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Just starting a new game and there is a "Small Space Port (PRIVATE)" and listed as "(Abandoned)" in a system near my starting colony. Unlike abandoned ships I've run across in earlier games I cannot seem to figure out how to claim it. Does anybody know whether a Spaceport can be claimed like an abandoned ship can?

Highlight one of your explorer ships then right click over the spaceport. On the menu there should be a listing that says something like "investigate spaceport". That should do it.

This is indeed the textbook way but I had a surprise once with a base surrounded by kaltors. I brought some military to clear the way for the explorer to investigate it...only to find that the military also claimed it as soon as they were in range.
It seems that the investigation / claiming part does not require a scanner per se, it can be done by any ship.

Hello Mitchell.  It's also been my experience that some of the abandoned spaceports start out damaged and need to be fully repaired by a Construction Ship in order to claim them.

Ah, thanks everybody for the insight. I had brought ships in but not an explorer type and so will try that. If that doesn't do it then a constructor, too. I cannot tell if it is damaged - it does show having 200 shield power and 25 firepower with 190 range, but everything else is "(Unknown)".

You should usually see the condition of derelict bases quite easily. If it's damaged, it has same damage textures as ships and bases once you get their shields down and put some holes in them. You can also handily check this by selecting one of your constructors and checking if the cursor changes to repair when you point the base.

The abandoned spaceports in roid fields are THE BEST abandoned bases around. Not only do they give you an insight on the system, but some of them have mining equipment and not to mention weapons, which help protect additional mining bases from pirates and creatures. One of those in my capital system became more visited than the capital itself!!!! Dozens of ships daily passing through there.
My advice is to grab them ASAP, or just build one yourself.

Cheers

They also usually contain storyline elements

Indeed - once repairs were completed the base proved to be a valuable one, including a story line element. It's proximity to a number of valuable rocks and with a gas mine in the same system providing fuel make it quite a boon for the early phases of this game.