JUPITER STATION, page 1

Screenshots are from [Life Line] unless otherwise stated.

A holographic representation of the laboratory of Jupiter Station is seen in [#46 The Swarm]. The laboratory (refurbished) and part of the living quarters are seen in [#144 Life Line].

Jupiter Station is a Starfleet orbital platform which orbits the planet Jupiter in the Sol system. As well as Earth, on which is located Starfleet Headquarters and Academy, Starfleet maintains several facilities in the Sol System such as Earth Station McKinley and Utopia Planitia Fleetyards above Mars (and on its surface), where USS Voyager was constructed. (Jupiter has always been an important location, for strategic reasons too: in 2367 Jupiter Outpost 92 was the first outpost to report that a Borg cube had entered the Sol System [TNG: The Best of Both Worlds].)

The exact commissioning date of Jupiter Station is unknown but dates to before 2367 because since that time the station has been home to Starfleet's holographic development team, led by the brilliant Dr Lewis Zimmerman, at the Holoprogramming Center aboard the station. Its position around Jupiter puts it within easy travelling distance of Earth.

Imposing and impressive in appearance, Jupiter Station is formed of three saucer-shaped modules. In appearance it is reminiscent of starship saucers, particularly those of Ambassador-class starships, but is far larger. The saucer modules are arranged one on top of another and are joined together by a number of connecting beams or corridors. The connecting sections provide access between the two halves of the station.

The station is well-illuminated because the saucer modules have a substantial number of portals and windows through which lights shine, giving an indication of the huge scale of the station. Extra illumination is provided on the undersides of the first and second saucer modules by a bank of bright lights which run around the entire perimeter of the support columns that connect the saucers. There are also navigation lights in key points to help ensure that vessels do not accidentally collide with the station.

click for a closer-to screenshot

On the top of the uppermost saucer the following lettering appears: United Federation of Planets - Jupiter Station along with the Federation logo. Sensor arrays, antennae, other communications equipment and data-collecting devices are positioned in the central areas on the top of the uppermost saucers. Branching outwards at right-angles to the second connecting corridor are two long subspace antennae. Each consists of a slender central support with three sets of double angled fins arranged along their lengths (these look similar to those on the Midas Array, another piece of sophisticated Starfleet communications equipment, and which is used by the Pathfinder project to communicate with USS Voyager). The antennae end in angled prongs. The entire array is designed for ease of access whenever maintenance is required. Beneath the lowest saucer modules are two smaller circular structures which consist of several decks and viewing ports. Directly below these are long narrow columns or pylons: within these are located the station's power-generating systems which include a number of slender tanks.

Jupiter Station symbol UFP symbol Source: Encyclopaedia

Jupiter Station, exterior, top view. Source: ST:M. Picture size 234Kb.

Jupiter Station, exterior, side view. Source: ST:M. Picture size 129Kb.