The object appears to be a small space station in a decaying orbit around the star. There is a very faint signal coming from it, swamped by stellar interference. It shows all the earmarks of being a space suit emergency beacon. Due to stellar interference, no better info can be gleaned 'til the Thames gets within a kilometre or so.
Dyson Control replies,
"Samson here, Thames. You are authorised to investigate. We are copying your sensor readings and understand it to be a small space station. Be aware that due to interference you may be out of communication and that transporters may be unreliable, according to our sensors."
The
Thames approaches the station. It is a small structure about 50 metres in length. As the ship gets close enough, sensors read the station's environmental systems have been compromised, and only about half the station has any atmosphere at about half standard pressure with an oxy-nitrogen mix. One lifesign is intermittently readable but interference is such that its location is indeterminate. Transporter readings indicate that while it may be possible to beam over, there is a possibility of accidentally beaming into a bulkhead—explosively fatal— and getting a lock to beam back would be impossiuble even with transport enhancers. There does appear to be an airlock with atmo at one end, and a dimly lit window at the other end of the long side structure on the port side of the structure.
The
Thames is able to manœuvre so that the aft airlock mates with the station's airlock by way of the
Thames' extendable docking collar. Since the station is partly in vacuum and what atmosphere there is is thin and likely contaminated, space suits are called for. The Runabout is fully stocked, so the crew has the usual equipment.
Note that sensors do not record the furnishings. The only interior details discernable are the power plant at the aft end and the antenna array at the front with the suit transmitter. The blue areas are under pressure. The station's power is weak, coming from a single fusion battery. the airlock door is unpowered but there is a manual mechanism for emergency use. Tricorders can pick up the lifesign, but only can give an approximate direction with no range reading. Radiation levels are a little high, but not dangerous for the immediate future. To be certain hyronalin injections are available as a prophylaxis against short term exposure.