Offworld Colony

Hadley's Hope, a colony located on LV–426

"Hey, Bob! I heard that you and the family are heading off for the colonies!"
"Best decision I ever made, Phil. We'll be starting a new life in a clean world. No crime, no unemployment…"

―Weyland–Yutani advertisement (from Aliens (novel))

An offworld colony was a permament habitation outside Earth. Colonies often utilized such technologies as controlled ecological life support systems, terraforming, automated manufacturing, and construction techniques. Colonies were established using colony ships.

History

"Our colonies are dying. Unbearable temperatures, novel diseases every cycle. Toxic mine fumes. It's all one unforeseen tragedy after the other."
"Mankind was never truly suited for space colonization. They're simply…simply too fragile. They're too weak. The work of this station aimed to change that."

―Andy and Rook (from Alien: Romulus)

The very first offworld colony was established on Luna, August 10th, 2031, with the Luna colony and followed by the Sea of Tranquility colony in 2041.

The United Americas founded two more settlements: Plymouth and Olympia, while Sieg and Son established a manufacturing plant on the Earth's moon in 2066.

On May 28th, 2039, using the Weyland Corp Atmospheric Processor, the first functional and breathable atmosphere was produced on planet GJ 667Cc, clearing the way for further terraforming activities on other planets.

On August 18th, 2042, after a awarded government contract, Weyland Corp built and maintained a Class E Correctional Unit on HD 85512b. Prisoners from Earth and other facilities were successfully relocated, and many have since been rehabilitated into society.

On March 9th, 2072, Weyland Corp reorganized into seven divisions, including the Terraforming Division.

The continuing human colonization of new planets was administrated by the Extrasolar Colonization Administration, while its security depended mainly on the Colonial Marshals and Colonial Marines Corps. Commerce was handled by the Interstellar Commerce Commission. Offworld colonies were often funded by corporations.

Types of colony

By setting

Habitable or biocompatible planets

"I don't know Scott. But I'll just bet you... Ryushi is somebody's idea of Paradise"

―Tom Strandberg to Scott Conover

The Prosperity Wells colony on Ryushi, an example of an Earth-like planet

These worlds were by far the easiest to colonize. Terrestrial planets were often qualified by, but not limited to, certain criteria: planetary size within the range of 0.5-2.0 Earth's radius, similar surface gravity, star size and type, orbital distance and stability, axial tilt and rotation, similar geography, oceans, a strong magnetosphere capable of retaining an Earth-like atmosphere, and even the presence of complex life. Examples of this colony type included the Primary Operations Complex on LV-1201, Prosperity Wells on Ryushi, and the eponymous colony on Zagreus.

Easily terraformable planets

"It's what we call a 'shake and bake' colony."

―Van Leuwen to Ripley, regarding Hadley's Hope

Hadley's Hope on LV-426 was an example of a colony on an easily terraformable world or, in this case, a moon.

Other planets or even moons might be rendered biocompatible and even possibly habitable by the use of Atmosphere processing stations, Atmosphere presurizers or other techniques like algae bloom tanks.

Depending on the properties of the planet, creating a breathable atmosphere could take decades as in the case of Hadley's Hope.

Examples of this type of colony included Hadley's Hope on LV-426, Freya's Prospect on BG-386, and Trono on LV-871.

Space stations

"Welcome to Sevastopol Station, your home away from home. Conveniently situated in the Zeta Reticuli region, the station is a gateway to commerce and resources in this quadrant."

―Sevastopol tourism broadcast

Sevastopol Station orbiting the gas giant KG-348 was an example of a permanent space-based habitat.

Space stations were a form of permanent habitation on celestial bodies like planetoids or asteroids unsuitable for terraforming, or in conditions for an enclosed environment. These installations could be placed in geostationary orbit or in Lagrange points. Examples included Gateway Station, Sevastopol Station, Novgorod Station, Mendel Station, and Renaissance Station.