History of the Commonwealth

The history and background to the formation of the Inviroate Commonwealth of the Federated Worlds is described here.


NASA begins its ‘Flight to Mars’ exploration programme, re-igniting interest in space travel.


A permanent research base is established on the Moon by NASA.


The first astronauts land on Mars.


The European Space Agency and NASA agree to a co-operation agreement to become the North Atlantic Space Exploration Agency (NASEA).


In an effort to catch up with NASEA, the China National Space Administration, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Russian Federal Space Agency form a pact called the Tiger Astronautic Consortium (TAC).


The first permanent base is established on Mars by NASEA.


Full-time mining operations begin on Mars; a new base element, named Xanatium, is discovered on Mars.


NASEA shares its Xanatium resources with the TAC, which develops a prototype of the reaction drive enabling super-fast space travel. In exchange, TAC shares its prototype engine with NASEA.


TAC cosmonauts orbit Jupiter and undertake experiments to harvest minerals from the gaseous clouds around Jupiter; an arms race between the East and West develops as the extent of the vast Jovian resources become known.


Tension escalates between East and West following an incident around Jupiter in which a cosmonaut is killed during a space walk. Allegations by TAC are made against the NASEA astronauts accusing them of murder.


Tension continues to build, eventually culminating in a devastating war fought between East and West over the rights to exploitation of planetary resources. Large parts of North America become uninhabitable due to the use of nuclear weapons by the Asian forces.


The whole of North America is declared an environmental disaster zone at the Earth Summit held in Bangalore.

After a series of co-ordinated military coups in China, Korea and Japan, the Pan-Asian government is formed as a benign dictatorship; Pan-Asia launches a humanitarian scheme to help the dispossessed population of North America.


A new prototype of the Xanatium reaction drive is unveiled by TAC, which allows spacecraft to travel at close to the speed of light.


The Anatoly Heavy Engineering Company is awarded the contract to construct an exploration vehicle for the TAC mission to explore deep space. Allegations of corruption surround the company executives and government officials involved in negotiating the contract.


The first mission beyond the Solar System is launched, although the ship, the Solar Orbiter, is never heard from again once it passes Pluto. The crew are presumed dead.


Another manned mission is launched, aboard the Solar Orbiter iI, to explore beyond the edge of the Solar System.


The Solar Orbiter II returns from its mission bringing valuable data about the galaxy.


Dr Helmut Strane and his team of bio-researchers pioneer a micro-surgical technique for implanting bionic components into monkeys


With some planets, moons and habitats growing in wealth and influence, a summit of Earth leaders agree to form a pan-Earth government under the International Concord Agreement, which creates five semi-autonomous governmental districts.


The first sitting of the new Earth government meets in Buenos Aires. During the inaugural session, a rogue habitat orbiting Earth launches a missile strike killing thousands in the new capital.


The first of many spaceships are launched towards Earth’s nearest star systems to begin colonisation in what is to become known as the First Region.


Celebrity reporter, Waazuu, exposes Dr Strane who is incarcerated for illegally buying and experimenting on prisoners.

Continue to the next page of the Commonwealth's history.


<back to top>