2073

Historical Events

• More than 50 warp-powered ships departed Earth since 2063.
• In Earth's own first initiated first contact, the SS Leif Eirickson arrives in orbit of Tellar. The ship radios home the report of contact with another sentient, space-going species, though the transmission won't arrive until 2284.
• The remains of the pre-war defense net of Earth detected a small vessel of unknown configuration entering a Neptunian approach corridor claimed by both Texan and Central African gas mining corporations. A task force of ten ships, led by the Liberty class USS Bonhomme Richard, intercepted a Tellarite explorer-merchantman, unknowingly the second contact with that species within mere days.
• Captain Tarasco of the SS Valiant initiated self-destruct as the dire consequences of the encounter with the galactic barrier were realized.
• The first series-produced interstellar spaceship class, the Verne survey cruiser, was fielded to serve under the United Earth flag. The nations operating the Verne ships promised to make all their findings public through the UE Space Probe Agency (a promise only partially kept).

It is assumed that the United Earth flag is flown by the New United Nations, until the rise of the actual United Earth in 2130.

• The DY-430 is replaced by the newer DY-500 model for colonization efforts.

Conjecture. The DY-500 is produced after the DY-600 (by 2 years) due to a longer development period.

• July:The Bonaventure successfully returns from Tau Ceti.

The time of return is assumed: the year comes from the source's eight-year statement and the month to coincide with departure.

References

2072

21st century 2070s

2074