Welcome to the game and the forum Andy.
Dont be too frustrated, it will come to you. Eventually you will be like the rest of us, hooked and modding new addons to the game.
As to your question, it is a platform that you will use to defend your planet with in combat. You will need to place weapon mounts and shielding on the platform for better defense. Another good suggestion is armor. This way, when the computer or other players attack you, it is better for defending and warding off the enemy ships. Hope this helps....
