Sci-fi space stations are common in books and film, but when writing about a satellite station in space, it’s not enough just to mention the station every now and again.
Fictional space stations like Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 have rich, interconnected communities and environmental aspects unique to space life.
So what does life on a fictional space station look like?
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Defining the Vision and Mission of the Sci-Fi Space Station
In real life, putting a satellite station in space is expensive. I’m thinking the same would be true of my fictional space stations. So, my fictional leaders would need a pretty compelling reason to use resources for this endeavor.
Is the satellite station in space to better understand the universe? Are there imminent extraplanetary threats to investigate? Is the fictional space station part of a bigger space program or some kind of fleet?
The vision and mission of a sci-fi space station are important because they help define characteristics like the station’s magnitude and relative comfort. Knowing the “why” of the station also helps determine how many people are present and what they do in any given scene. Plus, who are my characters interacting with outside of the confines of the station’s structure?
Within my worldbuilding for the Oomfr’crumf Nation, space stations were initially launched for space exploration. But when their values turned insular, the stations were transitioned into de facto military installations. Knowing this means that I can begin developing a full space station fiction in which a city of people live on a military-resourced facility with xenophobic laws.
Amenities for Residents of a Fictional Space Station
Whether a fictional space station is compact or the size of a city, amenities are important.
Basics like energy and air are going to be pretty consistent no matter why the station is orbiting the planet. Everything else, though, depends on the decisions I make about the station’s vision and mission. If my sci-fi space station is a dozen-person research vessel, I’m going to equip the interior much differently than if it’s more like the mighty structures made popular through space station fiction.
Luxuries and comforts like restaurants and stores are worth considering here. But even for smaller stations, exercise and entertainment are essential.
And while it’s good to have a rich experience on board my fictional space stations, I have to keep in mind that at least some of the residents will want to leave. So how do they get to and from a satellite station in space? And can they leave on a whim?
It’s also worth noting that more people means more conflicts, so how are the people of the station governed, and how are laws enforced?
My sci-fi space station construct for the Oomfr’crumf Nation makes answering these questions more natural. As semi-autonomous stellar states, my fictional space stations look and feel like normal cities. The central government’s mandate for space vigilance, though, limits entries and exits.
Showing that a Sci-Fi Space Station is Actually in Space
Now, back to this idea that space station fiction needs more than an occasional “we live on a space station” mention. At some point, I’ll want to justify “space station” as a meaningful narrative setting. I like to start by including impactful details about environmental factors.
How do the lives of station residents differ from planet dwellers? What does it mean that they breathe recycled air or drink recycled water? Do they hear or feel the station moving? Is gravity a factor? And what do they see when they look out the window …if they even have windows?
This is where I’m really thinking about how real-to-life my fictional space station is.
Because it adds narrative color, I’ve decided to keep many of our world’s inconveniences for my space station fiction. Forcing the characters to exercise or react to limited resources on the station provides a means to remind readers that the military is ultimately in charge.
Plus, having boosters that fire regularly to keep the satellite station in space–but mentioning that the confederacy has the technology to make the stations more comfortable–is a way to subtly speak to what resources the military has vs. what it’s interested in spending to maintain these stellar states.
And with these three aspects of a sci-fi space station, I have a foundation for a larger story.
Until next time, stay inspired.