Genesis Planet

The Genesis Planet came into being following the detonation of the Genesis Device, a sophisticated invention that could (in theory) turn barren worlds into Class M environments. In 2285, a Federation science team lead by Dr. Carol Marcus chose a planet in the Mutara System to conduct the experiment on. Borrowing gaseous matter from the nearby Mutura Nebula, the initial results were astounding. The planet took on an Earth-like appearance, complete with a Terran atmosphere and geological structure. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

However, the creation of the planet caused a controversy from many of the galaxy's powers, forcing the Federation to declare the planet off-limits. A science vessel, the USS Grissom was dispatched to conduct preliminary data collection. It was soon discovered that the prescence of protomatter had contaminated the device's development matrix, which would eventually cause all the planet's ecosytems to develop erratically. This caused an accelerated period of growth, then a complete geological upheaveal. In time, the planet's surface turned molten.

Capt. Spock, killed in the fight over the Device with Khan Noonien Singh, was buried in space. His torpedo casing, however, completed a soft-landing on the planet. The resulting exposures re-animated him and he was rescued by the USS Enterprise. A rogue Klingon Bird of Prey, however, sought to steal the secrets of the Genesis Device. In the fight that followed, the Enterprise was destroyed and the head of the science team, David Marcus (son of Admiral James T. Kirk), was killed. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)