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[[Image:W3.jpg|thumb|250px|Space Station W3.]]
{{retitle|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
'''Space Station W3''', also known as '''the Wheel''', was a [[space station]] located in the [[Sol system]] in the [[21st century]]. It was used for many functions, serving as a radio/visual relay for [[Earth]], a stopping point for deep space ships, a research station, and an early warning monitor for stellar activity such as [[meteroite]] storms. It was armed with an x-ray laser and a [[force field]].
{{Rename|[[The Wheel]], a name used far more than Space Station W3 in ''The Wheel in Space'' and in Zoe's Companion Chronicles}}
{{Infobox Object
|aka          = The Wheel, the Wheel in Space, Station 3
|image        = W3.jpg
|type          = [[Space station]]
|origin        =
|made by      = [[Human]]s
|used by      = [[Human]]s
|first        = The Wheel in Space (TV story)
|appearances  = [[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]''<br>[[AUDIO]]: ''[[Legend of the Cybermen (audio story)|Legend of the Cybermen]]''
|clip        = You will be destroyed! - The Wheel In Space - Doctor Who - BBC
}}
'''The Wheel''' was the most commonly used name for '''''Space Station W3''''', also known as '''Station 3''' and the '''Wheel in Space'''. It was a multi-purpose [[space station]] located in the [[solar system]].


Two [[Mondasian Cyberman|Cybermen]] invaded the station, intending to use it as a beacon for their invasion fleet. [[Second Doctor|The Doctor]] freed the crew from the Cybermen's [[hypnosis|hypnotic control]] and destroyed their fleet. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'')
== Structure ==
The Wheel was a colossal station resembling a [[spinning top]], having a superstructure shaped like a [[saucer]] with supporting framework beneath. Within the upper section of the Wheel was a hatch which could be opened to reveal the [[x-ray]] [[laser]], a massive metal tube which looked like the muzzle of a [[gun]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'')  


==Named W3 Crew==
The [[Operations and Communications Room]] ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'') served as the [[control room]] and was brightly lit with a semi-circular control station large enough for a number of [[communications officer]]s, [[technician]]s and a dedicated chair for the [[controller]]. In a sectioned-off area was where the laser was prepared. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
*[[Jarvis Bennett]]
*[[Enrico Casali]]
*[[Chang]]
*[[Gemma Corwyn]]
*[[Bill Duggan]]
*[[Sean Flannigan]]
*[[Zoe Heriot]]
*[[Elton Laleham]]
*[[Tanya Lernov]]
*[[Kemel Rudkin]]
*[[Armand Vallance]]


[[Category:Space stations]]
The Wheel had a large [[medical section]]. About eight sections on, on the other side of the Wheel, was the [[Parapsychology Library]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'') a completely bare room with a semi-circular [[desk]] at which the [[librarian]] sat. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'') The [[power room]] contained the laser's [[capacitator bank]], [[anti-magnetic field generator]]s and a mini-[[greenhouse]] with rows of extraterrestrial plants. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
The crew had their own quarters, with [[Gemma Corwyn|Dr Gemma Corwyn]]'s being decorated in pastel colours and doubling-up as her [[consulting room]] in her capacity as [[psychiatrist]]. Other locations included the [[generator area]], the [[computer section]], the [[astro-navigational guidance complex]] and the [[space meteorology area]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
== Function ==
The Wheel served a number of functions, the most significant of which included acting as a radio-visual relay for [[Earth]], a halfway house for long-distance [[spacecraft]], a station for space research and as a stellar early warning system for potentially dangerous space phenomena. It was armed with an [[x-ray]] [[laser]] which was used to destroy [[meteorite]]s and had a [[force field]] to protect itself. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
== History ==
The Wheel was in operation by [[2000]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Mind Robber (TV story)|The Mind Robber]]''; [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Prison in Space (audio story)|Prison in Space]]'') [[2079]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Dying Light (audio story)|The Dying Light]]'') or later ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Indestructible Man (novel)|The Indestructible Man]]'') and was located between [[24564000 (number)|24,564,000]] and [[161350000 (number)|161,350,000]] [[mile]]s from [[Venus]]. It was run by [[Jarvis Bennett|Controller Jarvis Bennett]] who once "kicked up a dust storm" upon finding that [[technician]] [[Bill Duggan]] had made his own [[greenhouse]] in the [[power room]]. [[Gemma Corwyn|Dr Gemma Corwyn]], however, was able to convince him that it was good therapy for Bill.
 
Three years after the death of [[Gemma Corwyn's husband|Dr Corwyn's husband]], the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] planned to use the Wheel as a [[beacon]] for an invasion fleet to rob [[Earth]] of its minerals. To this end, the Cybermen launched [[Cybermat]]s to ruin the Wheel's stores of [[Bernalium]] before causing [[Hercules 208]] to go [[nova]], forcing the crew to take boxes containing Bernalium, with Cybermen beneath a false bottom, from the deserted ''[[Silver Carrier]]''. Although they were successful in this, they were ultimately thwarted thanks to the [[Second Doctor]], with the x-ray laser destroying the Cyber-ship and [[Sean Flannigan]] using the [[force field]] to defeat those in the process of infiltrating the loading bay. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
[[Zoe Heriot]] was returned to the Wheel by the [[Time Lord]]s ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'') after two years of travelling with the Doctor and [[Jamie McCrimmon]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Legend of the Cybermen (audio story)|Legend of the Cybermen]]'') with her [[memory]] of her adventures wiped. She was reunited with [[Tanya Lernov]] and went with her to return the Wheel to normal operations. ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'') She became aware that she had physically aged and guessed that she had had her mind wiped.
 
Months after Zoe's return to the Wheel, a second attack by the Cybermen occurred, during which [[Leo Ryan|Captain Leo Ryan]] was captured and converted. Zoe was taken to become a [[Cyber-Planner]] and, during the process, remembered her adventures in [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. She used her newfound control of the Cyber-fleet to direct them away from the Wheel and Earth to the [[Land of Fiction]] and was, after the Cybermen's defeat, returned by the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Legend of the Cybermen (audio story)|Legend of the Cybermen]]'')
 
== Crew ==
[[File:Crew of the Wheel.jpg|thumb|left|The crew of the Wheel. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')]]
The [[controller]] of the Wheel was [[Jarvis Bennett]]. His second-in-command was [[Gemma Corwyn|Dr Gemma Corwyn]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'') the [[medical officer]] and [[psychiatrist]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'') Following both of their [[death]]s, [[Leo Ryan|Captain Leo Ryan]], a [[communications officer]], assumed command. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
[[Enrico Casali]] was, like Ryan, a communications officer. [[Technician]]s included [[Chang (The Wheel in Space)|Chang]], [[Elton Laleham]], [[Kemel Rudkin]], [[Armand Vallance]] and [[Sean Flannigan]], although the latter also served as a [[security guard]]. [[Tanya Lernov]] was an [[astrologer]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (novelisation)|The Wheel in Space]]'') or [[astrogator]] whilst [[Zoe Heriot]] worked in the [[Parapsychology Library]] in a capacity best described as a [[librarian]] and serving as an [[astrometricist]] and second opinion. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]'')
 
[[Category:Sol system space stations]]
[[Category:Communications technology]]
[[Category:Human research facilities]]
[[Category:Individual spacecraft]]
[[Category:Locations visited by the Second Doctor]]

Latest revision as of 07:28, 20 April 2024

This topic might have a better name.

The Wheel, a name used far more than Space Station W3 in The Wheel in Space and in Zoe's Companion Chronicles

Talk about it here.

The Wheel was the most commonly used name for Space Station W3, also known as Station 3 and the Wheel in Space. It was a multi-purpose space station located in the solar system.

Structure[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Wheel was a colossal station resembling a spinning top, having a superstructure shaped like a saucer with supporting framework beneath. Within the upper section of the Wheel was a hatch which could be opened to reveal the x-ray laser, a massive metal tube which looked like the muzzle of a gun. (PROSE: The Wheel in Space)

The Operations and Communications Room (TV: The Wheel in Space) served as the control room and was brightly lit with a semi-circular control station large enough for a number of communications officers, technicians and a dedicated chair for the controller. In a sectioned-off area was where the laser was prepared. (PROSE: The Wheel in Space)

The Wheel had a large medical section. About eight sections on, on the other side of the Wheel, was the Parapsychology Library, (TV: The Wheel in Space) a completely bare room with a semi-circular desk at which the librarian sat. (PROSE: The Wheel in Space) The power room contained the laser's capacitator bank, anti-magnetic field generators and a mini-greenhouse with rows of extraterrestrial plants. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

The crew had their own quarters, with Dr Gemma Corwyn's being decorated in pastel colours and doubling-up as her consulting room in her capacity as psychiatrist. Other locations included the generator area, the computer section, the astro-navigational guidance complex and the space meteorology area. (PROSE: The Wheel in Space)

Function[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Wheel served a number of functions, the most significant of which included acting as a radio-visual relay for Earth, a halfway house for long-distance spacecraft, a station for space research and as a stellar early warning system for potentially dangerous space phenomena. It was armed with an x-ray laser which was used to destroy meteorites and had a force field to protect itself. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Wheel was in operation by 2000, (TV: The Mind Robber; AUDIO: Prison in Space) 2079 (AUDIO: The Dying Light) or later (PROSE: The Indestructible Man) and was located between 24,564,000 and 161,350,000 miles from Venus. It was run by Controller Jarvis Bennett who once "kicked up a dust storm" upon finding that technician Bill Duggan had made his own greenhouse in the power room. Dr Gemma Corwyn, however, was able to convince him that it was good therapy for Bill.

Three years after the death of Dr Corwyn's husband, the Cybermen planned to use the Wheel as a beacon for an invasion fleet to rob Earth of its minerals. To this end, the Cybermen launched Cybermats to ruin the Wheel's stores of Bernalium before causing Hercules 208 to go nova, forcing the crew to take boxes containing Bernalium, with Cybermen beneath a false bottom, from the deserted Silver Carrier. Although they were successful in this, they were ultimately thwarted thanks to the Second Doctor, with the x-ray laser destroying the Cyber-ship and Sean Flannigan using the force field to defeat those in the process of infiltrating the loading bay. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

Zoe Heriot was returned to the Wheel by the Time Lords (TV: The War Games) after two years of travelling with the Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon (AUDIO: Legend of the Cybermen) with her memory of her adventures wiped. She was reunited with Tanya Lernov and went with her to return the Wheel to normal operations. (TV: The War Games) She became aware that she had physically aged and guessed that she had had her mind wiped.

Months after Zoe's return to the Wheel, a second attack by the Cybermen occurred, during which Captain Leo Ryan was captured and converted. Zoe was taken to become a Cyber-Planner and, during the process, remembered her adventures in the TARDIS. She used her newfound control of the Cyber-fleet to direct them away from the Wheel and Earth to the Land of Fiction and was, after the Cybermen's defeat, returned by the Sixth Doctor. (AUDIO: Legend of the Cybermen)

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

The crew of the Wheel. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

The controller of the Wheel was Jarvis Bennett. His second-in-command was Dr Gemma Corwyn, (TV: The Wheel in Space) the medical officer and psychiatrist. (PROSE: The Wheel in Space) Following both of their deaths, Captain Leo Ryan, a communications officer, assumed command. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

Enrico Casali was, like Ryan, a communications officer. Technicians included Chang, Elton Laleham, Kemel Rudkin, Armand Vallance and Sean Flannigan, although the latter also served as a security guard. Tanya Lernov was an astrologer (PROSE: The Wheel in Space) or astrogator whilst Zoe Heriot worked in the Parapsychology Library in a capacity best described as a librarian and serving as an astrometricist and second opinion. (TV: The Wheel in Space)