Starport
Establishment for the landing, servicing, refueling, and control of interstellar
and interplanetary vessels of all sort. A starport is also used for
the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Starports range in
quality from A (the best and most extensive) to E (the worst, little more
than a spot of cleared ground).
Starports generally have two components: a surface facility and an orbital
facility. The surface facility includes cargo handling installations, a
landing field, control towers, and other necessary areas. Surface starport
components are frequently called Down (as in Credo Down Starport on Regina). Orbital facilities are present
(usually in stationary orbit above the surface component) to enable handling
of unstreamlined ships and to allow construction of heavy craft in orbit.
The orbital component is often called Orbital (as in Credo Orbital Starport),
or High Port.
Type D and E starports have no extensive orbital facilities, but they usually
have navigational satellites or similar equipment. Nonstreamlined ships
at these starports must be serviced by shuttles. Starports, being the primary
point at which starships interact with a system, are usually the location for shipyards and
additional bases, such as scout bases, naval bases or other military installations.
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