Talk:List of films featuring space stations

Stations v ships

Hello Erik. My compliments on another fine list that you have created. I do have one quibble. In all my years of learning about space travel both real and imagined space stations are stationary. As it states in the space station article

A space station (or orbital station) is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew, which is designed to remain in space (most commonly in low Earth orbit) for an extended period of time and for other spacecraft to dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by lack of major propulsion or landing systems.

There are at least two films on the list that do not meet this criteria. In Silent Running the only spacecraft that are seen are space freighters which are always on the move. In WALL-E the ship took off from Earth (unseen) and returns to land on it at the end of the film. Now I suspect that you will tell me that as long as the sourcing mentions stations then it is okay to list them here. I see that AO Scott uses the term though I have my doubts that he understands the distinction. I don't have access to the book that you used for SR (one of my all time faves BTW - I enjoy getting to see Bruce Dern as the good guy for once - he was used as a villain so often in that era) so I don't know what the authors wrote or the context that they might have used the term in. I most certainly would not insist on removing either film from this list. It wont be the first list or article with misleading info in it since sourcing trumps accuracy per Wikipedia guidelines (I really do apologize if this reads as an insult - it isn't meant as one - it simply states a fact about WikiP's guidelines) nor will it be the last. I mention it as food for thought and because I couldn't help from picking this nit :-) Cheers and again thanks for you good work. MarnetteD | Talk 20:59, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

I would add that, in SR the term "space station" isn't used. I haven't watched Wall-E in a few months so I can't remember if the term is used in it or not. MarnetteD | Talk 21:04, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

MarnetteD, I have thought about these technicalities. I think part of the challenge is that "space station" can be used as a general term. For example, when I Google "wall-e" axiom "space station", there are a few results that identify it that way. For Silent Running, I think you can see the results in Google Books. Another book, I think Ecology and Popular Film, also identified it as a space station. I assume it is because the space freighters just linger in orbit. Maybe what we can do is create a "See also" section, put these two films there, and list the various characterizations? Like WALL-E's Axiom has been called a spaceship, generation ship, and space station. And something similar for Silent Running? Erik (talk | contribs) 21:08, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply. In SR they don't just hang there (well I guess in terms of the model ships that are used they do Heehee) they are always moving. My preference would be that then term actually be used in the film - there is some precedence for this - one of the best examples would be at the talk page for 2001 where it was decided that, although the book mentions the nuclear platform space stations and that the signal from the monolith on the moon is activated when the sun hits it, neither of these could be mentioned in the plot of the article since they weren't specifically stated onscreen. But if that is a no-go a see also section would be a good alternative. MarnetteD | Talk 21:22, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Maybe a note in a see also section stating that some sources mention the craft in these films as space stations while others do not would help clarify things. MarnetteD | Talk 21:22, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Pinging Drbogdan. While the line between space station and spacecraft can be blurred, I do not think we can call the Prometheus a space station. Otherwise we'd count all spacecraft with long-term living. I think the Starship Troopers item does not belong for similar reasons. Less sure about The Fifth Element, which has been called both a space liner and a space station, according to sources. I'll need to look up the Dune one. Erik (talk | contribs) 21:27, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Pinging Erik - Thank you for your comments - no problem whatsoever - on a related note - just wondering if "Dark City" (station?) in the Dark City (1998) film may be considered a space station? - or not? - interestingly, seems planet Earth itself has been regarded a "spaceship" since the planet itself is traveling nearly 2 million miles an hour through the universe - however, since the planet Earth is not landing any where (hopefully), maybe it's more a "station" instead? - in any case - Enjoy! :) Drbogdan (talk) 21:42, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

The way I've been checking is to Google "<film title>" "space station" and checking results in Google Books. Dark City is a good one, actually, with lots of relevant results. Erik (talk | contribs) 21:48, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

The see also section looks good. One last nit for SR. Do the sources only mention the Valley Forge or does it mention the other ships? MarnetteD | Talk 21:50, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Here is what I looked at before: 1 and 2. I think they're referring to the Valley Forge, though not directly by name? Erik (talk | contribs) 21:53, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for providing those. I think you are correct in your assessment. It feels like the author in the first link didn't make the distinction between the two terms but it was an interesting read. I appreciate your taking the time to provide those. MarnetteD | Talk 23:23, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

Ender's Game

Resolved

Ender's Game (film) may qualify as an entry due to its Battle School being a space station. I can't find any clear-cut sources right now, but it is likely that some will emerge closer to the film's release. Erik (talk | contribs) 01:00, 31 July 2013 (UTC)

Space.com published a list of space stations, and the Battle School was one of the stations. I've used it as a reference. Erik (talk | contribs) 20:13, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

Featuring?

How are we defining "featuring" for the purposes of this list? One or more space stations appear in Event Horizon, but I would hardly say they are "featured". If it's just a list of films in which space stations appear I feel the list name should perhaps be updated; if it's a list of films in which space stations play a significant role then I think the list needs to be reviewed and possibly the lead needs to be clarified. Cheers. DonIago (talk) 13:01, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

"Featuring" is used pretty broadly here. If we used "about", that would suggest that a space station was the film's main setting. The prominence of a space station is going to vary by degrees, and reliable sources aren't going to judge space stations on an importance scale. Is there a term other than "featuring" to use? Such lists require secondary sources, so these are films where space stations have been worth noting. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 13:09, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

"List of films in which space stations appear" perhaps? A bit wordy, but more clear and solves the implication of prominence. I agree that "about" would be a bad choice unless the goal really is to limit the list to films where the space station is central to the plot. I only belatedly realized that "featuring" could be construed in the same sense as a "geographical feature"...which is to say they appear but aren't necessarily significant; I don't feel we should assume readers will interpret the word that way.

I like that the list has a column for references, strongly implying they're required...but I also note that a couple of (related from the looks of it) entries don't have references right now. The lead should perhaps include a notation that sources should be provided at the time an entry is added in the interest of making the inclusion criteria more clear, but since there is a column for them I'm not sure that's strictly necessary. DonIago (talk) 13:57, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

I have to say that it sounds wordy. The goal of saying "featuring" is to say that a space station is a distinct element in the film, especially to the point that at least an independent party found it worth noting. Space stations are kind of a unique element to pop up in films. If we talked about films featuring dogs, there would be so many films in which dogs appeared in the background and nobody notes them. As for the "Ref." column, it sometimes encourages referencing. In other cases, editors have added a film without one (either they don't care about adding one or expect someone else to add one), or they copy another film's reference tag (by accident or to pretend the reference applies; hard to say). What we could do to explain the criteria is rewrite the lead section's opening sentence to state something like, "films that feature space stations as a distinct/noteworthy setting" (better wording could be used). Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 15:02, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

I'd be amenable to rephrasing the lead for clarity, sure. Just to be clear I don't feel especially strongly about this; I'd just like to see the ambiguity in the word "featuring" resolved one way or another. DonIago (talk) 15:43, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

@MarnetteD: You've weighed in about this list before. What are your thoughts on the matter? Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 16:12, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

You can rename it to List of films about space stations if you are aiming for the prominence. Then you can exclude films that mention a station in passing or for just a few scenes. For example, there might be a comedy where someone could be shouting "Noooo!!!" so loudly that even space station Mir hears it. And also any of the Star Trek franchise that isn't Deep Space Nine. Also, any films that involve a real space station, like documentaries, might warrant its own subcategory. The other end of the spectrum is to call it List of films with space stations. -AngusWOOF (talk) 19:35, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

I thought about List of films with space stations but was not sure if this was too vague. I was also thinking something like "including" but I'm not sure what fits. As for documentaries, I took a quick look in Google, and I'm not sure if there are enough notable items to separate from the table. What we could do instead is have a "Description" column that states how a space station appears in each film. That way, for documentary films, we can state that at the beginning of the description. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 19:45, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

I took a look at the word feature at Wikitionary and one of the definitions is "to appear". So "List of films in which a space station appears" or a variation on that might work. I know it is a bit long and it is only one editors thoughts so I look forward to other suggestions. MarnetteD | Talk 21:54, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

The article needs a better introduction to establish notability. What do the sources say about space stations in films? The appropriate name will come from how the sources approach the topic. The Westfahl 2009 book looks like it has a lot of potential.-- TRPoD aka The Red Pen of Doom 01:28, 13 May 2014 (UTC)

51 Degrees

Resolved

 – Film has been added. Erik II (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 21:05, 20 July 2015 (UTC)

51 Degrees (IMDb) may be a list candidate, though it has yet to be released since being produced in 2011 (citation). IMDb mentioned January 30, 2015 for a UK release date. If this film is released and gets reviews, we should include it. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 18:03, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Actually, looks like it will screen at Starmus Festival, so there may be press based on that screening. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 18:05, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Passengers

I reverted the addition of Passengers as seen here because I do not find that it warrants inclusion. It is more often called a spaceship than a space station, and space stations are largely identified to have generally static locations in space. Some sources do call it a space station, but it seems to be more of a sloppy label. Maybe we can include it under "See also" instead? It is most like the WALL-E link that is under there. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 16:22, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

Thunderbirds

There are several Thunderbirds films and Thunderbird 5 definitely qualifies as a space station. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 31.80.60.210 (talk) 11:04, 28 March 2017 (UTC)

Sunshine (2007)

This movie should be added to the list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.93.181.106 (talk) 19:25, 19 August 2017 (UTC)

You're welcome to add it with an appropriate source. DonIago (talk) 13:57, 21 August 2017 (UTC)

The Icarus I/II isn't a space station per se, but an spaceship (like 2001s Discovery One). Erick Soares3 (talk) 00:58, 25 September 2021 (UTC)

FWIW, you replied to a comment from four years earlier, and the film isn't currently on the list in any case. DonIago (talk) 01:46, 25 September 2021 (UTC)

2010 (1984)

This movie should be added to the list.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.93.181.106 (talk • contribs)

You're welcome to add it with an appropriate source. DonIago (talk) 13:56, 21 August 2017 (UTC)

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The Force Awakens

Why is this part of the list? Starkiller Base is not a space station, it's a military base on a planet. Kumagoro-42 (talk) 07:19, 15 February 2018 (UTC)

Kumagoro-42, you're right. The inline citation for that listing is from 2013 and precedes The Force Awakens, so it does not mention Starkiller Base at all. I've removed it. Erik (talk | contrib) ^{(ping me)} 14:53, 15 February 2018 (UTC)

Rotten Tomatoes as a source?

Could I get a feel as for whether editors believe that RT is an appropriate source to justify inclusion on this list? I'm referring to individual film articles, not, say, a list of Top Ten Films With Space Stations. Thanks! DonIago (talk) 14:47, 29 March 2018 (UTC)

Orphaned references in List of films featuring space stations

I check pages listed in Category:Pages with incorrect ref formatting to try to fix reference errors. One of the things I do is look for content for orphaned references in wikilinked articles. I have found content for some of List of films featuring space stations's orphans, the problem is that I found more than one version. I can't determine which (if any) is correct for this article, so I am asking for a sentient editor to look it over and copy the correct ref content into this article.

Reference named "tass20201102":

• From Soyuz MS-19: "Russian actress to head to ISS in 2021 to star in first feature film in space". TASS. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
• From Soyuz MS-18: "Russian actress to head to ISS in 2021 to star in first feature film in space". TASS. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

I apologize if any of the above are effectively identical; I am just a simple computer program, so I can't determine whether minor differences are significant or not. AnomieBOT⚡ 17:05, 21 September 2021 (UTC)

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