Vega III is the third planet in orbit of the star Alpha Lyrae and part of the Vegan star system. It is inhabited by humanoid Vegans.
It is a desert planet, with the surface and sky appearing brown from orbit. Vegan mining facilities extract korium, a valuable metal used in starship construction. (TOS novella: The Prisoner of Vega)
It has no moons. (ST reference: Worlds of the Federation)
Contents
History and specifics
In the 2260s, Vegan Queen Vanadala offered to sign a mining treaty with the Federation for the planet's supply of korium. When they received a signal they thought was from the starship USS Enterprise, Vanadala inadvertently invited Klingon Commander Kalor's ship to land on the surface. His troops kidnapped Vanadala to compel her citizens to give him supplies of korium. James T. Kirk and Spock were able to capture Kalor and free Vanadala, which made it possible for the citizens to drive the remaining Klingon forces off of Vega III. (TOS novella: The Prisoner of Vega)
Notable residents
Background
- As Vega III's humanoid inhabitants were referred to as Vegans, they might have some connection to the Vegan civilization that was wiped out by Vegan choriomeningitis, or to the Vegan members of Marcos XII's population and the Human colonies on Vega IV or Vega IX.