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Federation Starbases are an indisputably important part of Federation activities in outer space. All the whizbang of the famous starships and the epic battles and exploration in deep space would not be possible without the aid of starbases. These vital installations provide a space to dock ships, launch attacks, or gather data. It is estimated that there are around 500 or so starbases scattered in, around, and even beyond space controlled by the Federation.
As in the case of ships, different types of starbases exist, varying in size, capabilities, and specific use. While some bases have the size of a warship, others are puny and mostly function for information gathering. Starbases can serve as waypoints where crew and stretch their legs and relax, a shipyard where starships are constructed, a military base from where expeditions are sent, a research station, or even a venue for civil administration and trade with other groups, races, or planets.
Many starbases coordinate the operations of different starships and provide supplies and maintenance. Understandably, starbases have many different facilities, such as medical care and aid, docking facilities for starships, or vehicles available for use. Some starbases float in outer space, while some are constructed on the surface of different planets.
There is even a type of starbase that combines the two, consisting of a ground-based facility with orbital components. Due to the different forms starbases can have, it is unsure just how many Federation starbases are military in nature.
Federation starbases are usually commanded by a flag officer. Some, such as Deep Space Nine (the setting of the TV series of the same title), are under the joint control of local governments. Starbases are numbered sequentially, totaling around 700 in the 2360s (explorations to find a suitable location for the first starbase took place in 2154, by the NX-01 Enterprise). It is speculated that the number may also include former starbases which where decommissioned or moved to other places.
The largest Federation starbase is Starbase 74, which orbited the Federation planet Tarsas III. Approximately 5400m in diameter and 6900m in length (50% larger than the NCC-1701 Enterprise), this mushroom-shaped Starbase represents the current limit of Federation starbase technology. In 2364, it was commanded by Captain Orfil Quinteros.
The well-known Deep Space Nine starbase (originally the Cardassian space station Terok Nor, placed under joint control of the Provincial Bajoran Government and Starfleet at the end of the Cardassian occupation) , in comparison, is less than one mile in diameter and has more empty space, being ring-shaped. It was also dwarfed by most common star destroyers.
However, it was counted as the fourth largest Federation starbase. The only ones larger than it are the Earth Spacedock, Starbase 74, and Starbase 84. All these four were designed to house starships. It would then follow that the remaining Federation starships either rely on external docking facilities or are planetary surface installations.
Star Trek Art created by artist Alex Lima on Deviantart (zodi.deviantart.com). This artwork was posted with permission of the artist. You can use the image as a desktop background for the computer monitor, table, iPhone or notebook. Please don't redistribute the image without permission of the author!
