Space Colony (Gundam)

In the fictional Gundam Universe, space colonies play a pivotal role in ever-changing stories. Below is an explanation of the colonies in each of the Gundam Universes.

Universal Century

In the Universal Century timeline, space colonies are placed at the five Earth-Sun Lagrangian points. In most cases, a Lagrangian point is home to more than one group of space colonies. Individual colonies are known as Bunches, and a group of colonies that occupy a Lagrangian point are known collectively as a Side. Because Sides sometimes share a single Lagrangian point, it is possible to have two Sides in close orbit to one another. All colonies in the Universal Century are O'Neill "Island 3" type colony cylinders, except for the "close-type" colonies of Side 3.

The first 50 years of the Universal Century were spent building the various colonies and placing them at the Lagrangian points, as well as colonizing the moon. By UC0050 9 billion of the 11 billion people in the Federation live in space colonies or on the moon. In UC0051 the Federation froze plans for additional colony development, and in UC0084 reorganized the remaining Sides into different Lagrangian Points. With the re-organization of the Sides completed, the Federation announced that the status quo would be maintained. In the latter half of the Second Universal Century the construction of new colonies was restarted.

Side 1

Side 1 is called Zarn, and is the Capital Side of the Earth Federation in space. This Side is located at L5, and was one of the first Sides the Zeon attacked during the One Year War.

Known colonies in Side 1:

Shangri-La: Side 1's first space colony.
Londenion: In Char's Counterattack, Londonion hosted secret negotiations between the Neo Zeon and the Earth Federation. The Federation's elite Londo Bell unit is headquartered here.
30 Bunch: Scene of the infamous "30 Bunch Incident" in Zeta Gundam
Island Blade: One of two colonies hi-jacked in mid-transfer by the Cima Fleet.
Island Ease: One of two colonies hi-jacked in midtransfer by the Cima Fleet. Island Ease was secured by the Delaz Fleet for phase two of Operation Stardust.

Side 2

Side 2 is called Hatte, and is located at L4. This was one of the first Sides attacked by the Zeon during the One Year War. Some experts speculate that the colony used for Operation: British may have been taken from Side 2. Later, this Side adopted the name Zanscare Empire.

Known colonies in Side 2:

Bunch 8 (Island Iffish): The colony thought to have been seized from Side 2 for use in Operation British.
Bunch 13: The colony that receives a coded message that the Zeon forces are mobilizing. However, the line is cut before the Federation can hear that the Zeons are beginning there attack and starting the One Year War.
18th Block: This colony was attacked and destroys by the colony laser Gryps II.
21st Block: The Titans attacked this colony with poisonous gas, killing civilians.

Side 3

Side 3 is located behind the moon, at L2, and is known as Munzo. Side 3 was the only Side to never use the "open-type" colonies. They instead used "closed-type" colonies, which removed the glass "sky" panels and was a completely "solid" cylinder with no open view to space. Perhaps the most infamous Side of them all, Side 3 was the home of the Zeon Zum Deikun, who inspired the people of Side 3 to declare themselves independent of the Earth Federation. Known as the Republic of Zeon, and later the Principality of Zeon, this Side began a deadly war of independence against the Earth Federation in UC 0079. Side 3 received additional colonies in 0082 and again in 0083 as part of the Colony Reclamation Project, which seeks to ease the overcrowding of Side 3. They eventually re-joined the Federation in UC 0100.

Known Colonies in Side 3:

Zum City: The capital colony of Side 3, said to be named in honor of Zeon Zum Deikun.
Mahal (Bunch 38): This colony's population was evacuated, and the cylinder was physically altered into the Solar Ray space laser cannon.
Bunch 9: A memorial service was held here during the One Year War.

Side 4

Side 4 is know as Mua, and is located at L5. During the reorganization of Sides in UC 0084, Side 4 was moved to L1. Side 4 was one of the first colonies attacked by the Zeon during the One Year War. Some experts have suggested that the colony used for Operation British originated here. Side 4 was eventually reconstructed into the Frontier Side in Gundam F-91.

Known Colonies in Side 4:

New Manhattan: Headquarters of the Illuminati resistance group.

Side 5

Side 5 is known as Loum, and is located at L1. During the reorganization of the Sides in UC 0084, Side 5 was moved to L4. During the One Year War, this Side became a battlefield when the Zeon attempted to capture a colony from Side 5 to drop on the earth. When the Federation intercepted the Zeon, an all out battle for Side 5 erupted between the Zeon, lead by Dozle Zabi, and the Federation, led by General Revil. The Federation eventually won the battle, but at an extremely high price. The entire battle eventually came to be known as the Battle of Loum. At the end of the One Year War this area became known as the shoal zone.

Known colonies in Side 5:

Watohoat: This colony was selected by the Zeon as the target for their second colony drop. It was destroyed during the Loum War.
Texas Colony: This was the only remaining colony in Side 5 after the Battle of Loum.

Side 6

Side 6 is known as Raih, and is located at L4. During the reorganization of Sides in UC 0084, Side 6 was moved to L5. Side 6 declared neutrality in the opening weeks of the One Year War, and managed to avoid most of the major battles of the war. Side 6 was targeted by the Zeon late in the One Year War after a Federation R&D base was discovered here. The story is told in Gundam 0080.

Known Colonies in Side 6:

Libot Colony: This colony contained the Federation R&D base. It was attacked in late December UC0079 by the Zeon's elite "Cyclopes" team and later targeted for nuclear attack.

Side 7

Side 7 is known as Noa, and is located at L3. At the time of its introduction in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Side 7 consisted of a single, incomplete space colony that housed a Federation R&D base involved with the Vinson Plan. This Side became famous in September of UC 0079, when the White Base and its Mobile Suits successfully fended off an attack by Zeon Mobile Suit pilots, and in doing so marked the first battle between Zeon and Federation MS inside a colony.

Known colonies in Side 7:

Green Noa: Side 7's first space colony. Zeon special forces attacked this colony in September UC0079, at which point the RX-78–2 Gundam is discovered and commandeered by Amuro Ray, signaling the beginning of the end of the Principality of Zeon.
Gypris/Gypris II: The Headquarters for the Titans in space, this colony is the most advanced military base in the Earth Sphere. It became the scene of a three way battle in UC0088 when the Titans, the AEUG, and the Axis Zeon attempted to capture/defend it.

Side 8

Side 8 is late addition to the Universal Century timeline; its first appearance isn't until UC0223. Information on Side 8 is sketchy at best, but we do known that the colony is agricultural and that it is located at L1. The name for this Side may be Gaea, but that remains unconfirmed.

Additional colonies

Moon Moon: A lost "Island 1" type colony, home to a primitive group of space dwellers. Seen in Double Zeta Gundam.

Sweetwater: A refugee colony located near the moon. Sweetwater was created by crudely combining an open space colony (one that has windows) with a closed space colony (one that does not have windows). Sweetwater became the headquarters of the Second Neo Zeon Movement, under the direction of Char Aznable.

On the Moon

Von Braun: An industrial city specializing in the manufacture of heavy equipment. Anahiem Electronics is headquartered here. It is said that whoever controls Von Braun controls all of space.
Granada: A Zeon stronghold during the One Year One. The Federation agreed to meet with Zeon representative in January UC0080 after hearing rumors that a Zeon fleet may have been here.

Astroids

Luna II: A former mining asteroid that became the headquarters of the Earth Federal Space Force, Luna II serves as a naval base and staging area for the Federation. Its status makes it a tempting target for attack by pro-space sympathizers.
Solomon/Konpei Island: One of three astroids that the Zeon use as staging points. In mid-December UC0079, a massive battle was fought here, resulting in the death of Dozle Zabi. Shortly thereafter, the Earth Federation secured it and renamed the captured base Konpei Island. In UC 0083, Zeon ace Anavel Gato used the RX-78GP02 Gundam Physalis to attack the Naval Review at Konpei with an MK-82 nuclear warhead, destroying or crippling 2/3 of the Federation's naval forces.
A Baoa Qu/Gate of Zedan: One of three astroids that the Zeon use to as staging points. On the last day of UC0079 a massive battle was fought here, resulting in the death of both Gihren Zabi and Kycilia Zabi. The Zeon surrendered shortly thereafter. Later, the Republic of Zeon transferred A Baoa Qu to the Titans, who renamed it Gate of Zedan, and used it as their headquarters until it was rammed and destroyed by the much larger asteroid Axis.
Axis: A massive mining colony that served as a waypoint for the Jupiter Energy Fleet. In UC0080, it became the home of some 30,000 ex-Zeon political refugees. It was moved to Earth in UC0088 and served as the headquarters for the Axis Zeon/Neo Zeon until UC0093, when it was purchased by Char Aznable in his effort to freeze the Earth and force its population to migrate to space. Axis was destroyed by Londo Bell forces during the Second Neo Zeon War.
Fifth Luna: A mining astroid. It was secured by Char Aznable's Neo Zeon forces and dropped on Lhasa, Tibet.

Future Century

FC space colonies are created as artistic representation of the culture of the sponsor nation, rather than being based on proposed real-world colony designs. For example, Neo Japan is made of four modules in the shape of the four main islands of Japan, Neo France is supported on a bouquet of roses, and Neo America is a five-point star with replicas of notable American landmarks on the surface.

After Colony

The colonies in the After Colony Timeline (Gundam Wing/Endless Waltz) are generally based on the Stanford "Island 2" type layout, and are also located in gravitationally stable areas around the Earth. Colonies in the A.C. Timeline are identified primarily by Lagrange point, although travel time between colonies (even to L3) appears trivial.

The first colony of the A.C. timeline was completed in A.C. 001, and colonial development continued peacefully until A.C. 040, when the fighting on earth spread to the colonies, many of which were uncompleted. Several of these uncompleted colonies were damaged by the resulting war. Colony funding was reduced to a trickle in A.C. 060, and disputes over the theft of materials in A.C. 070 prompted the Middle Eastern nations to step in as mediators for other nations, and to help with the colonial construction, they also began mining the asteroids. By A.C. 102 Colony L1 was completed, and 15% of the Earth's population moved to the Orbital Village at L1. The rest of the colonies were completed soon thereafter, resulting in mass emigration to space.

After War

Space colonies in the After War timeline (and those dropped on Earth at the end of the 7th Space War) are identical to the O'Neill "Island 3" type colony cylinders seen in the Universal Century timeline.

CC (Seireki)

To date, this is the only Gundam calendar timeframe not to have Space Colonies. CC's space colonies, except those on the moon, whose population eventually became known as the Moonrace, were destroyed long ago when the Moonlight Butterfly destroyed all technological remnants.

Cosmic Era

For a list of known colonies in the Cosmic Era see Cosmic Era locations.

A small number of colonies in the Cosmic Era are designed on the O'Neill Island 3 design (such as Heliopolis at L3) or the Bernal Island 1 (like Mendel at L4), however, the most common space colonies are titanic, thirty-kilometer long hourglass shaped colonies called PLANTs (Productive Location Ally on Nexus Technology), each of which has a population in excess of 240,000 Coordinators (virtually no Naturals live in the PLANTs). The PLANTs are arranged into "cities" named after the months of the year and located at and around L5. Each City has a particular group of scientific specialties (for example, Martius City specializes in aerospace technology and shipbuilding). After CE 72, ZAFT dropped the "month" names in favor of names that clearly state the purpose of the colony – for example, the Minerva was constructed at the Armory One PLANT.

Most Natural-occupied space colonies (the ones built on traditional designs) were destroyed early in the Bloody Valentine War by ZAFT forces, and the primary moonbase of the Earth Alliance was destroyed by the G.E.N.E.S.I.S. laser at the end of the war, so virtually all of the humans living in space as of Cosmic Era 73 are Coordinators. This had disastrous consequences for the human race when the remains of the destroyed space colony Junius Seven (250,000 dead) were dropped on the Earth with the intent of causing the extinction of all Naturals (and subsequently, as the fertility of Coordinators drops off sharply with the third and subsequent generations, the extinction of the entire human race).

Colony drops

It is impossible to discuss space colonies without discussing colony drops. The average space colony, no matter which universe it may reside in, has a set of dimension that are measured in miles or kilometers, which easily makes the space colonies the largest ballistic weapons ever built, and it is not uncommon to see space-born armies (like the Principality of Zeon) capturing or commandeering the colonies to drop them on the earth.

A colony drop of any sort has massive consequences for the earth, usually drastic changes in climate and weather, and the loss of land due to the impact. Because of the tremendous damage caused by colony drops, any type of drop operation is usually viewed as the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

Universal Century

Operation British: Zeon forces capture a depopulated cylinder and attempt to drop it on Jaburo, the Earth Federation's subterranean headquarters. The Federation intervenes, and the colony's course is altered, resulting in the destruction 16% of Australia's land mass, including Sydney.
Operation Stardust: The Delaz fleet captures two colony cylinders, forcing one off course. Originally thought to be targeted at the moon, the cylinder was reprogramed to fall on the earth. An attempt to destroy the cylinder with the Federation's Solar System II failed, and the colony landed in the American Midwest.
Operation Apollo: The Titans attempt a colony drop on the lunar city Von Braun. The drop was unsuccessful after AEUG forces intervene.
Haman Khan's Neo-Zeon forces drop a colony on Dublin, Ireland in Double Zeta Gundam.
Char Aznable's Neo Zeon drops the astroid fifth luna on to Lhasa, Tibet. An attempt by the group to drop the mining colony Axis fails after the Neo Zeon are intercepted by Londo Bell forces.

After Colony

AC195- (early in year): Operation Metor: The original Operation Metor called for many colonies to be dropped in order to create chaos on Earth for the five Gundams to take advantage of; however the orders to drop were ignored by the scientists who were charged with the construction of the Gundams, as they believed the Gundams alone to be enough.
AC195- Eve Wars (December): The colony-sized space battleship Libra, after losing its primary beam cannon due to enemy action, is ordered to collide with the earth. Swift action undertaken by the Gundam pilots on behalf of earth eliminate Libra in the upper atmosphere.
AC196-AC197- Operation Metor: Diekin Bartin's plan's involve dropping the 13-mile wide colony X18999 onto the earth, and seizing control of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. Swift action undertaken by the Preventers and the Gundam pilots foil the plan before it could come to fruition.

Cosmic Era

The remains of the P.L.A.N.T. colony Junius Seven are seized by an ultra-radical ZAFT unit loyal to Patrick Zala, and are subsequently dropped onto the earth, renewing the war between naturals and coordinators.

After War

The 7th Space War results in the largest colony drop ever as the devastation wrought by the drop spares only 1% of the earth's total population.

External links

Categories: Gundam locations | Gundam space vessels

Space Colony (Gundam)

Table of contents

Universal Century

Side 1

Side 2

Side 3

Side 4

Side 5

Side 6

Side 7

Side 8

Additional colonies

Future Century

After Colony

After War

CC (Seireki)

Cosmic Era

Colony drops

Universal Century

After Colony

Cosmic Era

After War

See also

External links