2078…August: Nine space habitats declare themselves low-tax societies.

2078…November: First Progressive Conclave gathers at Nuzima habitat; fifteen billionaires sign Utopial pact to bring post-scarcity civilization to humanity. Each launches asteroid colony expansion, with an economy based on AI-managed self-replication industrial base.

2079…China National Interstellar Administration launches starship Yang Liwei. Destination: Trappist 1. Achieves .82 light speed.

2081…All Earth’s energy supplied by solar powerwells. Connexion largest energy customer.

2082…Major national currencies now backed by kilowatt hours. Global de facto currency is wattdollar.

2082…Interstellar-X–led General Starflight Accord signed between all starfaring organizations (capable of building starships) and governments, ensuring open access to new stars and no duplicated star missions.

2082–2100…Twenty-five portal-rocket starships launched from Sol to nearby stars.

2083…Orion arrives at Alpha Centauri. Psychroplanet discovered 2.8 AU from star, named Zagreus. Too expensive/difficult to terraform. Eleven government missions transfer into Centauri system and establish asteroid manufacturing bases, along with eight independent asteroid companies. Construction of multiple portal starships at Centauri system begins.

2084–2085…Twenty-three starships launched from Centauri.

2084…Last car factory on Earth (in China) shuts down. Connexion hub network serves ninety-two percent of human population, including space habitats.

2085…Utopials launch starship Elysium.

2086…Alpha Centauri asteroid manufacturing stations abandoned. Small joint-venture solar rocket plasma monitoring station maintained in orbit around the star, providing drive plasma for the starships.

2096…Chinese starship Tranage arrives Tau Ceti, exoplanet discovered.

2099…Chinese begin terraforming of Tau Ceti exoplanet, named Mao.

2107…US starship Discovery arrives Eta Cassiopeiae. Exoplanet discovered.

2110…US begins terraforming Eta Cassiopeiae exoplanet, named New Washington.

2111…European Federation agrees to terraform exoplanet at 82 Eridani, named Liberty.

2112…Elysium arrives at Delta Pavonis. Terraform-potential planet discovered, named Akitha. Construction of habitat Nebesa and extensive orbital industrial facilities. Terraforming of Akitha begins.

2127…The Yang Liwei arrives at Trappist 1. China begins terraforming two Trappist exoplanets T-1e and T-1f, Tianjin and Hangzhou.

2134…New Washington terraforming stage two complete, open only to American settlers.

2144…Olyix arkship Salvation of Life detected 0.1 light-year from Earth as its antimatter drive is switched on for deceleration. Communication opened. Four-year deceleration to Earth-Sun Lagrange-3 point opposite side of sun from Earth.

2150…Earth population 23 billion; 7,462 space habitats completed, population 100 million.

2150…Olyix begin to trade their biotech with humans in exchange for electricity to generate antimatter, allowing them to continue their voyage to the end of the universe.

2153…Mao declared habitable. Farm settlers transfer from China, begin stage two planting—trees, grass, crops. Fish introduced into ocean.

2162…Neána mission reaches Earth.

2200…Eleven exoplanets now in stage two habitation. Large-scale migration from Earth. Twenty-seven further exoplanets undergoing stage one terraforming. No more being developed; fifty-three marked as having terraform potential. Portal starship missions ongoing, but reduced.

2204…Portal starship Kavli arrives in Beta Eridani system, eighty-nine light-years from Earth. Detects beacon signal from alien spaceship.

Dedication