Orbital rings are a network of interconnected space stations, or a single continuous station, surrounding a planet, moon, or other celestial body. Fictional orbital rings may be tethered to the planet or free floating in near orbit. Orbital rings may act as space shipyards, as an important spaceport, as a defensive perimeter briming with artillery, as a generator for planetary shields, or as a vacation destination for a planet’s wealthy. A similar planet-sized ring without a planet at its’ center is called a ringworld or Niven ring. A ring with a sun at its’ center may be a portion of a Dyson sphere.

To support a population living on an orbital ring, critical infrastructure will need to be in place. Expansive ventilation systems and water piping will need to be present supported by a network of maintenance rooms and maintenance corridors. These areas (some of which may be open to the vacuum of space) can provide new locations for narratives to expand into. Fire suppression methods as well as medical bays offer worldbuilders the opportunity to explore new fictional diseases as well as other life or death situations. Worldbuilders should decide if the orbital ring has the capability to grow food or if it is imported from the world below or other location. If it is grown on site, hydroponic farms may be present. Lastly, consider power systems. Orbital rings may be powered internally through a power plant, may be coated with solar panels, or may get power through some other means. Power failures are common narrative events and as orbital rings are unstable in their orbit without constant small adjustment, a power failure could result in collision with the encircled planet.