The Earth Spacedock (Star Trek Lore)

The Earth Spacedock is the largest space station of Federation construction in orbit of the capital planet of the UFP. Operated by Starfleet, this facility his the second home of Starfleet command since its construction in the mid 23rd-century and is an impressive sight.

Star Trek Online developed by Cryptic Studios and Perfect World.
Star Trek, Star Trek Enterprise/Voyager/Deep Space Nine/Discovery/Lower Decks/Picard/Prodigy and The Next Generation are all owned and distributed by CBS.
Star Trek Films are owned and distributed by Paramount Pictures
Image stills are from Trekcore
This Video is for critical purposes with commentary.

Using a lot of Star Trek Online Footage when I don't have to use something else as it helps the channel in the long run.
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

[Peregrine]

Starfleet: "Yeah, we're gonna need some heavy phaser turrets and maybe some torpedo launchers...."
Earth government: "Wait a minute; do you really need such a heavily armed facility in orbit?"
Starfleet: "Ugh! Fine. We won't arm it."
V'Ger shows up
Cetacean probe shows up
Borg cube shows up
Breen attack fleet shows up...
Starfleet: "*Now* can we arm it?"

[thedayidied]

As an avid STO player, it is very exciting to see ESD every time I do. I've played STO on and off for years, and I STILL never tire of seeing it.

[thanqualthehighseer]

I can understand spacedock not being armed at first, imagine someone hacking the weapons system and firing all those heavy cannons and torpedoes at unprotected earth cities. DS9 was heavily armed but was moved away from Bajor to cover the wormhole before being fortified and thus out of range of the planet.

Fast forward to the Borg and Dominion invasions and some point defences needed to be fitted at the very least.

[j.t.wilson]

I still remember the feeling of awe I experienced as a kid seeing the ESD on the big screen in STIII:TSFS. It was a sight to behold.

[TheToonMonkey]

I always wanted to see what the Borg cube would have done to Space Dock in First Contact.

[occultatumquaestio]

From its original appearances, Earth Space Dock has been an awe inspirating structure. ESD definitely represents many of the capabilities of Starfleet in the 23rd, 24th, and 25th centuries. It would be cool to see the more civilian aspects of the station.
Also, the fact that it takes a week to install all the weapon placements on ESD, let me guess, it conveniently is always completed on a Tuesday. Thankfully both it and Earth itself at least have powerful energy shields.

[OfficeofNavalintelligence]

I wish the newer Star Trek shows featured more of ESD. Even if it’s just in the background.

[JordanOrlando]

The actual reason for this must have been Harve Bennet contriving a suspenseful “stealing the Enterprise” sequence. Without a closed door to get through — meaning, if it was just a TMP-style dry dock structure — there’s no story….so there has to be a door; so there has to be “space dock” (even though we never saw it before).

[OhYeaMista]

Anyone else here after the Picard finale?

[KaizerE]

Came here the end of Picard Season 3. Holy shit Space Dock is an absolute monster.

[oldtwinsna]

Earth spacedock in Picard series is now an incredible fortress matching her dimensions. I thought DS9's defensive systems were pretty amazing to fend off a Klingon fleet attack and take heavy poundings from the Dominion invasion fleet, but with the massive modern weaponry of the Federation starships going for a holy war with the compromised crew, it was quite a sight to be seen. Also seems to be the hub for an impenetrable orbital shield grid for all of Earth itself, with the only way to take that shield grid out is to blow up the Spacedock. Would be great to have a series of Star Trek: Earth Spacedock with Admiral Sisko in command.

[bipolarminddroppings]

I dont think ESD in ST:O does any justice to how freaking huge ESD is supposed to be. They need to code a bunch of other floors and places to visit other than the main bit.

[weldonwin]

18 Starships docked internally, dozens more at the external docks and countless more in system for refits and resupply and somehow, SOMEHOW, the Enterprise is the *ONLY SHIP IN RANGE?!?*

[OldJerzyDevil]

TBH I always kind of like d hanging out at ESD when I used to play Star Trek Online. My friends and I in the 1701 RTS fleet would do different animation glitches like that rifle reload and switch where your char would appear to be sliding on the floor on your butt. I once saw a player made his character look like a perfect Dr. Zoidberg running crazily through the corridors. And once a friend of mine appeared outside the interior when he zoned in, so of course he just put on his spacesuit and stood out there waving to people! LMAO Good times!

[SKy_the_Thunder]

I'd love to see Spacedock visually expanded over time, like a growing city. Past 2400 you could have a secondary dock ring around the civilian section connected by several spokes for example. That would vastly increase the enclosed hangar space (potentially all the way around, with decks above/below) and take over most transport related activities. The civilian ring proper could then expand its facilities into what used to be the old dock and logistics spaces.

[lteht]

Thank you for another great video. Your research and time devotion to making these is obvious and well appreciated. Keep up the great work!

[deusexaethera]

Wait. Earth eventually secedes from the Federation? How does that work? That's like London seceding from the UK.

[ODST_Parker]

I wish we could fly our own ships inside the ESD main hangar, assuming they're a ship that can physically fit inside it. I'd love to get some shots of my favorites in that interior, always loved the look of it.

[samwill]

A beacon, orbiting over mankind's head and out into the stars. "This is Starfleet, nice to meet you." it seems almost to softly blink out into the dark.

[goldenknight]

I find it interesting how ESD is over Europe in STO since Paris is supposed to be where the Federation "Capitol" is.