Vulcan was an M-class inhabited planet in the Vulcan system, in the Alpha Quadrant. This was the homeworld of the Vulcan species, and was a founding member of both the Coalition of Planets in 2155 and the United Federation of Planets in 2161.
Vulcan, as seen from orbit, was largely red in color, with some greens and browns.
Vulcan had a noticeably higher gravity and thinner atmosphere than Earth. It was a mostly arid planet, with many large jutting rock formations, with most of the surface consisting of large deserts or mountain ranges, along with scattered small seas. Desert areas were prone to large amounts of heat, light, and electrical sandfire storms. (ENT: "The Forge", "Awakening", "Kir'Shara")
- See also: Vulcan history
As early as the mid-20th century the planet Vulcan had contact with the Tellarites and, covertly, with Humans. By the late 21st or early 22nd century they had established contact with the Humans, Cardassians, Klingons, Tholians, and Trill, among others. (ENT: "Carbon Creek", "Future Tense"; DS9: "Destiny")
Before co-founding the Federation in 2161, Vulcan was in conflict with Andoria. It controlled the Coridanite government, and had exchanged ambassadors with Earth and Qo'noS, among others. (ENT: "Zero Hour", "These Are the Voyages...", "Shadows of P'Jem", "Broken Bow")
- Main article: Destruction of Vulcan
In 2258, the planet had a population of six billion, when it was attacked by the Romulan Nero in his vessel, the Narada. The Narada deployed a drill platform in the planet's atmosphere, and began drilling into the surface. A distress call from the planet resulted in the deployment of eight Federation starships to the planet, where all but the USS Enterprise were destroyed by the Narada. The drill platform was ultimately disabled, but not before the energy stream had penetrated the planet's core.
A canister containing red matter was then dropped into the drill hole and detonated when it was consumed by the planet's core. This created a singularity at the heart of the planet, which began consuming the planet from the inside out. With only minutes remaining, the planet's population attempted to evacuate. Acting Enterprise captain Spock rescued several members of the Vulcan Council before the planet was lost.
Since Spock found his parents and members of the Vulcan High Council in the katric ark, a chamber within Mount Seleya, it is possible many of the greatest minds of Vulcan were saved through a transference of their stored katra, thus "preserving Vulcan's cultural heritage."
The number of survivors from the planet was estimated to be fewer than ten thousand. The total number of remaining Vulcans, including those off-world at the time, is uncertain but the number was low enough for Spock to consider his race an "endangered species". (Star Trek)
In the comic crossover mini-series Star Trek - Green Lantern: The Spectrum War, an ancient cosmic being named Nekron, who had crossed over from another universe arrives where Vulcan used to be in 2262 and used his power to resurrect the planet and its inhabitants so that he could begin a new conquest of death in the universe. The Enterprise arrives with several Lanterns from the same universe as Nekron and battle him and his undead army. Kirk then has Spock where all seven Lantern Power Rings, correctly guessing that Spock had the sufficient strength needed to channel the entirety of the Emotional Spectrum and summon the Life Entity to defeat Nekron. It then uses its power to cleanse every trace of Nekron's power, which results in the destruction of Vulcan once again.