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A space dock is a hypothesised type of space station that is able to repair or build spacecraft similar to maritime shipyards on Earth. They remove the need for new spacecraft to perform a space launch to reach space and existing spacecraft to make an atmospheric entry and 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
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 have proposed that future, near-term LEO 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 planes, though the construction of non-atmospheric spacecraft and other space facilities is envisaged as its main use. The structural strength of such a more advanced hangar would primarily be based on the internal atmospheric pressure that would have to be sustained for shirt-sleeve operations, thus enabling routine servicing and assembly in space.
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. In the wake of the disaster, NASA improvised repairs to shuttles while in flight, 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 built with current or near-term technology.
Future Ares V missions for example could serve to cost-effectively transport construction materials for future spacecraft and space exploration missions, delivering raw materials to a Moon-based space dock positioned as a counterweight to a Moon-based space elevator.
Science fiction
Space docks in 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, Babylon 5, the Honorverse and the Foundation 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 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 with the refit 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 of Capt. Jonathan Archer at the start of the Star Trek: Enterprise series.
A larger facility, known as Earth Spacedock, was seen for the first time in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, designed by David Carson and Nilo Rodis of Industrial Light and Magic and praised as "one of the more stunning visuals in all of Star Trek". 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, 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. 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, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager). It has been described as one of franchise's "enduring spacecraft designs".
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 was refitted and repaired in such a dock following combat with the Borg in 2367.
Babylon 5
Dock facilities were occasionally seen on the Babylon 5 television series and movies. In the Babylon 5 universe, the space docks were structures deployed outside the station when larger ships were in need of repair. The Babylon 5 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, the Excalibur and the Victory were shown in the dry dock facilities in which they were constructed. The dock was destroyed by the 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
- Architecting Rapid Growth in Space Logistics Capabilities Archived 2 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine – Snead, James Michael; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2004)
- Near-Term Manned Space Logistics Operations – Air & Space Power Journal, 31 August 2005
- NASA ponders second repair in space – CNN.com, Thursday 4 August 2005
- Prospects for Interstellar Starship Design Based on Current Technologies (.DOC) – Gourley, Jim; United States Air Force Academy, paper for 2001 CSGC Undergraduate Space Research Symposium of the Colorado Space Grant Consortium
- "NASA – Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle". NASA. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- Please refer to Vision for Space Exploration#Outline.
- Please refer to Space elevator#Counterweight.
- Please refer to Space elevator#Extraterrestrial elevators.
- Shipyard types (forum post regarding the Honorverse space docks, alleged to be from David Weber himself)
- "Designing Earth Spacedock". 18 June 2008.
- Stowe, Dusty (14 March 2023). "8 Good Things in Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock". Screen Rant. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- Shay, Jody (February 1987). "Humpback to the Future". Cinefex (29).
- "Enduring Ship Designs of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock". 16 September 2016.