Space station

A Space station is an artificial structure built for a variety of purposes, either in orbit or in deep space. The term is also used for any artificial structure or colony built on non-planetoid objects, such as asteroids.

History
The first space stations were designed and built during the time of the Planetary Alliance on the orders of Hendrax, as a means of studying the orbits and properties of other planets. Later space stations became resupplying locations for spaceships travelling by, and research labs located in deep space.

It is known that the Galactic Council and its Space Fleet operate a number of space stations at its "borders" to clearly demarcate its territories within the galaxy. The most prominent of these, which also functions as the prime headquarters and main spacedock of the Space Fleet, is Galactic Council Space Station Stardock-1 (SD-1 for short), where the Space Fleet's new ships are designed and where ships can rendezvous after missions.

Technical Details
Unlike spaceships, most space stations are designed so as not to be able to travel at extremely long distances, or at least not in Trans-Warp. This means that, for the most part, space stations do not move much throughout their existence, and primarily serve as stationary points within the galaxy.

Hulls
Space station hulls are, like their spaceship brethren, built of reinforced Protodermis steel. This protects the hull from the vacuum of space and from the possibly high radiation levels in deep space. The hull shape and size differs per station.

Energy Reactor
Like spaceships, the space station's primary source of power is the Energy Reactor, which it uses to power most of its internal electricity. Energy Reactors, due to their volatile nature and the potential catastrophe when abused, are contained within a protected cage located in the centre of a space station, in a section which can only be accessed by authorised personnel.

Due in part to their large size, station Energy Reactors are often far larger than those of spacecraft themselves, and their power output is also far greater. A consequence of this is, however, that the station's core is far more volatile when damaged, and the destruction of a station reactor core could lead to catastrophic consequences.