A space colony is an orbiting artificial city built in outer space, usually at one of the Lagrangian points, to allow human habitation outside the Earth's atmosphere. Essentially gigantic hollow space stations, the interior surface of each space colony are constructed to simulate the Earth's terrains, and the colony provides centrifugal gravity via rotating to allow a more "normal" life for its residents.
Universal Century[]
For a list of known colonies and asteroids in the Universal Century see Universal Century Locations O'Neill Cylinder and Space Colony (U.C.).
In the Universal Century timeline, space colonies are placed at the five Earth-Moon Lagrangian point. In most cases, a Lagrangian point is home to more than one group of space colonies. Individual colonies pairs are known as Banchi, and a group of Banchi that occupy a Lagrangian point are known collectively as a Side. Because Sides sometimes share a single Lagrangian point, it is possible to have two Sides in close orbit to one another. All colonies in the Universal Century are O'Neill "Island 3" type colony cylinders, except for the "closed-type" colonies of Side 3.
The average size of an “open-type” cylindrical colony is 6.4 km in diameter and 36.0 km in length. The cylinder’s interior is divided into six lengthwise strips. There are three window sections that let in sunlight from outside, alternating with three land sections where the people live. Outside each window section is a huge mirror, which reflects sunlight to illuminate the land section on the opposite side. By adjusting the angle of the mirrors facing the sun, the level of sunlight can be controlled to create a sense of passing time and different seasons. Since the space colony’s main source of energy is sunlight, the mirrors are controlled so that they always face the sun. As a result, the bases of the mirrors are placed on the opposite end of the colony from the sun. At the end of the colony opposite the sun, many dome-shaped agricultural plants are arranged in a ring with a radius of 14.35 km. These plants are separated into three blocks, which are positioned so that they are not hidden in the shadows of the mirrors. Although these plants are able to produce more than enough food for the colony’s inhabitants, their life is far from comfortable, as all surplus food is semi-forcibly exported to the Earth Federation. The colony rotates about its lengthwise axis to create a simulated gravity of 1G. There is debate over what level of gravity humans require, but at the very least, it’s known that extended exposure to a zero-gravity environment causes physiological disorders such as brittle bones due to the loss of calcium. In addition, this rotationally created gravity will not cause dizziness as long as the radius is at least 500m, and the rotation rate no more than once per minute. If the rotation radius is bigger, and the rotation rate slower, people’s living conditions won’t be negatively affected. In most cases, the space colonies of the Universal Century have adopted an artificial gravity of around 1G, the same as that experienced on Earth.
Most space colonies of the Universal Century are of the open type, with one major exception. Side 3, or Munzo, the colony cluster which later became the Principality of Zeon, adopted a unique “closed-type” colony. The Sides are numbered according to the order in which they were constructed, with the construction of Sides 1 and 2 beginning at the Lagrange points L4 and L5. However, because they required high-level technologies such as transparent windows and huge mirrors, their construction process was troubled. Accidents were frequent, and the project was greatly delayed. It was widely reported that, at this rate, the entire program would come to a standstill. At this point, the closed-type colony was proposed in order to quickly realize the goal of space emigration using more practical technology. The average closed-type colony had a length of 36.0 km and cylinder diameter of 6.41 km, just like the open type. Its electricity requirements would be supplied by the solar power plants floating around it. Because its technology was simpler than that of the open type, the closed type was also more affordable and could be built in a shorter period of time. Furthermore, since it didn’t require window sections for letting in sunlight, its land area was greater than that of the open type. By simple mathematics, it could accommodate twice as many people. Sharing a colony with lower construction costs among a larger number of people also served to reduce the economic burden on the space emigrants. For people who wanted to live in space as quickly and cheaply as possible, Munzo’s colonies initially seemed ideal. However, the closed type definitely had its drawbacks in terms of living comforts. For instance, when looking up from the ground inside the colony, the sky would be the bluish grey of a cloudy day due to the color of the land surface on the other side. For first-generation colonists who knew what life was like on Earth, these closed-type colonies were not so pleasant. As a result, once the technological challenges of the open type were overcome and people felt more prosperous, the open type design was adopted for all the colonies from Side 4 onwards. A unique case was the Sweetwater colony at Side 3, which was composed of a closed type fused with an open type. The design was only used once, as it proved unstable, and was simply a means for the Federation to contain Zeon refugees. Sweetwater Colony features prominently in the UC motion picture Char's Counterattack as a Neo Zeon base.
The first 50 years of the Universal Century were spent building the various colonies and placing them at the Lagrangian points, as well as colonizing the moon. By UC 0050 9 billion of the 11 billion people in the Federation live in space colonies or on the moon. In UC 0051 the Federation froze plans for additional colony development, and in UC 0084 reorganized the remaining Sides into different Lagrangian Points. With the re-organization of the Sides completed, the Federation announced that the status quo would be maintained. In the latter half of the Second Universal Century the construction of new colonies was restarted.
Some colonies were also maintained in orbit around Jupiter, as part of the Jupiter Energy Fleet's Helium-3 mining operation. These colonies were also of the O'Neill Island 3 type. (Mobile Suit Gundam - V Gundam)
Future Century[]
Space colonies are created as artistic representation of the culture of the sponsor nation, rather than being based on proposed real-world colony designs. For example, Neo Japan is made of four modules in the shape of the four main islands of Japan, Neo France is supported on a bouquet of roses, and Neo America is a five-point star with replicas of notable American landmarks on the surface. (G Gundam)
After Colony[]
For a list of known colonies and asteroids in the After Colony see After Colony locations
The colonies in the After Colony Timeline (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing/Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz) are generally based on the Stanford "Island 2" type layout, and are also located in gravitationally stable areas around the Earth. Colonies in the A.C. Timeline are identified primarily by Lagrange Points, although travel time between colonies (even to L3) appears trivial. The first colony of the A.C. timeline was completed in A.C. 001, and colonial development continued peacefully until A.C. 040, when the fighting on earth spread to the colonies, many of which were uncompleted.
Several of these uncompleted colonies were damaged by the resulting war. Colony funding was reduced to a trickle in A.C. 060, and disputes over the theft of materials in A.C. 070 prompted the Middle Eastern nations to step in as mediators for other nations, and to help with the colonial construction, they also began mining the asteroids. By A.C. 102 Colony L1 was completed, and 15% of the Earth's population moved to the Orbital Village at L1. The rest of the colonies were completed soon thereafter, resulting in mass emigration to space. By A.C. 195, 90% of the Earth Spheres population lived in the colonies with the remaining "ruling elite" residing on the planet. (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing/Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz)
After War[]
Main article: After War For a list of known colonies and asteroids in the After War see After War locations and Space Colony (After War)
Space colonies in the After War timeline (and those dropped on Earth at the end of the 7th Space War) are identical to the O'Neill "Island 3" type colony cylinders seen in the Universal Century timeline. (Gundam X)
Correct Century[]
Main article: Correct Century As of now the only Gundam calendar timeframe not to have Space Colonies. Most of CC's space colonies, except those on the moon, whose population eventually became known as the Moonrace, were destroyed long ago when the Moonlight Butterfly destroyed all technological remnants. The remainder left for interstellar space.
Cosmic Era[]
Main article: Space Colony (Cosmic Era) For a list of known colonies in the Cosmic Era see Cosmic Era locations.
Colonies in the Cosmic Era can be of the O'Neill Island 3 design (such as Heliopolis at L3), the Bernal Island 1 design (like Mendel at L4), or titanic, thirty-kilometer long hourglass shaped colonies called PLANTs (Productive Location Ally on Nexus Technology), each of which has a population in excess of 2,000,000 Coordinators (virtually no Naturals live in the PLANTs). The PLANTs are arranged into "cities" named after the months of the year and located at and around L5.
Each city has a particular group of scientific specialties (for example, Martius City specializes in aerospace technology and shipbuilding). Sometime after the First Alliance-PLANT War, PLANT dropped the "month" names in favor of names that clearly state the purpose of the colony although this applies only to new colonies - for example, the Minerva was constructed at the Armory One PLANT.
The largest clusters of space colonies are located at Lagrange points 4 and 5, which are more stable than Lagrange points 1, 2, and 3.[1] Unfortunately, many of the space colonies of the L4 cluster were damaged during the early stages of the First Alliance-PLANT war[2].
Anno Domini[]
Main article: Space Colony (Anno Domini) For a list of known colonies and asteroids in the Anno Domini see Anno Domini locations
There is little information mentioned about space colonies in the Gundam 00 timeline, most known colonies are located at L3 and from beyond the asteroid belt. Known colonies included Krung Threp where the Gundams are manufactured and tested, the HRL's Quanqiu - a Bernal Sphere-type colony connected to a solar power collection satellite and where a Supersoldier developmental facility is located, and a Union's colony. In AD 2312, the A-Laws under Earth Sphere Federation sends rebels, especially Katharon members, to work under high gravity deep within some space colonies.
Advanced Generation[]
Main article: Space Colony (Advanced Generation) For a list of known colonies and asteroids in the Advanced Generation see Advanced Generation locations
Space colonies in the Gundam AGE timeline use the O'Neill Cylinder design also seen in the Universal Century, After War, and Cosmic Era timelines. Similar space colonies were also used by a small number of colonists who attempted to terraform and colonize Mars.
Build Fighters[]
O'Neill-type colonies are occasionally simulated for Gunpla Battle matches. Given the expanded nature of Gundam fandom in this world, other types from other timelines are likely to be possible as well.
In the dimension of Arian, at least part of the country(containing the royal palace) is shown to be inside a real O'Neill colony.
Post Disaster[]
In addition to Space Colonies using a variation on the O'Neill Cylinder design, Mars is also terraformed and colonized. Limited terraforming was also conducted on Venus, though most efforts were focused on Mars.
Ad Stella[]
Main article: Front Space colonies in Ad Stella take the form of Fronts, facilities built within or attached to large asteroids. Most Fronts include a section set up like a Stanford Torus.
Other[]
Colony Drops[]
The average space colony, no matter which universe it may reside in, has a set of dimensions that are measured in miles or kilometers, which easily makes the space colonies the largest kinetic weapons ever used, and it is not uncommon to see space-born armies (like the Principality of Zeon) capturing or commandeering the colonies to drop them on the Earth.
A colony drop of any sort has massive consequences for the earth, usually drastic changes in climate and weather, and the loss of land due to the impact. Because of the tremendous damage caused by colony drops, any type of drop operation is usually viewed as the use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Universal Century[]
- Operation British: In January, U.C. 0079, Principality of Zeon forces capture a depopulated cylinder and attempt to drop it on Jaburo, the Earth Federation's subterranean headquarters. The Federation intervenes, and the colony's course is altered, resulting in 16% of Australia's land mass to be destroyed, including Sydney.
- Operation Stardust: In November U.C. 0083, the Delaz Fleet captures two colony cylinders, forcing one off course. Originally thought to be targeted at the moon, the cylinder was reprogrammed to fall on the Earth. An attempt to destroy the cylinder with the Federation's Solar System II failed, and the colony landed in the American Midwest.
- Operation Apollo: On 24 August U.C. 0087, the Titans attempted a colony drop on the lunar city Von Braun. The drop was unsuccessful after AEUG forces intervene.
- Haman Karn's Neo Zeon forces drop a colony on Dublin, Ireland, on 31 October U.C. 0088 as an attempt to kill civilians to demonstrate Axis Zeon's power. While successful, the AEUG and Karaba forces are able to rescue some of the refugees before the impact.
- Char Aznable's Newborn Neo Zeon drops the asteroid Fifth Luna on Lhasa, Tibet on 3 March U.C. 0093. An attempt by the group to drop the mining colony Axis fails after the Neo Zeon are intercepted by Londo Bell forces.
After Colony[]
- AC Early 195
- Operation Meteor: The original Operation Meteor called for many colonies to be dropped in order to create chaos on Earth for the five Gundams to take advantage of; however the orders to drop were ignored by the scientists who were charged with the construction of the Gundams, as they believed the Gundams alone to be enough and that they wouldn't have to commit mass murder.
- AC December 195
- Eve Wars: The colony-sized space battleship Libra, after losing its primary beam cannon due to enemy action, was ordered to collide with the earth. Swift action undertaken by the Gundam pilots on behalf of Earth eliminated Libra in the upper atmosphere.
- AC 196-197
- Operation Meteor: Dekim Barton's plan's involve dropping the 13-mile wide colony X-18999 onto the earth, and seizing control of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. Swift action undertaken by the Preventers and the Gundam pilots; Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, and Trowa Barton were able to foil the plan before it could come to fruition.
After War[]
- The 7th Space War results in the largest colony drop of the whole Gundam franchise, as the devastation caused by the drop spares less than 1% of the Earth's total population.
Cosmic Era[]
- The remains of the space colony Junius Seven are seized by radical ZAFT deserters loyal to the ideas of Patrick Zala, with plans to drop it onto the Earth. Upon learning of the plan, ZAFT chairman Gilbert Durandal sends the Minerva to stop them. At the same time, a strike team led by Dearka Elsman and Yzak Jule executes a plan to use a set of drills to plant charges within the colony's remains to shatter them into into smaller pieces. The strike team was ambushed by the radicals, but soon received support from the the mobile suits of the Minerva, led by Athrun Zala. The battle was then complicated when the mobile suits launched by the Phantom Pain battleship Girty Lue attacked both sides. Ultimately, the strike team was only able to split the colony remains into two pieces, one of which continued falling to Earth. The Minerva descended into the atmosphere to fire its Tannhauser positron cannon to break up the falling half as much as possible before the ship had to start proper reentry procedures. The Minerva succeeded in reducing the size of the fragments, but many pieces impacted the earth causing the destruction of many areas, including Rome, and other metropolitan areas. The Junk Guild and Serpent Tail attempted to use the GENESIS Alpha to destroy the colony's remains, but sabotage nearly caused the GENESIS Alpha to strike the Earth instead.
Advanced Generation[]
- In AG 141, the Vagan attempt to drop the Nortrum colony on the Earth by pushing it with their Space Fortress Downes. Though this attempt fails, Downes nearly falls to Earth on its own, only to be destroyed in orbit by Asemu Asuno and Zeheart Galette.
Post-Disaster[]
- In a nod to the Universal Century, the east coast of Australia is shown to have a huge crater matching the one from U.C.'s Operation British, though the actual date and circumstances that caused it are unknown.
Other[]
- In the 30th Gundam Perfect Mission short, a colony drop is stopped by the combined might of the Gundam X, Wing Gundam Zero and Wing Zero Custom.
- In Gundam Build Fighters Try Island Wars, the BN-876 Scramble Gundam uses its enhanced abilities to change the combat zone into a city moments before a colony drop strikes it. The attack is stopped by the KMK-B01 Kamiki Burning Gundam utilizing its New Winning Road ability to obtain the strength to catch and destroy it.
Gallery[]
Universal Century Gallery[]
Advanced Generation gallery[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The dropping of Landing Castles in Aldnoah.Zero is similar to the Colony Drops; like the Colony Drops, the Landing Castles were sent by the space faction to crash onto Earth.
References[]
External Links[]
- A map of the Sides for the Universal Century from the archived Gundam Official.com website
- An explanation of "Sides" in the Universal Century from the archived Gundam Official.com website
- An explanation of Space Colony in the Universal Century from the archived Gundam Official.com website
- An explanation of Colonies in the After Colony Gundam Universe