Unity Station
Unity Station is an artificial orbital ring surrounding Unity. Constructed over the course of three years from 2310-2313 CE, it was the first orbital ring constructed in Commonwealth space. The ring orbits at a distance of approximately 500 kilometres above Unity, and is connected to the planet with a series of repulsor-assisted space elevators. The construction of the ring required the redesign of several equatorial cities in order to accomodate the massive levels of infrastructure needed to support continual ringside operations.
Orbital rings were first proposed by futurists and science fiction writers on 20th century Earth, but these "fanciful dreams" were quickly abandoned after the Chrysanthemum made planetfall on Unity in 2096 CE. However, the construction of orbital rings in other star nations during the second half of the 23rd century CE changed this line of thinking. The development of orbital rings became a simultaneous military necessity and prestige project, in order to show the rest of the galaxy that the Commonwealth was a major power. Initial planning for the ring began shortly after the construction of Earth Station began in 2295 CE, though recovering from the recent war with the Xanid Suzerainty took priority. Most of the station's component parts were produced locally on Unity, using minerals mined throughout the Deneb System, though about a third of the station was produced on the world of Aurora.
Unity Station bears a similar design to other orbital rings throughout the galaxy, including both sunward- and planetward-facing sides. Like Earth Station, Unity Station has approximately three million square kilometres of habitable area. One third of this region is water, and the remainder is land. The station has a population of approximately 350 million, predominantly a mixture of wealthy upper-class citizens and industrial workers. Large parts of the ring are set aside for heavy industry, particularly shipbuilding and exported goods. About three-quarters of the population lives on the planetward-facing side of the ring, while the remaining quarter is on the sunward-facing side.
While the economy of the planetward side is primarily heavy industry, the sunward side is primarily shipyards, dry docks, port facilities, cargo terminals, and other ship facilities. Hundreds of ships, ranging from small shuttles to the largest battleships, leave Unity Station each day, bound for deep space. It is also responsible for offloading most of the cargo bound for Unity, as cargo ships have a far easier time docking in space than on the surface. A significant fraction of the population that works on the station, numbering well into the tens of millions, are employed in terminal facilities.
Orbital rings were first proposed by futurists and science fiction writers on 20th century Earth, but these "fanciful dreams" were quickly abandoned after the Chrysanthemum made planetfall on Unity in 2096 CE. However, the construction of orbital rings in other star nations during the second half of the 23rd century CE changed this line of thinking. The development of orbital rings became a simultaneous military necessity and prestige project, in order to show the rest of the galaxy that the Commonwealth was a major power. Initial planning for the ring began shortly after the construction of Earth Station began in 2295 CE, though recovering from the recent war with the Xanid Suzerainty took priority. Most of the station's component parts were produced locally on Unity, using minerals mined throughout the Deneb System, though about a third of the station was produced on the world of Aurora.
Unity Station bears a similar design to other orbital rings throughout the galaxy, including both sunward- and planetward-facing sides. Like Earth Station, Unity Station has approximately three million square kilometres of habitable area. One third of this region is water, and the remainder is land. The station has a population of approximately 350 million, predominantly a mixture of wealthy upper-class citizens and industrial workers. Large parts of the ring are set aside for heavy industry, particularly shipbuilding and exported goods. About three-quarters of the population lives on the planetward-facing side of the ring, while the remaining quarter is on the sunward-facing side.
While the economy of the planetward side is primarily heavy industry, the sunward side is primarily shipyards, dry docks, port facilities, cargo terminals, and other ship facilities. Hundreds of ships, ranging from small shuttles to the largest battleships, leave Unity Station each day, bound for deep space. It is also responsible for offloading most of the cargo bound for Unity, as cargo ships have a far easier time docking in space than on the surface. A significant fraction of the population that works on the station, numbering well into the tens of millions, are employed in terminal facilities.
Founding Date
2310-2313 CE
Type
Orbital, Halo / Ringworld
Parent Location
Owning Organization
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