Starbase

File:Starbase 375 with ships.jpg

Starbase 375 supporting Federation starships during the Dominion War (2376)

Planetside facilities of Starbase 11 (2267)

File:Deep space 9.jpg

Deep Space 9, formerly a Cardassian station placed under Starfleet administration (2376)

A starbase was a permanent support facility operated by Starfleet, consisting of space stations, drydocks, and/or ground installations. Starbases were hubs of activity and could serve multiple military and civilian functions, including:

• Starship maintenance, repair, and refitting (TOS: "Court Martial", TNG: "11001001", "Redemption II")
• Fleet coordination (DS9: "A Time to Stand", "You Are Cordially Invited")
• Research and development (TNG: "Parallels")
• Diplomatic, administrative, legal, and medical services (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man", "Samaritan Snare", DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Waltz")
• Personnel training (TNG: "Coming of Age")
• Commerce and recreation (TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome", DS9: "Emissary", "The Way of the Warrior")
• Defense of strategic locations (DS9: "Emissary", "Call to Arms")

Most Federation starbases were commanded by Starfleet officers, often a flag officer (TOS: "Court Martial"). Some, such as Deep Space Station K-7, were under civilian authority. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")

The first starbases were constructed in the mid-22nd century by Earth Starfleet. In 2154, the Enterprise was assigned to scout suitable planets on which starbases could be built. Among the potential candidates was the seventh planet of the Berengaria system. (ENT: "Bound") The United Federation of Planets inherited and expanded the starbase network. (Star Trek: The Original Series. et al.)

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, (3rd ed., p. 464), there were over five hundred starbases located throughout Federation space and beyond.

See also

• Federation starbases

External link

• Starbase at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works