 January 2010
Starbase 74 is the largest known orbital facility -- in fact, the largest structure of any kind -- built by the United Federation of Planets. It orbits the Federation planet Tarsas III.[1]
Size
Starbase 74 is significantly larger than Earth Spacedock (seen in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock), even though the two structures have the same outward appearance. In fact, the proportions of Starbase 74 compared to the Enterprise-D seem to be similar to the proportions of Spacedock compared to the original Enterprise . Given the vast size difference between a refit Constitution class 305 meters length x 140 meters beam [2] and a Galaxy class starship of approximately 642.5 meters x 467 meters [3] [4] [5]. Four hundred and seventy meters divided by 140 meters = a ratio of 3.36 to 1 between the two class ship's widths. This makes Starbase 74 approximately 3.36 times longer than Earth Spacedock and gives it more than twenty times Spacedock's overall volume.
Secondary sources describe Earth Spacedock as approximately 3.6km in diameter and 4.6km tall[6]. Based on the size comparison using starships, Starbase 74 is approximately 12.09 kilometers in diameter and 15.46 km tall (excluding the antenna towers at either end of the station, which would make the station over 18 km in overall height).
Comparing the spacedock doors as was done by Graham Kennedy for his Daystrom Institute Technical Library gives a ratio of 2.3 to 1, and would make Starbase 74 a diameter of 8,781 meters and an overall height of 13,360 meters. [7]
In Debates
Trekkies sometimes argue that the large scale of Starbase 74 demonstrates that the Federation has the industrial capacity to build thousands of starships per year, even though the timeframe for the construction of Starbase 74 is unknown.
Warsies counter-argue that, regardless of the time spent building it, many of the complex systems needed for a starship -- such as mass lightening systems, warp drive, impulse engines, and other systems needed for a vessel expected to travel between star systems under its own power -- are not necessary for a space station. Consequently, the construction of a space station would be, in many ways, much simpler than the construction of a starship, even if the station is very large in comparison.
See Also
- Star Trek: Federation Industrial Capacity at Stardestroyer.net