Planets are rated acording to development. Planets CAN be colonized, and then developed. As planets reach larger levels of development, they afford more benefits to the owner. Raising the development level of a planet takes time and dilithium. This is the Planet Level shart (NOTE: Benefits are NOT cumulative. The benefits listed in the planets CURRENT level are the benefits of the planet. Also, all stations/starbases in the description are considered integral portions of the planet. They use the stats of other stations/bases. Should a planet be REDUCED a level, these stations/bases are lost as well):
Level 0: This level of development is self explanitory. No one lives here. The empire that holds this planet gains no benefit. These planets may need to be terraformed before any type of colonization can occur.
Terraforming (If needed): 10 Dilithium, 14 days RT
Colonization (Advance to Level 1): 12 Dilithium, 16 days RT
Level 1 : This is a newly colonized planet. It still has no benefit, but everything has to start at the begining.
Pop: 50,000
Planetary Defenses: 0
Benefits: Depot/Storage ability
Advance to Level 2