What comprises a Starbase?

[Warped9]

Any Star base built on a planet with a space based component makes no sense. It is like going to the expense to build this land based facility when all your energies could have been put forth in space. Either build just the base alone on planet or build in space. (ie. space station in orbit with facilities)

Except that's what we see in the episodes. And, candidly, with transporter technology ferrying personnel and cargo from ground to orbit is relatively easy. We also see essentially the same thing on Earth in TMP when Kirk beams from Starfleet Command to orbital dock.

 

[lennier1]

Any Star base built on a planet with a space based component makes no sense. It is like going to the expense to build this land based facility when all your energies could have been put forth in space. Either build just the base alone on planet or build in space. (ie. space station in orbit with facilities)

Actually it has many advantages. Repair facilities, defense platforms and the like placed in orbit, administration and other pencil pushers on the ground where they won't be quite as much of a nuisance.

 

[Timo]

Also, it might generally be too expensive to build a starbase just for supporting SF starship operations; usually, only bases that double as trade outposts or seeds for the colonization of a planet would be worth the while.

That is, sometimes there'd be a need for nothing but a fleet refueling and repair outpost in the middle of nowhere, because it's geometrically advantageously positioned. But most often a base would be situated where Starfleet strategically needs to be present, and Starfleet would mostly need to be present at locations where there are planets to be exploited.

Doesn't mean it would always be the best idea to protect planet Alpha Omega by building a starbase on and next to Alpha Omega. Sometimes a base between the planet and the enemy might be a better idea; sometimes a base farther away from the enemy might be the sensible way to go.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tomalak]

When the Enterprise in "Coutmartial" pulls into Starbase 11 for repairs after its encounter with an ion storm we see only the planet bound part of the base. But if the ship needs extensive repairs then shouldn't there have been some sort of orbital component to facilitate this? I can understand that in TOS they couldn't afford to show this, but in TOS-R I think it's something that should have been shown. Or am I missing something?

There was a fantastic map for the Elite Force game that was a tour of Starbase 11. You could walk around the recreational areas, crew quarters, and outside into plazas and testing areas.

Then you could beam up to the orbital facility and tour the docked Starships. The attention to detail was superb, I'll have to see if I can find my copy of the game.

 

[Albertese]

It ain't cannon, but the book Star Fleet Dynamics (Set during ST6) says there are 32 Starbases spaced equally throughout the spherical "Treaty Exploration Zone." They are built on habitable planets if the system is near enough to the arbitrary point where they want the SB. If no such planetary system exists then they build a space station to do the job. The point of the base is to provide a local command center for exploring and patrolling ships and to support said ships with repair and resupply facilities. As they are all essentially ground bases (even the space stations given that they are large enough to support huge populations) personnel assigned there are free to bring along their civilian families. Other civilian activity is encouraged as the Starbases are also available to support civilian traffic and populations. No doubt civilian expansion of these facilities would result in large scale colonies developing over time, but originally, and at it's core, a starbase is a Starfleet owned and operated facility under Starfleet command and jurisdiction. Ship's assigned to certain areas of the Treaty Zone would be assigned to the nearest Starbase. Each one would be assigned one Dreadnaught to handle any big military episodes.

Personally, I like this explanation because My personal vision of Trek tends to be somewhat Franz Josef-centric/FASA-centric and I don't think so much about post-1987 Star Trek. This same take though doesn't really violate TNG+ starbases, if you just assume that more were added as the Feds kept exploring past the Treaty Zone.

In the series format Roddenberry pitched to the NBC Execs, Starbases were the frontier forts in his "wild west of the stars." they would serve the same military (and more importantly, dramatic) value as those palisaded forts we all remember from John Wayne movies.

And BTW, DS9 wasn't ever referred to as starbase. But there were references to other Deep Space Stations. So the question I'd like to ask is what's the difference between a Starbase and a Deep Space Station?

--Alex

 

[Saquist]

I like that explanation too. I tend to favor FASA too. There was alot of thought in those books.

I think starbase is essentially a Starfleet Annex while deep space stations are out post. Most Starbases have admiralty, brass, JAG officers...while the deep space stations are merely installations.

 

[Wingsley]

I also see starbases as being fleet command facilities. That is, Commodores Mendez, Barstow and Wesley were likely commanders of units of multiple Federation Starships, not just one. A starbase would serve as their HQ in the rear.

 

[C.E. Evans]

And BTW, DS9 wasn't ever referred to as starbase.

It was referred to as "Starbase Deep Space Nine" more than once.

But there were references to other Deep Space Stations. So the question I'd like to ask is what's the difference between a Starbase and a Deep Space Station?

My own theory is that "Deep Space" stations are small (or relatively small) outposts established in non-Federation territory with the permission of a foreign government--in the case of DS9, it may have been between the Federation and Bajor. Even if those territories ultimately become part of Federation space, they may retain their initial DS designations afterward, IMO.

 

[Albertese]

And BTW, DS9 wasn't ever referred to as starbase.

It was referred to as "Starbase Deep Space Nine" more than once.

Really? I watched six-and-a-half seasons of that show and I can't recall anyone ever saying that? Can you name a peticular episode? I love being proved wrong on Trek. Doesn't happen very much...

But there were references to other Deep Space Stations. So the question I'd like to ask is what's the difference between a Starbase and a Deep Space Station?

My own theory is that "Deep Space" stations are small (or relatively small) outposts established in non-Federation territory with the permission of a foreign government--in the case of DS9, it may have been between the Federation and Bajor. Even if those territories ultimately become part of Federation space, they may retain their initial DS designations afterward, IMO.

I actually like that distinction. Makes a lot of sense.

--Alex

 

[C.E. Evans]

And BTW, DS9 wasn't ever referred to as starbase.

It was referred to as "Starbase Deep Space Nine" more than once.

Really? I watched six-and-a-half seasons of that show and I can't recall anyone ever saying that? Can you name a peticular episode? I love being proved wrong on Trek. Doesn't happen very much...

In both "Meridian" and "Equilbrium," Sisko identifies himself as the commander of "Federation Starbase Deep Space 9."

In "Tribunal," O'Brien also identifies himself as from "Starbase Deep Space 9."

 

[J.T.B.]

I also see starbases as being fleet command facilities. That is, Commodores Mendez, Barstow and Wesley were likely commanders of units of multiple Federation Starships, not just one. A starbase would serve as their HQ in the rear.

The Making of Star Trek described the arrangement basically like that, with "Starbase Command" under a commodore being the next level of command above the starship. Presumably they are regional in nature, and, as Enterprise reported to several different starbases, starships are assigned where they are most needed rather than being permanently attached to a particular base.

If the starbase commodore is also directly in charge of the operating starships, it does seem odd that Como. Stocker would be assigned as a starbase commander with no ship command experience. Perhaps the starbase commander has an operational deputy to take care of that end of things (maybe a fleet captain, huh?).

How an Outpost fits in is another question. They may differ from starbases by being located in more "frontier" areas, or by not having starships attached. It does seem as if that they could compare to a starbase in size, as the one in "Arena" is also commanded by a commodore.

--Justin

 

[Deks]

Well, DS9 was loosely referred to as an outpost early on in the show if I'm not mistaken.
Later on it became a star-base.

The shift apparently happened when the stations defensive/offensive systems were heavily upgraded with the start of season 4.

But I doubt that shields/weapons are the only thing defining a star-base.

Maybe the retrofit SF did essentially added (and probably did) numerous functions that weren't previously there.
It started off as a mining refinery after all, so one would think it transitioned to an outpost after the Bajorans commandeered it, and later on to a full-fledged star-base once SF completed the proper upgrades at the start of season 4.

An outpost would probably be along the lines of a self-contained facility that allows resupply and repair to ships.
A star-base would probably have something along the lines of superior capabilities in every respect, and sort of a staging area.

 

[Albertese]

...

If the starbase commodore is also directly in charge of the operating starships, it does seem odd that Como. Stocker would be assigned as a starbase commander with no ship command experience. Perhaps the starbase commander has an operational deputy to take care of that end of things (maybe a fleet captain, huh?).

...

--Justin

I figure that Starbase 11 was commanded by Commodore Mendez the whole time. But that for the events of "Court Martial" he was away on business (possibly regarding Captain Pike) leaving his first officer, Commodore Stone in charge. That way, a yellow shirted command guy was really in charge, but I suppose Stone's actual specialty was engineering. As I recall, his credit in the end credits list his title as "Dockmaster," right? Maybe he was actually the guy in charge of the ship refitting et al. But, like first officer Spock with his blue shirt, also had command qualifications.


--Alex

 

[Timo]

I figure that Starbase 11 was commanded by Commodore Mendez the whole time.

But the other Commodore explicitly in command of starbase, Stocker, was a redshirt - so it would make more sense to have the redshirt Stone as the commander of SB 11, and the goldshirt Mendez as a visiting/resident fleet kingpin akin to Wesley and Decker.

Note that nowhere in "The Menagerie" is it stated that Mendez would be in command of the starbase, or even particularly closely associated with it. His association seems to be with Pike. The closest we get is when he signs his final communique with "Mendez, J I, Commodore, SB 11". But that's just where he's staying: the communique doesn't say "Commanding Officer, SB 11".

In contrast, we never see redshirt Commodores in charge of starships or starship formations. Stone used to be a skipper, yes, but he may have worn a different shirt back then. Yellow is the color of choice for starship command, but red may be proper for Starbase commanders because it's a "support function".

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Wingsley]

Mendez and Barstow would be starship flotilla flag officers, much the same as Admirals such as Komack and Fitzgerld.

Stone and Stocker would be portmasters, running the internal operations of their respective starbases themselves.

 

[Timo]

'Xactly. That is, if we want to have some uniform consistency in TOS.

It won't extend to TNG, though, since we saw starbase commanders there who all wore command colors (i.e. red which is the new yellow). Unless we interpret them as sector commanders (somebody like Ross would probably have been one of those), with separate yellow-clad portmasters commanding the actual bases.

The only case where it would be difficult to argue that is "Measure of a Man", where Nakamura in red appears to be the only flag officer around at SB 173. I mean, if there were others, I'd assume they would play a role in the court proceedings, alleviating the staff shortage that forces our E-D heroes to be drafted. Then again, Nakamura doesn't seem to offer any actual help there - so why would his yellow-clad portmaster?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Wingsley]

Well, I would have no problem with the nature of Federation starbases changing over time. Maybe they would be structured differently in the 24th century. DEEP SPACE NINE seems to suggest that there is no "one size fits all" kind of starbase installation; new facilities seem to evolve from smallish (CO is a commander, later a captain) to more extensive.

 

[RAMA]

I've wondered about this for awhile. What goes into a Starbase? What facilities does it need to have and what forms can it take? Is it analogous to a contemporary naval base?

In TOS and TNG we've seen starbases on planet surfaces or at least what seems to be the main hub or administrative parts of it. But of course since we're dealing with starships that (generally or mostly) cannot land then there would have to be extensive orbital facilities to service the ships.

From that line of thinking would a starbase even need to be situated on a planet surface? It could be a hollowed out asteroid similar to that seen in some of Ralph McQuarrie's early concept paintings for TMP. Or it could be much like the spaceport seen in TSFS and TNG's "11001001."

Would a starbase most likely be situated on or near a colony or could it be a solitary facility?

Any thoughts?

To me, a Starbase is self-supporting, very large and can maintain starships of any size. Smaller bases need to be orbited by starships, need regular resupply, and are less like a city in space.

 

[publiusr]

A good explaination would be that a Star Base is a system. A large orbiting facility above a class M planet if possible with assets in both space and on the ground, or large well supplied stations out to sea, as it were, like this
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/12520/?a=f
http://www.liftport.com/forums/index.php?topic=109.0
http://www.bautforum.com/archive/index.php/t-95788.html

In space, away from planets, a series of stations widly spaced, or one large station.

 

[Saquist]

Just watched the DS9 Pilot.

Sisko says DS9 is a Bajoran station. I think we all forget that it was said numerous times through out the series that is was indeed own by the Barjorans so it's not a Starbase.