A NASA/LSDF space station in low earth orbit. Originally constructed as a series of Wet Workshop modules, as of 1984 the station is mostly bespoke construction. It has a permanent population of approximately 300 civilians and 250 military personnel. It houses the headquarters of the joint LSDF-US Airforce Orbital Traffic Control Centre. Orbital Reef is usually the first stopping point for US, NATO or western civilian passengers en-route to the moon.
History
First launched in 1967, the Orbital Reef was constructed using specially modified Saturn V upper stages known as Wet Workshops. These were modified to permit them to have their excess hydrogen fuel vented and the interiors had been pre-prepared with flooring and handholds for astronauts to move in. The first module was completed in November 1967, with Saturn IB rockets flying routine missions to the station to exchange personnel.
The original station was spartan, providing minimal amenities for up to five astronauts at a time, but by 1970 the station had been expanded to four modules and a routine crew of twelve. An orbital shipyard was established in 1969 to help construct the first modules for Horizon Base on the moon as well as the Lunar Gateway station.
In 1974 the shipyard component was separated from Orbital Reef to become New San Francisco to assist in the construction of the Orbital Transfer Vehicle fleet.
After several near miss incidents, the oldest modules of the station were decommissioned in 1976 and the first purpose built station components were launched by the then-new Convair Nexus superheavy rocket. The entire station was converted to purpose built modules by the end of 1977. This coincided with the formal partitioning of the station into civilian and military sectors and the relocation of the LSDF chief of staff to Orbital Reef.