New Caprica

For the Video Game's "New Caprica", see New Caprica (Video Game).

New Caprica as seen from space.

New Caprica is the name given to the harsh but fairly habitable planet found by The Fleet. It was discovered by Racetrack by mere happenstance -- after the Raptor she was in Jumped to the wrong coordinates.

Due to the surrounding nebulae, DRADIS is rendered practically useless -- an attribute which made the planet prime for colonization by the Fleet's survivors. With this news, and unable to continue jumping to Caprica, Racetrack jumped back to Galactica, providing information and sensor readings on the planet.

The planet later becomes a galvanizing issue which Tom Zarek believes -- and believes correctly -- would swing the vote Baltar's way (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I).

Due to Baltar's ascension to the presidency, he ordered the colonization of the planet. Settling on the planet, the major population center on New Caprica became New Caprica City, which itself is populated by over 39,000 survivors. Over a year after settlement, there were major shortages of basic living materials and medical supplies. Most of the population still lived in canvas tents instead of permanent homes of some sort.

380 days after colonization, the Cylons discover New Caprica, lured by the energy signature caused by the detonation of the nuclear warhead that destroyed the Cloud 9. When the Cylon fleet jumps into orbit, the fleet jumps away to an unknown location while President Baltar surrenders (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).