Star Trek: 10 Secrets About Spacedock One You Need To Know

10. A Matter Of Perspective

The live-action appearances of Spacedock are, for the most part, reuses of footage from Star Trek III. The approach of the Enterprise and the entrance through the gigantic space doors instantly became iconic. 

It's suggested that the doors and the enclosed bay are designed in such a way as to allow work crews to operate in the vacuum, yet still be protected from prolonged radiation exposure without the need of enclosed spacecraft such as the travelpods or tugs.

In Star Trek VI, the audience is shown the first appearance of the executive shuttle (and future kitbash into the USS Jenolan). It's also the only time in the franchise that Spacedock is viewed from a ventral angle. This was a conscious decision from the effects team to find a different way to look at the base, providing a better look at the underside of the station's surfaces, as well as that smaller hub where the Enterprise-D would be resurrected in 2401. 

One thing that you won't find on Spacedock but was part of the original concept was a designation, similar to those you would find on a starship. In the case of Spacedock One, in the original artwork for The Search for Spock it was labelled as NC-7011S, though this never made it to screen.