Rigel XII, also known as the Rigel mining planet, was the nearly uninhabited twelfth planet of the Rigel system. Based upon the source material, this is likely not the popular and populous Rigel system located less than ninety light years away from Earth, but rather an abbreviated name for a different Rigel system. If it had been the popular Rigel, the Enterprise would have had a variety of opportunities available when it's lithium crystals were burned out. Captain Kirk described this Rigel as "a long way out in space" when telling the miners how limited their own options were if they didn't aid him, and clearly saw Rigel XII to be the Enterprise's only possible source of rescue. An asteroid belt was located less than two days away at impulse speed. (TOS: "Mudd's Women", "I, Mudd"; ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights")
Conditions on the planet were harsh, and Human habitation was only possible in sealed pressure domes. The atmosphere was capable of supporting humanoid lifeforms. Grit and dust were everywhere, and sandstorms were a frequent occurrence. These storms were especially bad during a magnetic storm. Water was scarce, and plant life was twisted and sere.
In the mid-23rd century, Rigel XII was the site of a lithium mining operation run by Ben Childress with two partners. In 2266, con artist Harcourt Fenton Mudd, using the illegal Venus drug, attempted to sell Eve McHuron, Ruth Bonaventure and Magda Kovacs to the miners. (TOS: "Mudd's Women")
Template:RigelSystem
Appendices
Background information
In the final draft script of "Mudd's Women", sandstorms and wind weren't the only environmental conditions Rigel XII was established as having, as the planet's climate was also said to "get very hot."
The exteriors and interiors of Rigel XII were built as sets on Desilu Stage 10.
In the script of "From the First Day to the Last, Part II" (a precursor to TOS: "The Menagerie, Part II", Rigel XII was said to be a lithium mining operation.
According to Star Trek: Star Charts (p. 21), Rigel XII was classified as a H-class planet. However, according to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed,. p. 410), this planet was M-class.
External link
- Rigel XII at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works