# Space dock > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Space_dock > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Space_dock.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_dock > Source revision: 1354834062 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Orbital spacecraft assembly station}} {{For|the fictional space station called "Space Dock"|Space Dock (Space: 1999)}} {{distinguish|docking and berthing of spacecraft}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2014}} {{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=December 2025}} A '''space dock''' is a hypothesised type of [space station](/source/space_station) that is able to repair or build [spacecraft](/source/spacecraft) similar to maritime [shipyard](/source/shipyard)s on [Earth](/source/Earth). They remove the need for new spacecraft to perform a [space launch](/source/space_launch) to reach space and existing spacecraft to make an [atmospheric entry](/source/atmospheric_entry) and [landing](/source/landing) for repair work. They currently only exist in fiction, however concept work has been undertaken on real space dock facilities that could be built with current technology. ==Real world== [[File:American Space Dock Concept A.jpg|thumb|right|Concept design for a United States space dock – a large [spaceship](/source/spacecraft) is being constructed by robotic arms underneath the main truss, and a [spaceplane](/source/spaceplane) is entering an enclosed [hangar](/source/hangar).]] Space docks, as part of a wider space logistics infrastructure, are considered a relevant part of a true space-faring society. Scientists of the [American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics](/source/American_Institute_of_Aeronautics_and_Astronautics) have proposed that future, near-term [LEO](/source/Low_Earth_Orbit) space facilities should include "a large space dock making possible the on-orbit assembly and maintenance of large space facilities, space platforms, and spacecraft" (see image for design concept). A space dock / hangar could also allow enclosed (and possibly pressurized) maintenance of smaller spacecraft and [space plane](/source/space_plane)s, though the construction of non-atmospheric spacecraft and other space facilities is envisaged as its main use.[http://www.aiaa.org/tc/sl/Reference_materials/Architecting_Rapid_Growth_in_Space_Logistics_Capabilities_updated.pdf Architecting Rapid Growth in Space Logistics Capabilities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060402121146/http://www.aiaa.org/tc/sl/Reference_materials/Architecting_Rapid_Growth_in_Space_Logistics_Capabilities_updated.pdf |date=2 April 2006 }} – Snead, James Michael; [American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics](/source/American_Institute_of_Aeronautics_and_Astronautics), 2004) The structural strength of such a more advanced [hangar](/source/hangar) would primarily be based on the internal atmospheric pressure that would have to be sustained for [shirt-sleeve](/source/Shirt-sleeve_environment) operations, thus enabling routine servicing and assembly in space.''[https://web.archive.org/web/20050923051851/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/snead.html Near-Term Manned Space Logistics Operations]'' – ''[Air & Space Power Journal](/source/Air_%26_Space_Power_Journal)'', 31 August 2005 The use for orbital maintenance could be especially critical for damaged atmospheric spacecraft, which are at great risk during reentry into the atmosphere, as was shown during the [''Columbia'' disaster](/source/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_disaster). In the wake of the disaster, [NASA](/source/NASA) improvised repairs to shuttles while in flight,''[https://web.archive.org/web/20050806002224/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/08/04/space.shuttle/index.html NASA ponders second repair in space]'' – ''[CNN.com](/source/CNN.com)'', Thursday 4 August 2005 a procedure which would have been much easier with a dedicated orbital facility. The use of a major space dock as a construction facility would also be required for the construction of an interstellar colonization [starship](/source/starship) built with current or near-term technology.''[http://www-sgc.colorado.edu/symposium_archive/2001/papers/full_papers/interplanetary/Interstellar%20starship.doc Prospects for Interstellar Starship Design Based on Current Technologies]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}'' ([.DOC](/source/Microsoft_Word)) – Gourley, Jim; [United States Air Force Academy](/source/United_States_Air_Force_Academy), paper for 2001 CSGC Undergraduate Space Research Symposium of the [Colorado Space Grant Consortium](/source/Colorado_Space_Grant_Consortium) It was proposed that the now canceled [Ares V](/source/Ares_V) missions,{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/aresl/index.html|title=NASA – Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle|accessdate=13 May 2009|publisher=[NASA](/source/NASA)|date=29 April 2009}} for example, could've served to cost-effectively transport construction materials for future [spacecraft](/source/spacecraft) and [space exploration missions](/source/space_exploration),Please refer to [Vision for Space Exploration#Outline](/source/Vision_for_Space_Exploration). delivering [raw material](/source/raw_material)s to a [Moon](/source/Moon)-based space dock positioned as a [counterweight](/source/counterweight)Please refer to [Space elevator#Counterweight](/source/Space_elevator). to a Moon-based [space elevator](/source/space_elevator).Please refer to [Space elevator#Extraterrestrial elevators](/source/Space_elevator). ==Science fiction== Space docks in [science fiction](/source/science_fiction) play an important role in the construction and maintenance of space vessels. They add a depth of realism to the fictional worlds they appear in and continue the nautical parallels that most space-based science fiction uses. Space docks serve the same purpose as their non-fictional terrestrial dry dock counterparts, being used for construction, repairs, refits and restorations of spacecraft. Some play significant plot roles, others hide in the background in many sci-fi media. Such science fiction settings as ''[Star Wars](/source/Star_Wars)'', ''[Babylon 5](/source/Babylon_5)'', the ''[Honorverse](/source/Honorverse)''[http://infodump.thefifthimperium.com/Harrington/hh_shipyard_types.htm Shipyard types] (forum post regarding the ''[Honorverse](/source/Honorverse)'' space docks, alleged to be from ''[David Weber](/source/David_Weber)'' himself) and the [''Foundation'' series](/source/Foundation_(book_series)) mention or allude substantially to such facilities. ===''Star Trek''=== Space docks of varying styles and sizes have made a number of appearances in the ''[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek)'' science fiction universe. Often they were shown as open, metal framed structures in which a vessel could be docked. The first such dry dock was seen in ''[Star Trek: The Motion Picture](/source/Star_Trek%3A_The_Motion_Picture)'' with the refit [USS ''Enterprise'' (NCC-1701)](/source/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701)) contained within such an "orbital dockyard" before being sent to intercept an alien vessel on course for Earth—"chronologically" speaking in the storyline, an earlier example (set in 2151) also housed the first [''Enterprise''](/source/Enterprise_(NX-01)) of Capt. [Jonathan Archer](/source/Jonathan_Archer) at [the start](/source/Broken_Bow_(Star_Trek%3A_Enterprise)) of the ''[Star Trek: Enterprise](/source/Star_Trek%3A_Enterprise)'' series. A larger facility, known as Earth Spacedock, was seen for the first time in ''[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock](/source/Star_Trek_III%3A_The_Search_for_Spock)'', designed by David Carson and Nilo Rodis of [Industrial Light and Magic](/source/Industrial_Light_and_Magic){{cite web|url=http://ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/designing-earth-spacedock/|title=Designing Earth Spacedock|date=18 June 2008}} and praised as "one of the more stunning visuals in all of ''Star Trek''{{-"}}.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-3-search-spock-every-good-thing/#leonard-nimoy-39-s-direction |title=8 Good Things in Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock |last=Stowe |first=Dusty |date=March 14, 2023 |website=[Screen Rant](/source/Screen_Rant) |access-date=December 17, 2023}} These were huge orbital command installations incorporating internal space docks that could be completely enclosed—starships could enter through bay doors to receive supplies or maintenance. One feature of the Spacedock design was its interior set, which included an area with large windows, outside which the ''Enterprise'' could be seen, thus allowing the ''Enterprise'' to be seen in scale compared to people, all inside the Spacedock space station. The design was to be done away with after ''Search for Spock'', and ILM dismantled it after that film. When it was desired to be used again for the next movie, ''[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home](/source/Star_Trek_IV%3A_The_Voyage_Home)'', it had to be re-assembled. The re-use of the model from the previous movie and also the re-use of interior sets depicting the station helped economize on the budget for ''Star Trek IV'', which debuted in 1986.{{cite journal|author=Shay, Jody|date=February 1987|title=Humpback to the Future|journal=[Cinefex](/source/Cinefex)|issue=29}} The Earth Spacedock would go on to make appearances in later movies and in ''The Next Generation''–era trilogy of seven season shows (''[The Next Generation](/source/Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation)'', ''[Deep Space Nine](/source/Star_Trek%3A_Deep_Space_Nine)'', and ''[Voyager](/source/Star_Trek%3A_Voyager)''). It has been described as one of franchise's "enduring spacecraft designs".{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/enduring-ship-designs-of-star-trek-iii-the-search-for-spock/|title=Enduring Ship Designs of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|date=16 September 2016 }} A third type of space dock was seen occasionally in ''The Next Generation'' and following series. This type of dock had a large command pod at the top, with arms underneath that could house a starship. The [''Enterprise''-D](/source/USS_Enterprise_(NCC-1701-D)) was refitted and repaired in such a dock following [combat with the Borg](/source/The_Best_of_Both_Worlds_(Star_Trek%3A_The_Next_Generation)) in 2367. A CGI variation appeared in the final season of ''[Star Trek: Picard](/source/Star_Trek%3A_Picard)'' and was severely damaged by the sustained attack of a [Borg](/source/Borg)-assimilated Federation fleet in the show's final episode. It survived the attack, though, and was rebuilt. ===''Babylon 5''=== Dock facilities were occasionally seen on the ''[Babylon 5](/source/Babylon_5)'' television series and movies. In the ''[Babylon 5](/source/Babylon_5)'' universe, the space docks were structures deployed outside the station when larger ships were in need of repair. The [''Babylon 5'' station](/source/Babylon_5_(space_station)) itself effectively served as a space dock with internal docking facilities for freighters, personal transport vessels, and its own complement of fighter-craft designated to protect the station. During the events of the movie ''[A Call to Arms](/source/Babylon_5%3A_A_Call_to_Arms)'', the ''Excalibur'' and the ''Victory'' were shown in the dry dock facilities in which they were constructed. The dock was destroyed by the [Drakh](/source/Drakh) following their attack on Earth, which would halt the construction of further ''Victory'' class destroyers until the facilities could be rebuilt. ===''Star Wars''=== Large space dock facilities were common above major shipbuilding worlds, such as Sullust and Corellia. Most notably, the massive Kuat Drive Yards corporation owned many facilities in the extensive moon system in the Kuat system and even a massive ringworld dry dock around Kuat (the planet) itself. ==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Proposed megastructures Category:Proposed space stations Category:Science fiction themes Category:Spaceflight --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Space dock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_dock) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_dock?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.