(This topic is in reference of @Dex Luther's Orbital Miner: http://forum.micdoodle8.com/index.php?threads/orbital-miner.2604/)
Space station dimensions could work like the Nether, one per primary planet (e.g. Overworld, Mars, Venus) and could be used to travel long distances in some kind of low orbit height, but the distances traveled in a Space station dim would be 1:1 ratio to the Overworld.
This idea would allow the player to install or create space stations, satellites or any geo-synchronous equipments (e.g. the orbital miner) covering certain areas of the planet. (EDIT: And perhaps, to be able to travel from a space station to another and to satellites.)
Currently, space stations (the structure) are always generated at 0,64,0; one per world in a separate dimension per player. In my idea, you could spawn more than one space station, anywhere in the space station dimension, referenced to the primary planet x/z-coords that you lift off from with your rocket.
To avoid space stations overlapping each other, the space station dimension would be divided into "regions" of 512x64x512 (if you know how world saves work, you know it already). Each region fits in a 512x512 grid centered at 0,0; this mechanics is like the Map item. And the building limit would be 128 blocks for each direction, so that two space station will not touch or get too close to each other.
For example, if you created a space station in the 0,0-region and want another, you have to travel 512 block along x or z axis for a free SS slot.
If you fall from a space station located at 768, 768, you will fall at the same coord in the overworld.
I love you Ezer! That idea sounds awesome.
Maybe to simulate the vastness of space and to make sure stations aren't too close or even easily visible from each other, the launch co-ords could be multiplied somehow.
If you launch from 768, 768 yours point in space would be something like 768 x1,000, 768 x1,000 = 768,000, 768,000. Someone launching from 770, 770 would send them to 770,000, 770,000, which would separate those stations by 2,000 blocks.
The default variable could be even bigger, maybe 10,000? That would make stations in the example 20,000 blocks away from each other.
The calculation probably shouldn't be straight multiplication though. If you launch from 0, 0, you'd end up at 0,0 in space. Then again, It still works since 0, 1 would put the next station at 0, 10,000. hmm
Getting back down to the surface could be simple division. 770,000 / 1,000 = 770
Since you mentioned my idea, I assume the same calculation would be applied to the orbital miner's beam?