Catacombs Model GallerySpace Dock
Catacombs Model Gallery
The Space Dock is used for launching interplanetary missions such as the Ultra Probe (1996) and the Meta Probe (1999). It is called both "space dock" and the "Meta Probe launch platform" in Breakaway, and, in Dragon's Domain, the "interplanetary space station". Note the popular fan name for the space station, "Centuri", was coined in the Starlog Technical Notebook and was not used in the series.
A large number "12" is seen. The designation may indicate there are eleven other space stations, or it may be just a component number (like the numbers on the individual arms).
It clearly blows up during the breakaway, although the news announcer says it was blown out of orbit.
Images from Breakaway. Note the probe cradle at the end of one of the long arms. Although it is rotating in the final shots, this is probably due to the Moon's abrupt movement, not normal procedure (for gravity); it is not rotating in the probe docking sequences of this episode or Dragon's Domain.
The model in Dragon's Domain has an additional Eagle launch platform (presumably it uses an artificial gravity field to secure the Eagle).
The space dock in the Bray Studio workshop in 1976. Note the Texas City buildings (Journey To Where) to the right, the dragon ship (Dragon's Domain) behind, and the Eagle top structure to the left.
Martin Bower holds the model, possibly in summer 1974 (before the launch pad was added). The original model was made at Bray Studios, probably by Terry Reed. Bower was probably commissioned to add the launch pad.
The model restored by Ed Miarecki, a prop and modelmaker on Star Trek TV series and films, who would later restore the original Star Trek 11 foot Enterprise in the early 1990s. The restored Space Dock was displayed at the 1982 SpaceCon 5 US convention. Pictures thanks to Phil Cook.
In the 1990s, the Space Dock was displayed at a Star Trek convention. Pictures by Keith Young. At the time the model was owned by Greg Jein, a Hollywood based model maker who had won an Oscar for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, worked on Star Trek television and films, and models for films like Avatar, Interstellar and Oblivion. He sold it in the 1990s, and it is now in a private collection in Belgium.
These are mid-1990s photos of the model.
The Space Dock main body is made out of EMA tubes, covered in hundreds of paper rectangles. Reflective Scotchlite paper was also added to simulate windows (they are not visible in these shots, but can be seen in the top picture on this page).
The launch pad is made from a modified saucer section from an AMT Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise kit. It is attached to three tubes connected to the neck of the Space Dock. The underside, never seen on screen, clearly shows the origin.
The rocket section which attaches to the top of the Space Dock is seen in the shot of the launch pad underside.
The eight Space Dock arms are made from Airfix Saturn V rocket stages. There are six short arms and two long arms (the long arms fit to the top of the Space Dock, one with the space probe docking cradle). Six of the arms have numbers (the missing numbers are 4 and 6). Many of the arms have rocket nozzles at the ends, although in these pictures most have broken off (they still exist with the model).
Images copyright Martin Willey apart from Space 1999 images, copyright ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Thanks to Marcus Lindroos.
Page copyright Martin Willey