Human Exploration of Space

From Autonomicon Mk. II

Pre FTL

Throughout the 1950s dozens of rockets were sent into orbit by the major powers of Earth. Most relied on captured Scinfaxi technology, but eventually, mankind was able to travel into space on there own devices.

The Greater German Reich had the initial technological advantage, and became the first human power to land on the moon in 1967. The other powers followed in the next decade, the Soviet Union built a space station in 1973, a Democratic Federation station followed in 1979.

By the 1980s, space exploration had slowed as more resources were put into faster propulsion rather then manned missions. It had become clear to all of humanity that Earth was no longer a safe haven, if the human race was to survive, it would need to settle on new worlds.

The Democratic Federation was the first to develop faster then light travel, and sent out dozens of scout ships, followed by colony vessels. The Greater German Reich too began to seek out new worlds for its people, and began to leave the Earth in ever increasing numbers.

By 2100, the Soviet Union was still system locked. Many thought Russia lacked the research and scientists needed for such an engine. However, without warning in 2101, 40 Soviet colony ships launched from Mars, accelerating to a speed faster then any human ship before it.

Post FTL

The universe was now an open playing field as almost every human nation was now in possession of faster then light spacecraft. The greatest fear that the early pioneers faced was coming into contact with a Scinfaxi controlled world. Various probes were sent out to all nearby stars and a picture soon emerged of where the greatest danger lay.

Eventually, the human powers found their own areas of expansion, separate from each other, but all within a small radius of Earth.