Moonbase Alpha
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| Moonbase Alpha | |
|---|---|
| Moon, Plato | |
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| Type | Moon Base |
| Built | February 3, 1983 |
| In use | 1997 - present |
| Controlled by | ILFC |
| Commanders | Commander Anton Gorski ? - 1999 Commander John Koenig |
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional moon base and the main setting in the science fiction television series Space: 1999.
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 reactors and the accumulation of solar energy.
In the episode War Games, it is stated that Koenig is the ninth commander of Moonbase Alpha. Only two commanders are ever named in the series: Anton Gorski, who served as commander during the Ultra Probe mission in 1996, and as the commander being replaced by John Koenig who assumed command of Alpha on September 9, 1999.
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[edit] Buildings and structures
[edit] 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 arranged 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 terminal for Moonbase Alpha's main 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. This office can be isolated from Main Mission by use of a remotely operated sliding door.
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.
[edit] Command Center
Command Center becomes the Command and Control section for Moonbase Alpha some time after the episode Breakaway.
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.
[edit] 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 with orders 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 at normal levels, 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.
[edit] Nuclear Disposal Area 2
Nuclear Disposal Area 2 was the second dumping ground for nuclear waste on the Moon and was far larger than its predecessor.
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 and other authorised personnel using Commlocks, granting them access. In the centre of the facility was a landing pad for the Eagle Freighters that would be transporting fresh batches of nuclear waste to the moon. This was connected to a conveyor belt used to automatically store waste below ground level. According to Professor Victor Bergman, area 2 was designed 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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:
- Commander - Black
- Main Mission - "Flame"
- Technical - "Rust"
- Service - Yellow
- Reconnaissance - Orange
- Medical - White
- Security - Purple
- None - none (civilian crew members)
In Year 2 the revised uniforms also have a larger collar in the color of the section that the crew member is attached to.
Special teams and units also exist:
- Science Board
- Radioactive Monitoring Team
- Surface Exploration Teams
- Mining Section
- Rescue units
[edit] 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.
[edit] Dark Side of the Moon
The far side of the moon is often improperly called the dark side of the moon. The first scene of the show had a caption stating the location of the nuclear waste disposal storage being on the "dark side of the moon". The far side of the moon, while always away from Earth will still be illuminated by the sun, thus there is no area of the moon that is permanently dark. This error was noted by Isaac Asimov who wrote two articles on the scientific inaccuracies of the show.
[edit] Other References
This title is also the working title of an upcoming Halo 3 map, many suspect due to the name and story line of Halo 3, that the map will be heavily influenced by this show.
[edit] External links
- Moonbase Alpha Technical Notebook
- Space 1999: Eagle Transporter - A visual reference guide to the Eagle Transporter craft from Moonbase Alpha.
- Eagle Transporter Forum - Discussion board with main emphasis on the Eagle Transporter.
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