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Chapter 1: The Early Days of Space (1950?-2100)

1.0: Social

 

Earth (the name for the world in pre-catastrophe days), at the time of the earliest space flights, was a multinational world with over 160 separate states. Three of such states became powerful and influential enough to dominate the planet: The United States of America (sometimes called "America"), The Solidarity of Soviet Socialist Republics (sometimes called "The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" or the U.S.S.R.) , and The People's Republic of the One Land (Sometimes called "The People's Republic of China" or simply "China"). The three states, separated by different cultural and political philosophies, were involved in a rivalry that had lasting effect upon humanity's social and technical development. The planet's average technological sophistication was well into the Industrial Age by the time the S.S.S.R. launched its first primitive robotic space probe. The other nations soon followed, and in a decade, had people exploring Luna's surface. By the early 21st century, the first permanent space stations were constructed. Earth's low and high orbits were saturated with satellites and space travel lost its novelty status with the people. Humanity was making its initial steps, haltingly at first, towards a true space culture. The three major nations were to remain the primary explorers of space at this time. The three were rivals at first, but evolved into cooperative ventures by the 1990's. China was the last to cooperate, but started integrating their efforts with others by the 2060's.

 

Earth's nations at this time were involved in an arms race involving their latest weaponry, which had reached thermonuclear power. This represents a typical development paralleled by most sentient species reaching Advanced Industrial Age. Nuclear exchanges were very limited during this time, as no nation was willing to annihilate another for the sake of their own agenda. Towards the end of the 20th century, most conflicts reverted to small-scale campaigns using conventional military weapons and equipment. The major change to happen on the planet was the breakup of the S.S.S.R. towards the end of the 20th century. The former republic splintered into smaller states, many being rivals of each other. Many separate factions were causing instability around the planet, forming around cultural and/or religious differences. These differences would instigate a state of general war throughout the planet that would last until humanity seriously moved into space.

 

1.1: Technology

The first electronic computers were developed by the beginning of this era. These machines were primitive monstrosities that occupied whole city blocks and multiple stories. The computing power was minuscule - limited to simple arithmetical and algebraic functions. Their uses, however, showed the usefulness of developing the technology to increase productivity.  Within 40 years of their introduction, computers became small and convenient enough to become a major tool covering every facet of human life. The 21st century officially began the "Computer Age".

 

Energy production became a major issue during this time. The burning of fossil fuels using early combustion power plants was, albeit slowly, being supplanted by other forms of energy generation. Nuclear fission was used in most of the major industrialized nations, as well as solar, wind, hydro power, geothermal, and combustion of organic or base, abundant hydrocarbons (fuel cells). In the 2070's, fission reactor technology had become efficient enough to allow more compact and contained atomic systems that could fit easily into spacecraft. This did not sit well with most of the population at first, as many feared either the plants would go wrong or be used as a weapon against them. It took another 30 years before atomic power plants made an impact on spacecraft and space station architecture.

 

Space travel remained a primitive endeavor throughout this period. Chemical rocket propulsion was used almost exclusively. Crude plasma thrusters were introduced circa 2070, freeing ships from carrying oxidized bulk. The ships were still limited to very slow velocities and acceleration rates. It took months for any vessel, occupied or unoccupied, to reach an inner planet. Sometimes years to reach an outer world.

 

Spacers also had to suffer the effects of being away from sufficient gravity wells during long-term stays in space. Muscle atrophy was kept in check with rigorous exercise programs, but bone decalcification was harder to handle. The need for a steady gravity force of at least .4G's was, and still is for standard humans, a necessity for prolonged health. Towards the end of this period, genetic engineering is used on an experimental basis to combat the effect. These mods led to the first examples of MetaHumans. This mod was successful enough to inspire other genetic engineering projects in the years to come.