O'Neil Station
Sarna News
O'Neil Station was the largest orbital habitat ever constructed by humanity.[1] [2] [3]
History[edit]
During the twenty-first century and the early days of spaceflight, the concept of massive habitat stations seemed the natural solution to handle Terra's ever-expanding population. The development of the Kearny-Fuchida drive and the discovery of countless habitable planets derailed such thinking, thus the majority of habitat stations were relatively small, and save for waystations in inhabitable systems, entirely developed as exotic resorts or high-price living spaces.[1]
Orbiting above Terra, O'Neil Station filled both those roles, providing ultra-wealthy Terrans a place to get away from the common masses on the planet's surface either permanently or for vacations. The largest constructed station outside of asteroid bases, this cylindrical habitat measured 7 km by 1 km and housed more than one million people. O'Neil Station's basic framework massed more than ten million tons alone, not including the soil, rock and water of the "park" interior which added tens of million more tons. The technology and sheer expense of this unique station could only be developed, constructed and maintained during the height of the Terran Hegemony and the Star League.[1] [2] [3]
O'Neil Station was one of the many historical and engineering marvels in the Terran system destroyed during Operation APOTHEOSIS. Faced with the prospect of fighting House Cameron-loyal troops in an orbital city, the Rim Worlds Republic forces instead opted for the far simpler and lazier solution of destroying the station with a tactical nuclear weapon. The destruction of O'Neil Station triggered a massive debris cascade that would have a devastating impact on objects in orbit of Terra; the remains of the O'Neil Station wiped out numerous spacecraft and other orbital facilities including the historic Crippen Station.[1] [2] [3]