Nerva Beacon
The Nerva Beacon, later known as the Ark or Terra Nova, was a space station located in the Sol System.
Name[[edit]]
Early in its history, the space station was known as Space Dock Nerva. (AUDIO: Destination: Nerva [+]Loading...["Destination: Nerva (audio story)"])
The station was known as the Nerva Beacon (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) by the late 25th century (AUDIO: The Cyber Nomads [+]Loading...["The Cyber Nomads (audio story)"]) and remained so in the 61st century. (AUDIO: Last Words [+]Loading...["Last Words (audio story)"])
In 6087, the Earth High Minister referred to the station as Space Station Nerva, a name which Vira used once she awoke in 16087. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"]) This was also the name Vural knew it by. (TV: The Sontaran Experiment [+]Loading...["The Sontaran Experiment (TV story)"]) It was also known as the Ark. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"])
According to some accounts, the station was known as Terra Nova. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Ark in Space [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Ark in Space (novelisation)"], Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment (novelisation)"])
History[[edit]]
Early history[[edit]]
Information from Return of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Return of the Cybermen (audio story)"]
The Fourth Doctor thought the station, or parts of it, was built in the late 29th or early 30th century. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"])
The Fourth Doctor and Leela visited Nerva at the very beginning, when it was a space dock orbiting Jupiter. They became involved in events surrounding an infection by the Drelleran in revenge for the actions of Lord Jack Corrigan. (AUDIO: Destination: Nerva [+]Loading...["Destination: Nerva (audio story)"])
The original purpose of the space station was as a beacon (hence the name) to warn spacecraft about the planetoid Voga, which in turn orbited the planet Jupiter. Nerva was at that time operated by the Interplanetary Space Command, which had its headquarters on Earth. Nerva served this function for thirty years.
After the Cyber-Wars, Nerva had a transmat link to the breathable interior of Voga. Nerva was apparently struck by a plague that wiped out nearly all of the fifty-strong ISC crew. Only three of the crew — Commander Stevenson, Lester and Warner — and one observer, named Kellman, survived. It was soon discovered that the plague was in reality an infection spread by invading Cybermen, a group of CyberNomads under a Cyber-Leader who planned to destroy Voga, only for their attempt to fail thanks to the intervention of the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan. (TV: Revenge of the Cybermen [+]Loading...["Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)"]) ArcHivist Hegelia believed that this event took place at the end of the 25th century. (AUDIO: The Cyber Nomads [+]Loading...["The Cyber Nomads (audio story)"])
Later history[[edit]]
In 6087, Nerva Beacon was moved to Earth orbit, where it served as a cryogenic storage facility, nicknamed "the Ark". Scientists had foreseen the Earth would become uninhabitable for five thousand years due to solar flares. Under the leadership of the Earth High Minister, they chose Nerva as a "lifeboat" — to quote Harry Sullivan's description. The rest of humanity was evacuated in thermic shelters, but they were apparently not expected to survive long enough to repopulate.
DNA samples of Earth's flora and fauna were stored on board and the bodies of selected human volunteers were placed in suspended animation. These people were genetically screened so the genetic pool of the survivors would be cross-matched, balanced and compact-evaluated. For this reason regressive humans, typified by 20th century humans, were not allowed. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"]
With Noah, Vira and Dune safely onboard, and all other crew members already in cryogenic suspension, the Nerva Beacon successfully departed from above High Brazil, at almost the very last moment, with the invaluable help of River Song and Samael Avner, who had infiltrated the station in order to warn them about Garrison Clay's plans for sabotage. (AUDIO: The Black Hours [+]Loading...["The Black Hours (audio story)"], Book of the Dead [+]Loading...["Book of the Dead (audio story)"])
After gaining enough clearance, power for the station was switched to (AUDIO: Book of the Dead [+]Loading...["Book of the Dead (audio story)"]) solar stacks. Having been repurposed, the transmat link now connected the station with Earth, rather than Voga. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"]) Billions of humans were successfully uploaded to the Library by River Song. (AUDIO: Book of the Dead [+]Loading...["Book of the Dead (audio story)"])
Waking up again[[edit]]
Due to a Wirrn infestation, a massive system failure occurred and the humans overslept. By the time they woke, ten thousand years had passed. The awakening humans had to fight off the Wirrn, but retook the station and recolonised the Earth. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"]) By another account, at this time the station was called Terra Nova. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Ark in Space [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Ark in Space (novelisation)"], Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment (novelisation)"])
The recolonisation process began in 16087. The main settlement was called Nerva City. It was built on the former site of New York City. (AUDIO: Wirrn Isle [+]Loading...["Wirrn Isle (audio story)"])
During those thousands of years, Nerva Beacon had become a legend: the lost refuge of mankind, sleeping while the rest of humanity was expanding their empire into the rest of the galaxy. (TV: The Sontaran Experiment [+]Loading...["The Sontaran Experiment (TV story)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit]]
- The Ark in Space Special Edition DVD release featured optional CGI effects.
