Cryonics satellite

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

Cryonics satellites were used by Humans in the late 20th century to cryogenically preserve individuals who had passed away. They were equipped with solar panels, and divided into four interior sections. They held several cryogenically frozen Humans that had died of causes that the Humans believed would be treatable in the future.

One such satellite, launched in the late 20th century, had drifted out of Earth's orbit over the years, and by 2364 it had strayed into the Kazis binary system. Many of the cryogenic stasis pods on this satellite had been damaged, so only three of the passengers able to be revived when the USS Enterprise-D discovered it in 2364: Clare Raymond, Sonny Clemonds, and Ralph Offenhouse. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

[edit] Background

This studio model was designed by Rick Sternbach and Mike Okuda. It would later be reused to represent Relay Station 47.

The topmost segment of the cryonics satellite was labeled "4077", one of the many references to M*A*S*H.

According to Michael Okuda in the Star Trek Encyclopedia, "close inspection of the model for the cryonics satellite might reveal the name SS Birdseye." The name may be a reference to the Birds Eye frozen food company.