1609

Galileo builds the first astronomical telescope. His observations about the moon, planets in the solar system, the sun, and individual stars in the Milky Way confirm Copernican theories. The sky is no longer the sole domain of mystics.

Sir Isaac Newton postulates laws of universal gravitation – linking celestial and earthly mechanics – and his three laws of motion, and develops calculus to discover and describe his theories.

James Cook is appointed Captain of the Scooner H.M.S. Endeavour and begins first of three global voyages from 1768 to 1779, exploring and accurately mapping more of the earth’s surface than anyone else before or since.  He became the first European to set foot in Australia, the first to fix the position of remote places accurately, the first to establish longitude (one’s position east and west), and the first to have extensive contact with all the various peoples of the Pacific.

Astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli observes what he believes are markings on Mars, which he calls canali – Italian for channels or furrows. Canali is misinterpreted as "canals," suggesting artificial structures. With subsequent writings by Percival Lowell and others, humans actively speculate about intelligent life on other worlds.

The Wright Brothers build and fly the first motorized airplane in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, forever giving mankind "wings."

Albert Einstein introduces his Special Theory of Relativity and contributes to the development of quantum theory. Introducing the concept of space-time and postulating that mass and energy are equivalent and transposable, he formulates the equation E=mc?. In doing so, Einstein predicts that the velocity of light is the absolute "speed limit" in the universe.

Aviator Charles Lindbergh makes the first nonstop solo transatlantic airplane flight and galvanizes world interest in aviation.

Aviator Amelia Earhart, who captured the world's attention as the first woman to match Lindbergh's transatlantic flight, vanishes somewhere over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to circumnavigate the globe

It is reported that observers in Roswell, New Mexico, find a strange craft, and its crew, crashed in the desert. Officials claim the object was a weather balloon. People begin to believe beings from outer space are visiting Earth.

Test pilot Chuck Yeager travels faster than the speed of sound in a new rocket-powered plane. Yeager's supersonic flight begins the Jet Age.

Earth's Space Age, and the so-called space race, begins when the USSR puts an artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, into orbit around the planet.

Radio astronomer Frank D. Drake carries out humanity's first attempt to detect interstellar radio transmissions in an effort called SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). The stars chosen by Drake for the first SETI search are Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani.

Yuri Gagarin is the first human to achieve orbital space flight. His craft, Vostok I, circles the Earth once. The flight, which lasts less than two hours, proves that the human body can function in the weightlessness of space.

First manned lunar landing. The crew of Apollo 11 — Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (with Michael Collins remaining in orbit) — set down in the Sea of Tranquility, collect moon rocks, and return safely to Earth.

The Pioneer 10 Jupiter flyby space probe is launched. During its journey, the probe sends 500 images of this enormous planet, plus amazing technical data, back to Earth. This mission is followed up by Pioneer 11 and the Voyager series, all of which allow mankind to closely observe the large outer planets and their moons.

Viking 2 lands on Mars at Utopia Planitia and sends images from the planet's red surface to Earth. Viking conducts experiments to discover the presence of microorganisms. The test results are debated.

Pioneer 10 passes Pluto's orbit boundary and becomes the first man-made object to exit Earth's solar system. The probe carries an engraved plaque with a message of greetings from the people of Earth.

The first human habitat in permanent Earth orbit, the Mir space station, begins construction. Mir becomes a shared resource and training ground for future space stations.

NASA's space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after lift-off, killing all seven on board including the first private citizen in space. The tragedy brings the manned space program to a temporary halt pending an investigation.

An organization that places dead loved ones into cryogenic capsules orbiting Earth receives a brief surge in popularity. The hope is that future generations will revive the departed.

Earth scientists announce the discovery that a Mars meteorite may contain fossilized evidence of primitive bacterial life. While the findings are considered inconclusive, the possibility that life may exist or have once existed on the Red Planet adds urgency to Martian exploration efforts.

The sixth space probe in the Voyager series is launched and continues studying the planets in Earth's solar system.

Astronomers make the first direct observation of an extra-solar planet passing in front of a star, leading scientists to conclude that planetary systems may be a common phenomenon in the galaxy and boosting optimism that intelligent life exists elsewhere.

The first resident crew of the International Space Station Alpha launches into orbit, establishing a permanent human presence in space. Mankind is no longer a purely planet-bound species.

A terrorist attack on the United States leaves thousands of innocent civilians dead, a horrific tragedy that forces all nations of the world to re-evaluate their values and priorities, and galvanizes the people of Earth to strive harder to put their differences behind them.

Earth launches the first interstellar space probe, Nomad. Designed by Jackson Roykirk, Nomad is tasked with seeking out new life forms.

Captain Shaun Geoffrey Christopher leads a successful Earth-Saturn space mission, paving the way for the continuation of manned space exploration.

Propulsion technologies, and speeds, continue to improve. "Sleeper ships" become a thing of the past.

Zefram Cochrane is born.

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.

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.

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.

The first deep-space exploration vessel since 2037, the S.S. Valiant, departs Earth. Transmissions from the ship eventually die out.

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.

Humanity establishes a foothold on Mars and the colonization process begins.

Having learned the lessons of the last World War, the first united Earth government is established. Australia is the only nation that declines membership.

The Warp 5 Complex is established to create technology that will allow humans to safely explore deep space. Zefram Cochrane is present during the dedication ceremony. Cochrane, now advanced in years and a resident of the Alpha Centauri system, soon takes off for "parts unknown."

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.