there are 5 diffrend outposts:
Missle silo, normal, traning base, radar and gate.
The questing is what do they each do
?

Missile Silos allow you to create missiles which can be fired at your enemies to kill 10% of the units it hits, reduce other Outposts (OPs) into standard OPs again or other devastating effects.

Training bases allow you to build up to one squad at a time in another location besides your own colony.

Radars allow you to see more of the map, they give you a larger view then your colony and can be built to expand your line of sight.

Gates allow you to instantly teleport from one to another or even to your colony once you have the structure, this is used to move ships quickly and often silently.

Normal OPs can be used to relocate either yourself or a conquered colony. They are also able to be upgraded into one of the other types of OPs.