Memory Alpha

Memory Alpha (also called The Memory Planet) was an inhabited planetoid and the home for a Federation central library.

In 2293, the location of Memory Alpha in the Milky Way Galaxy was labeled in a star chart that was in James T. Kirk's quarters aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A). ( okudagram)

History
The Federation built a central library on an unnamed planetoid to hold the total cultural history and scientific knowledge of all planetary Federation members. During assembly, the library wasn't installed with protective shields as this was considered inappropriate for a facility dedicated to academic research.

In the 2240s, was born on this planetoid. ( okudagram)

As of 2269, the library complex was an array consisting of five large and seven smaller domes on the surface of the planetoid. Aside from the technicians, the occupants of Memory Alpha varied with the number of scholars, researchers, and scientists from various Federation planets who were using the computer complex at any given time.

In that year, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) was en route to transfer newly-designed equipment to Memory Alpha. Lieutenant Mira Romaine was on her first deep space assignment to supervise the transport from the emergency manual monitor. Before the arrival of the Enterprise, Memory Alpha was attacked by the non-corporeal Zetarians.

While the Zetarians were attempting to take over the bodies of the personnel of Memory Alpha, they managed to cause extensive damage to the complex. The memory core of the computer, called the central brain, was burned out. The energy generator was rendered inoperative. All occupants of the complex died from brain damage caused by resisting the mind control efforts of the Zetarians. After the Zetarians were destroyed, the Enterprise returned to Memory Alpha to begin repairs. 

Background information
The name of this facility was originally "Memory 7". The idea that the name be changed was first suggested in a list of research notes submitted by the de Forest Research Company on. Regarding the designation "Memory 7", the document commented, "This name would imply that there are six other 'Memories.' Since script specifies that installation is unique, suggest: Memory One or Memory Alpha here and throughout script."

According to Michael Okuda, "Based on the size and spacing of the windows, I'd estimate that each of the domes must be similar to the ." He also stated, "If you look very closely at the far left dome, you might notice a small blue patch on the top of the dome. That's the Memory Alpha emblem."

As evidenced by the first draft script of, Memory Alpha was originally to have been cited as the location of the Fleet Museum. However, all mention of Memory Alpha was removed from the episode by the time the final draft of the script was issued.

A working title of was "Assault on Memory Alpha". While the episode was called that, the story included a Vulcan space station named Memory Alpha. In a story outline, it was described as "a massive data archive that will store hundreds of years worth of scientific data and historical research." The facility was under construction at the time the story was set, with "the last third of the structure" being built by laborers of an alien species who were hired by the Vulcans. Starfleet hoped to someday build a similar archive of their own (implying that the Vulcan station led to the building of the canonically established Memory Alpha). As "The Andorian Incident" continued to develop, this facility was replaced by the Vulcan monastery at P'Jem. However, the term "Memory Alpha" was used even in the episode's first draft script (which had the working title "Incident at P'Jem"), because an underground spy station beneath the monastery (which does appear in the episode) was referred to as that, three times (the first time used in the stage directions, in quotation marks, and the next two appearing in scripted dialogue without quotation marks).

According to Star Trek Maps (p. 27 & chart D), Memory Alpha was established for the Federation Centennial celebration and opened to the general public two years later. The library computer was only partially destroyed by the Zetarians and was overhauled after the attack. The resident population was six hundred. Memory Alpha had a small moon called Arsende.

According to Star Trek: Star Charts ("United Federation of Planets I") and Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library ("Federation Historical Highlights, 2161-2385"), Memory Alpha was located in the Alpha Quadrant.

According to FASA's The Federation sourcebook, Memory Alpha was the second planet in the Karn Sim system. Decipher's Worlds sourcebook contradicts this, saying that Memory Alpha is the only satellite orbiting its star.

Apocrypha
The Memory Alpha facility is mentioned in the novel sequel to "The Lights of Zetar", Memory Prime. Memory Alpha is also referred to in Boogeymen, and research done at the complex was referenced in Demons of Air and Darkness and Preserver. Memory Alpha is mentioned in Losing the Peace.

In the comic Star Trek: Countdown, information from Memory Alpha was restricted while Nero was searching through the historical files on the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E).

In the video game Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Fallen, Jadzia Dax consults the Memory Alpha database for information on the Grigari.

By 2409, in the game Star Trek Online, the complex expanded to circumnavigate the planetoid. Memory Alpha was located in the Alpha Centauri sector block, near Tellar Prime.

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