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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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'''Orbital Docks'''{{Fn|1}} are [[Imperial]] [[Space Station]]s,{{Fn|2}} that are used by docked spaceships to transport their cargo or passengers to different ships or to a world's surface.{{Fn|1}}
==Description==
They consist of a central hub, which has several massive arms, ribbed with girders and beams, that spear out around it. These dock arms are spaced apart enough to allow several spaceships to connect to them and become locked into place, via the arms' boarding tubes. The tubes contain handrails down their entire length and are used to transport a spaceship's passengers or cargo into the dock arm and then into the central hub of the Orbital Dock. Once in the central hub, they can be sent to different docked spaceships, or if the [[Space Station]] is above a world, then it will contain transports that can take the passengers or cargo to the world's surface. These worlds will also regularly deliver standard maintenance equipment, supplies and fuel to the Orbital Dock in order to keep them functioning.{{Fn|1}} However if the Space Stations are not placed above worlds, such as a section of empty space{{Fn|2}} or being built into orbital [[Asteroid]]s,{{Fn|3}} then they must rely on spaceships to deliver keep supplies to them supplied.{{Fn|2}} Crews of [[Servitor]]s and [[Imperials]] wearing helmeted [[Atmosphere Suit]]s, carry out the Orbital Dock's functions and maintain it as well. They are overseen in their tasks by '''Workmasters'''.{{Fn|1}}
Several safety measures have been put into place, should an Orbital Dock suffer any damage. If a boarding tube becomes breached, and its air begins to leak out into space, then the airlock that connects them to their dock arm will slam shut. In order to override this and open the airlock, a security code will need to be entered into the control panel that is next to it. If something happen that threatens the entire Orbital Dock, then its passengers and crew should travel to its central hub. The hub contains wide open spaces{{Fn|1}} and is generally{{Fn|2}} robust enough to survive any impact or damage the Space Station may suffer.{{Fn|1}}
