Space

Space is the expanse, the physical things and observable occurrences within which we can uniquely define in three dimensions, according to their relative directions, distances, and positions, compared to each other. Space-time, or the space-time continuum, is the same physical space but defined in three dimensions plus a fourth dimension, time. Though space and the space-time continuum conceptually appear to be all-encompassing and endless, we can mathematically measure the direction, distance, and position of objects and occurrences discovered within it. (Compare subspace. See also “Deep Space,” below.

Exploring space, however, has led to the discovery of seemingly anomalous spaces and space-time continua, such as chaotic, fluidic, null, and transwarp space; not to mention folds, holes, warps, and wrinkles in space; and places like the Q Continuum. For example, note the following examples of both normal and anomalous space, below:

Circa Stardate -17400, Annorax, a temporal scientist with the Krenim Imperium, deployed a weapon that destroyed its targets by removing them from the space-time continuum, so that, in essence, the targets never existed.

Disruption to the space-time continuum can have devastating effects. Circa Stardate 16800, for example, the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D entered a rupture in the space-time continuum. A temporal loop then trapped the ship and its crew so that they repeatedly experienced the same occurrence.

Circa Stardate 17200, Junior Lieutenant Thomas Paris, of the U.S.S. Voyager, NCC-74656, flew a test bed with an experimental engine, and accelerated to the Warp Factor 10 threshold, or infinite velocity, by means of it. Theoretically, the test bed then occupied all points in the universe simultaneously.

Many explorers have encountered phenomena similar to spatial ruptures and subspace rifts throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.

Deep Space

The term “deep space” describes areas of space that are far away from what one considers to be space close to home, such as a starship or homeworld. As such, the standard nomenclature of widespread organizations, such as Star Fleet, uses the term to describe the relative locations of distant installations, such as starbases, outposts, and other installations. For example, Star Fleet has long described deep space station K-7 by its deep space location, and even includes “deep space” in the name of some of its installations, such as Deep Space 9.

Circa Stardate 5700, Star Fleet assigned Lieutenant James T. Kirk to what would become his first deep space assignment, aboard the U.S.S. Farragut, NCC-1647.

Circa Stardate 6600, a Star Fleet court martial (compare also court martial) accepted the testimony of Doctor Leonard McCoy as an expert witness in psychology, particularly space psychology, which the prosecutor, Lieutenant Shaw, defined as “patterns [of behavior] which develop in [captains and crews] in the close quarters of a ship during long voyages in deep space.”

Circa Stardate 6700, Captain James T. Kirk ordered the transport, at maximum dispersal, of the Redjac entity into “deep space”; that is, as far away from the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701, as possible.

Circa Stardate 6800, Commander Spock described the damage and consequent amalgamation of the Nomad, MK-15C, space probe with the alien Tan-Ru space probe, as having occurred in deep space. Later, Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock transported the device into “deep space”; that is, as far away from the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701, as possible.

Science specialist Lieutenant Mira Romaine began her first deep space assignment aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701, circa Stardate 6900. Later, she continued her deep space deployment at Memory Alpha, the Federation’s central library.

Star Fleet first tested the U.S.S. Voyager, NCC-74656, Class 9 warp drive system in deep space, circa Stardate 17100.

Communication attempts with the captain and crew of the U.S.S. Voyager, NCC-74656, through the M.I.D.A.S. array, indicated that one communication strategy included redirecting two deep space vessels toward the Voyager.