The Altair system was an inhabited planetary system in Sector 9. The system, which consisted of at least six planets, was of strategic importance to the Federation in the mid-23rd century. (TOS: "Amok Time", "Wolf in the Fold"; TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
Planets of the Altair system were the origin of such consumables as Altair water, the champagne Altairian Grand Premier, and the Altair sandwich. The Altarian encephalitis, a disease, originated in this system. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; TNG: "Datalore", "Future Imperfect"; DS9: "You Are Cordially Invited"). The system also hosted the Southern Vineyard (TNG: "Datalore") In the 2280s, a freighter could travel in nineteen periods from Altair to reach Gamma Hydra sector, Section 10. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
History
The personnel file of Darien Wallace
The Altair system had been involved in a long interplanetary conflict. The inauguration of the new president on Altair VI in 2267 helped to stabilize the area. The Federation sent three starships, including the USS Enterprise, to this historic event as a demonstration of friendship and strength. This demonstration was intended to cause ripples all the way to the Klingon Empire. (TOS: "Amok Time")
Darien Wallace was born on Altair IV. (TNG: "Eye of the Beholder")
In the early 2360s, first officer William T. Riker refused Captain Robert DeSoto of the starship USS Hood to beam down to Altair III. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
In 2371, Doctor Henri Roget of the Central Hospital of Altair IV, was awarded the prestigious Carrington Award for his work in the field of medicine. (DS9: "Prophet Motive")
| Altair system |
|---|
| Altair III • Altair IV • Altair VI |
Appendices
Background information
"AL-tair" was the pronunciation for this system's name from the script pronunciation guide for "Prophet Motive".
According to the first draft of the script for "Amok Time", the other two starships that arrived at Altair were the USS Endeavour and USS Essex. [1]
According to Star Trek: Star Charts (p. 44, "United Federation of Planets I") and Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library ("Federation Historical Highlights, 2161-2385"), the Altair (Alpha Aquilae) system was located in the Alpha Quadrant. The primary was an A-class star. In the 22nd century, this system was a destination on Earth and Vulcan trade routes. In the late 24th century, the system was largely independent, with only Altair IV listed as a Federation member.
According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 21), the star Altair (Alpha Aquilae) was the brightest star in the constellation Aquila the Eagle. This star was visible from Earth.
Apocrypha
According to the video game Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, the USS Constellation and the Klingon flagship, IKS K'lirta, engaged in combat at Alpha Aquila VII, prior to the Organian Peace Treaty.
External links
- Altair at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Altair at Wikipedia
- Altair system at the Internet Stellar Database
