These massive space stations act as service structures for routine Starfleet operations, the maintenance of
starships, and the test of new technologies.
Starbases serve a variety of purposes for continued space exploration, operation, and security, acting as transit
points for members of Starfleet and non-Starfleet personnel. Many starbases consist of a single space station;
others are based on planets. They are important centers for Starfleet crew reassignment and for transfer
during crew rotations.
Everyday operations include the pickup and transfer of medical supplies, relief supplies, and scientific
equipment, the staging of Starfleet Academy entrance exams, and the provision of conference rooms for a wide
range of purposes. Rest and relaxation facilities, such as those found at Starbase Earhart's Bonestell
Recreation Facility, are also an important feature of starbases. Many space stations, such Starbase Lya III,
are equipped to serve as Starfleet Command Bases. They also have the capacity to supply a large number of
people with temporary living areas in the event of an emergency evacuation from a starship or nearby planet, and
to attend to any injuries with their extensive medical facilities.
On the fringes of Federation space, starbases are a valuable line of defense, often the first to detect impending
danger. But their most important function is to serve as a link between outlying planets and Starfleet
Headquarters. In distant areas of the galaxy, starbases can provide a vital touchstone to the planets Starfleet
personnel have left behind, making a vast and lonely galaxy seem more like home.
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