Drax's Space Station

"When the station breaks up, they'll disintegrate. They're harmless."

Drax's Space Station was a fictional clandestine space station constructed by Drax Industries. Billionaire industrialist Hugo Drax planned to use the station as a space colony for his 'master race', while annihilating the remainder of Earth's population with a deadly nerve toxin. Once the toxic contamination had cleared, Drax's 'perfect physical specimens' would return to Earth and repopulate the planet. The station first appeared in the 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, and its accompanying novelization. It was subsequently re-imagined for a 1985 talking storybook adaptation of the movie and Activision's 2012 video-game, 007 Legends.

History[]

Moonraker (film)[]

The space station first appears in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker, where it is discovered by the protagonists after they stow away on one of Drax's Moonraker space-shuttles. The station was approximately 260 m (858 ft) in diameter^[1] Despite its enormous size, the station's existence is kept a secret via a radar jamming device, which James Bond and Holly Goodhead manage to sabotage. At the top of the station was Drax's apartment. Now visible from Earth, an American shuttle is sent to investigate with two marine platoons under the command of Colonel Scott. Before Drax is able to destroy the shuttle using the station's laser weapon, 007 cuts out the colony's simulated gravity system and a space battle erupts outside between the opposing forces. As a result of the combat inside and outside, the station begins to lose integrity and eventually falls apart, exploding violently and destroying Drax's remaining nerve gas probes including the Moonraker shuttles #1 #2 #3 #4 and #6.

Alternate Continuities[]

James Bond and Moonraker[]

To be added

James Bond 007 Moonraker (Kid Stuff)[]

Drax's Space Station (Kid Stuff) — Drax's space station, as seen in Kid Stuff's adaptation of *Moonraker* (1985).

In 1985, the space station was re-imagined for a children's talking storybook adaptation of 1979's Moonraker, published in North America by Kid Stuff Records & Tapes. As in the film, Bond pursues Drax to his orbiting station; which, though similar to its cinematic design, has a much larger spherical module at its center and is described by Bond as being "as big as a moon". After 007 overpowers Drax and ejects him into space, he then sets about destroying the station's radar jamming equipment with the villain's laser pistol. Unlike the film, the station appears to survive intact. Nor do any characters get killed or seriously hurt, which was likely intentional to fit a Bond story intended for young children. The story ends with Bond escaping in a shuttle, then several hours later watching through a porthole as Colonel Scott and the space marines capture all of Drax's goons and take them into custody.

007 Legends[]

Over thirty years later, the space station made a second appearance in the Moonraker-inspired levels of the 2012 video-game 007 Legends. Unlike its film counterpart, the space station is more heavily armed and has a more futuristic and symmetrical design. Roughly following the plot of the 1979 film, James Bond and Holly Goodhead infiltrate Drax's space station and sabotage the toxin-probe launch system. As with the film, the marines are sent to investigate and Drax attempts to destroy their shuttles with the station's numerous laser canons. After some subtle coaxing from 007, Jaws switches sides and the three shut down the colony's artificial gravity and assist the marines in destroying the station.

Behind the Scenes[]

DVD commentary for the film explains that designer Ken Adam was completely frustrated when the station scene had to be destroyed to simulate laser gunfight.

Gallery[]

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Dougall, Alastair (1st October 2000). in Dave Worrall: James Bond: The Secret World of 007 (in En). London, United Kingdom: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley), pp.82-83. ISBN 0-7513-28-60-X.

[SWO007-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Dougall, Alastair (1st October 2000). in Dave Worrall: James Bond: The Secret World of 007 (in En). London, United Kingdom: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley), pp.82-83. ISBN 0-7513-28-60-X.

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