| Moonbase Alpha |
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| fictional space stations | |
| space: 1999 | |
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional . Located in the Moon crater Plato and constructed out of quarried rock and ores, ''Moonbase Alpha'' is 4 kilometers in diameter and extends up to 1 kilometer in areas below the lunar surface. Originally, the base was designed to serve as both a deep space exploration station and a monitoring station for the Nuclear Waste areas on the Moon's far side. Construction began on February 3 , 1983 , but was briefly halted during the 1987 thermonuclear war. ''Moonbase Alpha'' is totally self-sustaining. Power is generated through Nuclear Reactor s and the accumulation of Solar Energy . Moonbase Alpha has had a number of commanders, however, the only named Commanders in the series are Anton Gorski who served as Alphas' commander during the Ultraprobe mission and immediately prior to John Koenig's assignment as base Commander in September 1999. It is not known whether Gorski served continuously from 1993 to 1999 though this is unlikely. In the episode 'War Games', it is stated that Koenig is the ninth commander of Moonbase Alpha. BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES Main Mission Main Mission is the command and control area for Moonbase Alpha during the 1st season and was the original control area. It is situated at the hub of the moonbase on a prominent tower structure some levels above the lunar surface. The main focus of the room is the large viewscreen. Facing the viewscreen is a series of desks in a horseshoe shape. These desks are manned by command personnel such as controller Paul Morrow , Tanya Alexander and Sandra Benes . On one side of the room is a computer operated by David Kano . In later episodes Kano has a desk situated in the middle of the 'horseshoe' from which he can remotely access the main functions of the computer. Adjoining Main Mission is Commander John Koenigs office which is also used for command conferences and other important meetings. Main Mission was abandoned by the Alphans after it became apparent that it was vulnerable to damage from hostile aliens and forces mostly due to its' above ground location. The command staff later moved to the smaller but more protected Command Center in the lower levels of the base. Command Center Command Center becomes the Command and Control section for Moonbase Alpha some time after the episode ''. The decision was made to move command operations to the newly named Command Center. Moonbase Alpha had a significant number of unused areas below ground level and this area was selected. It appears that the large viewscreen was taken from Main Mission and put here. Command Center although safer is more cramped and claustrophobic than its predecessor. Commander Koenig also no longer has a separate office with his desk being near the main entrance. Nuclear Disposal Area 1 Nuclear Disposal Area 1 is a fictional nuclear waste dump. In the series, due to Earth's reliance on Nuclear power, the atomic waste had accumulated to such a degree that it had become a major environmental problem. With the establishment of a permanent Moonbase, Moonbase Alpha served a dual function. In addition to being Earth's space control centre and space research area, it would also serve as the guardian of the nuclear waste that would be dumped there. Nuclear Disposal Area 1 was established on the far side of the moon, and was used until 1994 when it was closed. The dump site consisted of a large number of mounds in an irregular pattern. The area, although no longer used for dumping was constantly monitored. The area was also notable for the presence of Navigation Beacon Delta, a tall mast which was one of the few permanent structures on the far side. Eagle Pilots would use this as a landmark for their training flights, and also as a turning point for flights to Disposal Area 2. By the time of 'Breakaway' there had been a significant number of problems that looked as if they were related to radiation. The planet Meta had been discovered by Professor Victor Bergman , and a flight crew for the Metaprobe was conducting training exercises on the far side of the Moon. The two Metaprobe astronauts, Eric Sparkman and Frank Warren, died shortly after a crash on a routine training flight. A number of workers also died in similar circumstances, but they had been at Area 2. Commander John Koenig was sent to Moonbase Alpha to get the Metaprobe launched. He started an investigation into the cause of the deaths. This revealed that while the radiation levels at both sites were fine, the levels of magnetic radiation were not. Monitoring cameras at Area 1 showed tremendous heat levels before both cameras were destroyed. Koenig took an Eagle out to investigate and lost control due to interference from the magnetic radiation. Minutes after the crash, Area 1 erupted in a large explosion burning itself out. Nuclear Disposal Area 2 Nuclear Disposal Area 2 is a secondary dumping ground for nuclear waste. The disposal area opened in 1994, taking over from the previous Nuclear Disposal Area 1. Unlike the disorganized look of Area 1, Area 2 was more advanced as well as having a laser fence for security reasons. The laser fence could be deactivated at one section by workers using Commlocks, granting them access. In the centre of the facility was a landing pad for an Eagle Freighter. This was connected to a conveyor belt used to automatically store waste below ground level. According to Professor Victor Bergman, area 2 was meant to be safer for storage due to Synthecrete radiation covers which were not invented when Area 1 was operational. Attached to the facility was a second landing pad and an adjoining monitoring station. Nuclear Waste Dumps The Nuclear Waste dumps consist of three domelike structures and a monitoring station. These structures were only seen in ' The Bringers Of Wonder ' two part story. Considering that Nuclear Disposal Area 2 was active at the time of Breakaway it is unknown what role this area played unless it had been set up after Breakaway to process waste from Moonbase Alpha's reactors. SECTIONS There are five Moonbase Sections, with the crew members identified by a color code worn on their left sleeve. Main Mission room personnel originates from all sections. Sections and colors:
Special teams and units also exist:
DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE CAPABILITIES Each of Moonbase Alpha's five main launch pads houses an underground hanger which each store a number of Eagles. During Year 1, not all of Alpha's eagles are armed, though this changes later on. Laser Tanks , which are converted construction vehicles are also stored around the base including the hangers, each of these vehicles are lightly armed. Some time after Breakaway, the Moonbase is armed with two large retracting laser cannon. Defenses are augmented somewhat by an anti meteorite defense screen. Although not a defense in and of itself, if an attack is imminent, nonessential personnel are evacuated to the largely unused underground sections of Alpha. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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