Notes : One of two Starbase designs fielded in the 2320's, Starbase 173 was the more science oriented of the two. Both designs were based on the old and reliable Regula design, but significantly scaled up to provide the room for enhanced capabilities. Starbase 173 was designed to provide the usual functions of starship support, but was also intended to provide a deep space platform for scientific research of unparalleled quality. Although the base was primarily a scientific establishment, it was also designed with a significant combat capability of its own. This was underlined when Starfleet chose to site the first of these designs in Sector 23, near the Romulan Neutral Zone.

The scientific facilities are impressive, and include a dome which mounts a large telescope. The original design included a 70 metre diameter optical instrument, but different stations have mounted various instruments since then.

Starbase 173 was the site of an important Starfleet legal decision, when in 2364 Lieutenant Commander Data objected to Commander Maddox's plans to disassemble him as part of the ongoing research into Dr. Soongs work. The JAG officer for the sector, Phillipa Louvois, conducted a hearing in which Data defended his right to choose whether to undergo the procedure. With the base still not fully operational and few of the JAG crew assigned, Captain Picard and Commander Riker were forced to act as defence and prosecution council respectively. Picard was able to convince Louvois to rule in Data's favour, a landmark decision in the rights of artificial life forms.

Whilst at the station the Enterprise took several crew members aboard, including Ensign Sonia Gomez, a newly graduated officer on her first assignment.