Star Trek: Every* Starbase Ranked Worst To Best
2. Spacedock
Spacedock One, or just Spacedock, is arguably the most beautiful space station that has appeared in Star Trek. Originally parked in Earth's orbit, before being moved to Athan Prime, it dominated the skies from the mid-2250s and remained in place for over a century, before being retired from service.
The model was designed by Industrial Light & Magic for Star Trek III, which then became an instant classic. Via new and reused footage, it would appear in the remaining TOS-era films, as well as several appearances in The Next Generation. To correct the size inconsistency created by Starbase 74, it was explained in Beta Canon that the facility received several upgrades in its life - such as widening the doors to accommodate a Galaxy-class starship.
Spacedock is roughly 3 miles high, making it visible from Earth's surface without the need for a telescope. After its retirement, warp tugs were used to move it Athan Prime, according to production designer Dave Blass. There it was repurposed to become the fleet museum, managed by none other than Commodore LaForge. It housed some of the fleet's most famous ships, as well as some honoured non-Federation vessels. The Enterprise-A, the NX-01, Kronos One, and HMS Bounty were all on display by the early 25th Century.
Surely a facility of such renown wouldn't be complete without a gift shop. Make sure on your visit that you pick up one of their famous Whale Probe replicas - just don't use them while operating mechanical machinery. It may be safer to purchase one of the T-shirts emblazoned with their famous slogan - THEY MADE THE DOORS BIGGER!