New Caprica

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

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

Due to the surrounding nebulae, DRADIS is rendered practically useless -- an attribute which makes the planet prime for colonization by the Fleet's survivors. With this news, and unable to join up with the other Raptors on the rescue mission, Racetrack returns to Galactica with information and sensor readings on the planet.

The planet later becomes a galvanizing issue that Tom Zarek believes -- correctly, as it turns out -- would swing the Presidential election vote in Baltar's favor (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I).

Upon Baltar's ascension to the presidency, the President orders the colonization of the planet. Settling on the planet, the major population center on New Caprica becomes New Caprica City, which itself is populated by over 39,000 survivors. Over a year after settlement, there are major shortages of basic living materials and medical supplies. Most of the population still live in canvas tents instead of permanent homes of some sort. It appears many among the population of New Caprica City, including Tyrol and the workers' union which he now leads, blame Baltar and his policies as president for most or all of the continuing economic/social problems facing the settlers on New Caprica (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).

380 days after colonization, the Cylons discover New Caprica, lured by the energy signature caused by the detonation of the nuclear warhead that destroyed 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). Obviously, these events will have some effect on the permanance of New Caprica as a homeworld for humanity.

The exact population of New Caprica City is 39,192.

Significant characters left behind on New Caprica when the Cylons arrive at the season 2 cliffhanger, "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II," include former President Laura Roslin and current President Gaius Baltar, Colonel Saul Tigh and his wife Ellen, Major Cottle, Captain Kara Thrace and her husband Samuel Anders, Chief Galen Tyrol and his wife Cally, Presidential aide Felix Gaeta, Maya and her adopted daughter Isis.