Astroengineering: Difference between revisions
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Astroengineering is the construction of megastructures in space by technologically advanced beings. It is a form of megascale engineering, but deals with structures that are "easily observable" from interstellar or even intergalactic distances with 20th century astronomical instruments: i.e. An orbital elevator is an example of megascale engineering, but it is not an example of astroengineering. Typically proposed feats of astroengineering are on the scale to remake an entire stellar system. | Astroengineering is the construction of megastructures in space by technologically advanced beings. It is a form of megascale engineering, but deals with structures that are "easily observable" from interstellar or even intergalactic distances with 20th century astronomical instruments: i.e. An orbital elevator is an example of megascale engineering, but it is not an example of astroengineering. Typically proposed feats of astroengineering are on the scale to remake an entire stellar system. | ||
Construction of these megastructures seems to be restricted to either [[Covenant|Tier Two]] or [[Forerunners|Tier Three]] | Construction of these megastructures seems to be restricted to either [[Covenant|Tier Two]] or [[Forerunners|Tier Three]] civilizations. As a Tier Three civilization, the UNSC has no known megastructures. | ||
==Forerunners== | ==Forerunners== | ||
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====Artificial Planets==== | ====Artificial Planets==== | ||
{{Main|Onyx}} | {{Main|Onyx}} | ||
[[Image:Onyx.jpg|thumb|200px|The only known artificial planet, [[Onyx]], before its destruction]]The Forerunners were also adept at creating artificial planets, such as Onyx. Internally, the structure is maintained by, and even ''composed of'' | [[Image:Onyx.jpg|thumb|200px|The only known artificial planet, [[Onyx]], before its destruction]]The Forerunners were also adept at creating artificial planets, such as Onyx. Internally, the structure is maintained by, and even ''composed of,'' trillions of [[Sentinels]] and [[Sentinel Production Facility|Production Factories]], while externally the planet can appear like [[Earth|any other]], with a wide variety of terrain. | ||
The only known artificial planet, Onyx, was used as a cover for the [[Shield World]] in that system. It was later | The only known artificial planet, Onyx, was used as a cover for the [[Shield World]] in that system. It was later colonized by the [[UNSC]], oblivious as to its true origins until 2552, when its Sentinels activated to defend the Shield World. It was later damaged by FENRIS Nuclear warheads, and destroyed as its Sentinels burst free and set up defensive stations around the Shield World portal.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', pg. 377, 378</ref> | ||
====[[Wikipedia:Dyson Spheres|Micro-Dyson Spheres]]==== | ====[[Wikipedia:Dyson Spheres|Micro-Dyson Spheres]]==== | ||
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[[Image:High charity and Alpha Halo.jpg|thumb|High Charity, next to the ruins of [[Alpha Halo]]]]High Charity was the Covenant capital city prior to 2552. Presumed to be built around a chunk of rock taken from the [[San 'Shyuum]]'s home planet, it was not only an artificial planet, but capable of travelling through slipspace, powered by a surviving [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. It was the largest known Covenant artificial planetoid, at 348 kilometers in diameter, as well as the home of the majority of the [[San 'Shyuum]] population, and was infested by the Flood, and eventually destroyed by Spartan-117. | [[Image:High charity and Alpha Halo.jpg|thumb|High Charity, next to the ruins of [[Alpha Halo]]]]High Charity was the Covenant capital city prior to 2552. Presumed to be built around a chunk of rock taken from the [[San 'Shyuum]]'s home planet, it was not only an artificial planet, but capable of travelling through slipspace, powered by a surviving [[Forerunner Dreadnought]]. It was the largest known Covenant artificial planetoid, at 348 kilometers in diameter, as well as the home of the majority of the [[San 'Shyuum]] population, and was infested by the Flood, and eventually destroyed by Spartan-117. | ||
=== | ===Unyielding Hierophant=== | ||
{{Main| | {{Main|Unyielding Hierophant}} | ||
The | The Unyielding Hierophant was a space station in Tau Ceti, a former UNSC colonized star system. Approximately 10 kilometers long, with two bulbous sections joined by a docking ring at the middle, it was a significant Covenant military base in the region, capable of resupplying up to 500 warships and carried thousands of Covenant personnel internally, including Banshee and Wraith pilots. It too was destroyed by Spartan-117. | ||
==Construction== | ==Construction== | ||
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[[The Ark]] plays a significant part in construction, and is the location where replacement Halo Installations are constructed and later transported, should one be destroyed. Although the Ark constructs smaller installations, it is unknown how the Ark was initially built. | [[The Ark]] plays a significant part in construction, and is the location where replacement Halo Installations are constructed and later transported, should one be destroyed. Although the Ark constructs smaller installations, it is unknown how the Ark was initially built. | ||
Rather than creating entirely artificial structures, the Covenant uses a different approach, using a natural body as the base upon which added layers are added. The [[ | Rather than creating entirely artificial structures, the Covenant uses a different approach, using a natural body as the base upon which added layers are added. The [[Unyielding Hierophant]] was built around an asteroid, with the reactors and bulbous sections added after it had been hollowed out. Likewise, High Charity is suspected to have been built around a fragment of the original [[San 'Shyuum]] home world, though it has never been explicitly stated. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
{{Forerunner2}} | |||
[[Category:The Forerunner]] | [[Category:The Forerunner]] | ||
[[Category:Articles needing Categorization]] | [[Category:Articles needing Categorization]] | ||
[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
[[Category:Technology]] | [[Category:Technology]] | ||
