Historical Events
		1996
													Earth scientists announce the discovery of life on Mars based on a Mars meteorite containing fossilized evidence of primitive bacterial life. Other scientists do not draw the same conclusions from this evidence.
													The sixth space probe in the Voyager series is launched and continues studying the planets in Earth's solar system.
			1999
		1999											Astronomers witness the first extrasolar planet passing in front of a star, confirming that solar systems may be a common phenomena in other parts of the galaxy and boosting the odds that intelligent life exists elsewhere.
													Earth launches the first interstellar space probe, Nomad. Designed by Jackson Roykirk, Nomad is tasked with seeking out new life forms.
			2002
			2009
												Captain Shaun Geoffrey Christopher leads a successful Earth-Saturn space mission, paving the way for the continuation of manned space exploration.
		2018										Propulsion technologies, and speeds, continue to improve. "Sleeper ships" become a thing of the past
													Zefram Cochrane is born.
	2030
			2032									Lieutenant John Kelly, piloting the Ares IV command module in Mars orbit, reports the approach of a large unknown object seconds before he and his craft vanish. Crewmates Rose Kumagawa and Andrei Novakovich, on the planet surface at the time, are stranded but later rescued.
		2037											NASA launches a deep-space exploration vessel, Charybdis, with Colonel Steven Richey in command. This is the third mission of its kind to depart Earth. The first two were unsuccessful.
												World War III begins and humanity struggles to survive.
			2053
													In the post-war era, Zefram Cochrane converts an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the first faster-than-light, or warp, spaceship - the Phoenix. The Phoenix's test flight attracts the attention of other space travelers and "first contact" is soon made between humans and Vulcans.
			2063
														The first deep-space exploration vessel since 2037, the S.S. Valiant, departs Earth. Transmissions from the ship eventually die out.
		2065
			2067									John Burke of the Royal Academy is the first to map an area of space that contains Sherman's Planet.
												Because previous deep-space exploration attempts ultimately failed, a new approach, an unmanned probe named Friendship 1, leaves Earth with a message of peace, warp technology instructions, and an invitation to visit Earth.
		2067
		2103										Humanity establishes a foothold on Mars and the colonization process begins.
			2113									Having learned the lessons of the last World War, the first united Earth government is established. Australia is the only nation that declines membership.
			2119									The Warp 5 Complex is established to create technology that will allow humans to safely explore deep space. Zefram Cochrane is present during the groundbreaking ceremony. Cochrane, now advanced in years and a resident of the Alpha Centauri system, soon takes off for "parts unknown."
		2123											A privately-funded ship, the Mariposa, departs Earth carrying two groups of colonists bound for the Ficus sector and the two planets selected as their new homelands.
												Australia, the last holdout, joins the United Earth government.
			2150
												At yet another attempt at deep space exploration, the USS Enterprise departs Earth.
			2151
															To Our World