It took 8 stations, but I got yellow science built (the actual science isn't exciting, since most of the cost is in the LDS+blues). Running fine - costs a king's ransom, but it's running.
The only thing left is space science - I know I have the production for it, but have to figure out what my plan is for the satellites. I know I'll need two 12-beaconed silos, so it's a pretty sizeable cost of solar panels and accumulators where I can't just rely on feeding it from my starter base.