Starport
Starports are large stations like floating cities in space. They act as commercial hubs for a system; trading both commodities and data. Several Starports have Capital Ship Docks.
Starports rotate slowly to create artificial gravity for the millions of people who live and work aboard. Gravity differs between each of a Coriolis tower's floors. For many residents real daylight is a rare privilege. The landing hub is pressurised with an atmosphere. The docking hub is a safe zone for players, because no firing of weapons is allowed. It is protected by Station Defence Turrets which uphold the law.[1]
Building a starport for system colonisation requires many commodities. Coriolis are mid-tier starports. They have small to large landing pads. Shipyard and Outfitting services (tech level 35). Building these consumes Tier 2 System Points earned from Tier 1 construction. Orbis are Tier 3, massive, high-capacity mega-stations. They offer the widest array of services and are the most expensive to construct.
Starport Types
There are four different types of Starports: Coriolis, Dodec, Ocellus, and Orbis. The first two are built by monopolous Brewer Corporation (or its partners) and are more frequent. To take advantage of the low gravity which is useful in loading and unloading cargo, all docking takes place near the center of each station. The outer areas of the starport are tuned to produce standard Earth gravity and is where living quarters are located.
Coriolis
- Main article: Coriolis
The Coriolis Starport is a time-tested station design pioneered by the Galactic Cooperative and regarded as its most prolific and enduring legacy. Renowned for its efficient, modular layout, a single Coriolis can be assembled and made operational within a matter of weeks. These stations are usually the first to be built in newly-colonised systems, and are converted into trading posts once the initial phase of colonisation is completed.[2]
Dodec
- Main article: Dodec
The Dodec Starport is quite similar to the Coriolis, but it has a dodecahedron shape. Some Dodec variants have long truss "arms" extending outward from the external hull: 5 or 10 in total (Quint Truss and Dec Truss).
Ocellus
- Main article: Ocellus
The Ocellus Starport is a recent station design introduced in 3260 by Imperial ship manufacturer Gutamaya, and now present throughout human space. The forefront of exploration technology, the Ocellus is designed to be both mobile and self-sufficient. It can be fitted with engines and a hyperdrive to be easily moved where needed, and various corporations and institutions have been known to deploy them to observe rare stellar spectacles for a few months at a time. The station's spherical shape efficiently contains air pressure, provides radiation shielding and stabilises the entire structure during transit by reducing torsional stress. The equatorial trench on the Ocellus's exterior features manufacturing and refinery facilities, while the surfaces nearest to the docking port hold commercial and administrative offices.[2][3]
Orbis
- Main article: Orbis
The Orbis Starport evolved from the oldest station design having originated during the early years of the Federation and persisted over the centuries with minimal changes.[2] Actually though, it is newer than the Coriolis design.[4] It is a common sight in both well-established and newly-colonised, wealthier systems.
Megamarket
A Megamarket is a starport with full outfitting and services.[5][6] For example:
| Megamarket[5][6] | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Attilius Orbital | CD-43 11917 | |
| I Sola Prospect | Brestla | |
| Jaques Station | Colonia | |
| Jameson Memorial | Shinrarta Dezhra |
Notes
- Starports controlled by Federation-aligned minor factions display a four-digit identification number with the prefix "FSP" for "Federal Star Port" (e.g. "FSP#6160") on the exterior around the Access Corridor. This number is generated based on the coordinates and name of the station's star system, and is displayed more prominently than the station's own name due to the Federation's highly bureaucratic nature.[7] Empire-aligned, Alliance-aligned and independent stations do not use this system, although Imperial stations do display the phrase "Hail the Emperor - Bask in Her Glory" beneath the station's name, all written in a golden decorative font (up until mid-3301 this read "Hail the Emperor - Bask in His Greatness", though the dedication was updated following the change of leadership). Some stations that are owned by an Anarchy faction may read the phrases "Rise Up Now - Never Surrender" similarly to how the Empire's phrase is displayed.
Videos
References
- ↑ Official The Art of Elite Dangerous art book, 17 August 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Elite Encounters RPG
- ↑ Elite Dangerous Newsletter #38 (31 August 2014)
- ↑ Elite Dangerous Knowledge Base > Corporations > Brewer Corporation
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thargoid Fleet Invades Shinrarta Dezhra - Galnet News - 19 Sep 3310
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Colonia Celebrations Conclude with Megamarket Opening - Galnet, 20 Augustus 3312
- ↑ Frontier Forums: Stations labelled with FSP#