Laputa Space Stations

The Laputa Space Stations are small experimental space stations operated by the UN International Space Cooperation (ISC) specifically for robots. These stations, tailored exclusively for robots, lack pressurized compartments and life support systems. This design choice results in significantly reduced construction and operational costs when compared to traditional space stations.

Names

The space station was initially to be named “Lanting” (兰亭), after the Chinese classic “Lan Ting Ji Xu” (兰亭集序: The Preface to the Poems of the Orchid Pavilion) by renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi (王羲之) from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (东晋). The name was chosen because of the phrase “looking up at the vastness of the universe and looking down at the abundance of our world” (仰观宇宙之大，俯察品类之盛).

However, a classmate noted its resemblance to “Laputa,” from the animated film Castle in the Sky. Alice embraced this idea and hand-painted the new name on the station without permission. The name Laputa was well-received and became its official English name.

Structure

The exterior of Laputa-1 resembles a multi-petaled flower bud, with each petal made of cushioning material to protect against space debris while also serving as heat radiators. Equipment and supplies are attached to the inner wall of each petal.

When not on missions, Alice resides in the central area known as the “Ovary,” which contains tools for assembling and repairing spacecraft. The station’s opening faces Earth, allowing the soft blue earthlight to illuminate its interior during the day.

At the back of this “flower bud” is the retired Galileo Space Telescope from the European Space Agency, originally intended for deorbiting but kept by Alice for repairs. Surrounding it are solar panels arranged in rings, creating a tree-like appearance reminiscent of Laputa from Castle in the Sky.

Plans

The first phase of the Laputa project aims to build three space stations in low, medium, and high Earth orbits for robot spaceflight tests. By the time Alice joined Class 3, Laputa 1 was already operational in low orbit. She used it as a base for satellite repairs, rescues, and debris cleanup.

The construction of Laputa 2 and 3 in medium and high orbits was still pending; they were planned to be launched in parts to Laputa 1 for assembly before moving to their designated orbits.