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Interstellar Colonisation Before the First Federation Era
Starlark.
Image from Steve Bowers

The First Missions

The first interstellar missions were either launched as investigative probes by the human population of the Solar System, or launched by independent artificially intelligent entities of various kinds, often as a way of escaping human domination.

Ship name Affiliation Destination Colony Name Distance ly Launch year AT Arrival year AT Notes
Project Frontier probes Project Frontier Alpha Centauri Cenaurinume 4.370 221 283 Unmanned probes
Otto Struve New Worlds Project Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 250 Failed Unmanned probe, lost in 331
Giordano Bruno New Worlds Project Tau Ceti Nova 11.912 265 438 Unmanned Probe
Bruce Campbell New Worlds Project Epsilon Indi Gatlida 11.867 280 457 Unmanned Probe
Caroline Herschel New Worlds Project Delta Pavonis Aristotle 19.92 291 483 Unmanned Probe
Unnamed Ahuman AIs GJ 3379 Ithiplumo 16.8 300 500 No biont colonists
Unnamed Ahuman AIs Gliese 65 Violets 8.730 310 465 No biont colonists
Aschere Prometheus Incorporated Alpha Canis Majoris Sirius 8.600 329 415 Unmanned Probe
Unnamed Ahuman AIs Wolf 359 Akela 7.860 335 450 The Chandelier
Zhang Qian Exa Energy Alpha Canis Minoris Procyon 11.460 338 501 Unmanned Probe
Unnamed Solipsist League Gliese 65 Violets 8.730 342 470 No biont colonists
Pink Rabbit Ahuman AIs EZ Aquarii Red Dwarf Kings 11.1 346 571 No biont colonists
GULO Ahuman AIs EZ Aquarii Red Dwarf Kings 11.1 351 576 No biont colonists
That's Wonderful Ahuman AIs EZ Aquarii Red Dwarf Kings 11.1 353 578 No biont colonists
Chamba Virgo Efforts 61 Virginis Othelia 27.836 358 639
Miloslav Virgo Efforts Beta Virginis Zavijava 35.650 366 736 Hijacked by ahumans
1,200 Transient Realms Gamma Cephei Errai 44.977 370 910 ahuman
Vikram Hindustan Aerospace Alpha Aquilae Altair 16.730 385 557 AI malfunctioned
Unnamed Ahuman AIs Gliese 229 Dustbuilders 18.8 430 700 No biont colonists
Unnamed Outbound AI Sphere Chi1 Orionis Organic Ascension Alliance 28.26 453 930 No biont colonists
Unnamed PackRat Spore Alpha Centauri Cenaurinume 4.370 460 850 Presumed destroyed by Nauri

Interplanetary Age Crewed Missions

Throughout the early 5th century infrastructure for (biont) crewed interstellar travel was invested in and slowly established. Amat farms, boostbeam stations and starship-capable shipyards gradually came together. In 465 AT the first human colonists left the Solar System, several more starships were in construction at the same time allowing for relatively close launches less than a decade later. For nearly a century, biont sophonts began to spread out across the solar neighborhood. At the same time, a number of missions launched from the cultures that would eventually form the Deeper Covenant.


Ship name Affiliation Destination Colony Name Distance ly Launch year AT Arrival year AT Notes
Tsiolkovsky Nova Terra Foundation Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 465 588 First manned colony mission
Advance Gengineer-Martian Struve 2398 Jinvanco 11.390 472 637 First beamrider mission
Intercessor Marian-Catholic 82 G. Eridani Terranova 19.710 479 (717) Failed to stop
Karl Schroeder Cislunar Alliance Ross 128 Tiwa 11.030 481 642 Beamrider mission
Cygnus 1 Exa Energy 61 Cygni Trip 11.41 485 597 Project Cygnus
Swift Prudence Foundation Epsilon Indi Gatlida 11.81 488 610 Autonomous ship with no biont colonists
Evolution New Life Consortium Delta Pavonis Aristotle 19.920 491 691 First mission to a planet with a biosphere
Cygnus 2 Exa Energy 61 Cygni Trip 11.41 500 612 Second of five
Tianzhou 1 Heavenly Palaces Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 501 678 Chinese and Genetekker mission
Kelkemesh Gengineer Republic Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 502 595 First of three independent missions
Mingkwan Southeast Asia Consortium Ross 128 Tiwa 11.030 506 617 no biont colonists
Red Tau Ceti Shuttles Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 509 621 First of five, became a museum
Mayari Cislunar Alliance Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 511 603 Second of three independent missions
Tianzhou 2 Heavenly Palaces Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 511 688 Second of five
Sure Prudence Foundation Epsilon Indi Gatlida 11.81 514 636 First colony ship to arrive, suffered cryonics failure
Cygnus 3 Exa Energy 61 Cygni Trip 11.41 515 627 Third of five
Philip K. Dick 55 Cancri Copernicus 41.066 517 933 Autonomous probe
Arkady Beta Comae Berenices Chloris 29.950 518 808 First biont mission
Cinnabar Martian Union Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 519 607 Last of three independent missions
Tianzhou 3 Heavenly Palaces Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 521 698 Third of five
Franklin New Shoot Chi1 Orionis Organic Ascension Alliance 28.26 523 826 Genetekker mission
Orange Tau Ceti Shuttles Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 524 636 Second of five
Bintang Harapan 1 Indonesia Tabit Daedalus I 26.320 527 893 Second mission to reach Tabit
Cygnus 4 Exa Energy 61 Cygni Trip 11.41 530 642 failed - destroyed by micrometeoroids
Tianzhou 4 Heavenly Palaces Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 531 708 Fourth of five
Mabugana Mabugana Union Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 533 675 Habitat converted to interstellar ship
Bintang Harapan 2 Indonesia Tabit Daedalus I 26.320 537 903 Destroyed en route
Yellow Tau Ceti Shuttles Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 539 651 Third of five
New World Look Outwards Combine Zavijava Pacifica 35.650 541 868 Originally New America
Walk of Omega Omegans Chi1 Orionis Organic Ascension Alliance 28.260 543 1033 Pursuit vessel
Siris Siris Foundation Barnard's Star Barnard Belt 5.958 544 1021 Converted habitat
Cygnus 5 Exa Energy 61 Cygni Trip 11.41 545 657 Last of five
Rannamaari Gengineer Republic Luhman 16 Yin-Yang 6.503 548 632 First beamrider to arrive
Gerald Nordley Beamrider Network Wolf 359 Akela 7.860 548 633 Discovered the Chandelier
Turing Hetero-semiotics Tabit Daedalus I 26.320 550 869 Arrived first
Mendel Genetekkers Psi5 Aurigae Dionysos 53.900 553 985 Longest range colony mission yet
Green Tau Ceti Shuttles Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 554 666 Fourth of five
Perpetua Mure Gurupu Gliese 752 A The Perpetua Project 18.720 556 936 No biont colonists
Unnamed Nauri Luhman 16 Yin-Yang 3.577 562 597 Kacimba precursor mission

The Technocalypse

When the Solar System was hit by the Technocalypse in 565 AT, only a few colony missions were able to escape the chaos. GAIA, the new Goddess of Earth, quickly assumed control of the boostbeam stations to prevent them from being used as weapons.


Ship name Affiliation Destination Colony Name Distance ly Launch year AT Arrival year AT Notes
Blue Tau Ceti Shuttles Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 565 676 Launched during the Technocalypse - infected with Black Rot
Jiu'en Heavenly Palaces Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 566 748 Recomissioned and launched just after the Technocalypse
Sphere of Dis Cislunar Alliance Ross 128 Tiwa 11.030 566 692 Beamrider station
Erwin Chargaff Genetekker Lalande 21185 Rajand 8.304 568 721 Launched just after the Technocalypse without boost assist
Eostre Children of Dawn 61 Virginis Eostremonath 27.9 607 890 Launch enabled by S:1 transap

The Great Expulsion

In 621 AT, GAIA expelled almost all modosophonts from the surface of the Earth. During this period she encouraged interstellar emigration by building arkships and assisting other craft to leave the system through her extensive launch infrastructure known as the Stargate. Out among the stars, the precursors of the Beamrider Network continued their development, including sending out their own missions to new colonies.

Ship name Affiliation Destination Colony Name Distance ly Launch year AT Arrival year AT Notes
Skylark of Valeron GAIA-assisted Ark Barnard's Star Barnard's Star 5.958 642 761 First of the Skylark series
Starlark GAIA-assisted Ark Epsilon Indi Gatlida 11.810 645 764 Relaunched to Praxis and beyond
Guardia GAIA-assisted Ark HD 4967 New Brooklyn 51.0 646 1331 Semi-
independent arkship
Fortuna GAIA Ark Tau Ceti Nova 11.905 648 768 redirected to Ran
Sanderling GAIA-assisted Ark Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 650 749 Skylark class ship
Sanlung GAIA-assisted Ark 40 Eridani Keid 16.350 652 810 One of the largest amat colony ships before First Federation
Bismilla GAIA Ark Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 654 744
Sopdet GAIA Ark Alpha Canis Majoris Sirius 8.600 655 698 First manned Sirius mission
Kosmos GAIA Ark Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.475 657 757
Gathol GAIA Ark Gliese 877 Dorangloon 28.041 659 929
Maid GAIA-assisted Ark TRAPPIST-1 Seven Marbles 40.541 660 865 Biont crew perished en route but shipmind survived
Final Mission GAIA Ark Tau Ceti Nova 11.912 663 770 Redirected to Ran
Esperanza GAIA-assisted Ark 107 Piscium Aztlan 24.4 664 876 Constructed by the Pearl Fortress island-state
Qin Shi Huang GAIA Ark Gliese 793 Huanghua 25.950 665 920
Ave Deo GAIA-assisted Ark Psi5 Aurigae Dionysos 53.900 667 941 Constructed by United Christian New Jerusalem Association
Harbinger of Peace Beamrider Network WISE 0855−0714 Patala 7.43 668 733 Deeper Covenant
New Dynamic GAIA-assisted Ark Gamma Pavonis Zarathustra 30.21 671 838 Constructed by Nedyne Industries
Wallace Beta Comae Berenices Arcadia 29.950 673 972 Transapient probe
Mina Beta Canum Venaticorum Chara 27.530 673 949
Forever GAIA ark Lalande 21185 Rajand 8.304 674 758
Jordin Kare Beamrider Network Ross 248 Rihal 10.29 675 760 Beamrider station
Jubilee GAIA Ark Alpha Canis Minoris Procyon 11.460 676 749 failed - entry refused
Nightlark GAIA-assisted Ark Delta Pavonis Aristotle 19.920 679 failed - lost en route
Nanyang GAIA Ark Ross 128 Tiwa 11.030 681 737 relaunched to Gliese 783
Great Circle GAIA Ark Alpha Circini 54.000 683 866 Redirected to Proxima
Ark of Gold GAIA Ark Piazzi-Bessel 11.402 684 destroyed by meteoroid
Lana lana Beamrider Network Luhman 16 Yin-Yang 6.503 684 757 Sophtware-only mission
Hispania GAIA Ark Epsilon Indi 11.867 687 811
Momentous Trek Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.502 690 858
Shorelark GAIA-assisted Ark p Eridani Hamashta 25.500 692 830 Skylark class ship
Card Up! Beamrider Network Epsilon Indi Ba, Bb Praxis-Gnosis 11.87 692 765 Beamrider station
Lightslinger GAIA-assisted Ark Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.502 694 818
Archive of Kisumu GAIA ark Delta Pavonis Aristotle 19.893 696 802
Columbia GAIA ark Epsilon Eridani Ran 10.502 697 Failed - societal collapse
Antecanis GAIA Ark Alpha Canis Minoris Procyon 11.460 700 807 diverted to Sirius en route
Nandi GAIA Ark Epsilon Indi Ganesha 11.810 702 880 Hindi Expansion
Sandlark GAIA-assisted Ark Sigma Draconis Penglai 18.770 703 failed - lost en route
Magellanica 1 South American Alliance 18 Scorpii Felicidade 45.3 705 1704 declined help from GAIA
Hephaestus GAIA Ark Keid Twilight 16.350 707 789
Endurance Independent generation ship Beta Canum Venaticorum Chara 27.530 710 2795 did not decelerate
Zuma GAIA Ark Cervantes Negsoa 50.600 714 1080 South African arkship
Emissary GAIA Ark Gliese 205 MyuvYin 18.500 715 809
Trinity GAIA-assisted Ark Gliese 832 Eunchong 16.194 716 798 EOCC
Beneficence GAIA-assisted Ark Gamma Leporis Ao Lai 29.120 720 868 constructed by Exodus Beneficence
Magellanica 2 South American Alliance 18 Scorpii Felicidade 722 1732 declined help from GAIA
Magellanica 3 South American Alliance 18 Scorpii Felicidade 45.3 746 Failed - destroyed by micro-meteoroids
Rabelais Genetekker Iota Horologii Frog's Head 56.510 791 1611 Launched without help from GAIA
Tumerspeid Beamrider Network WISE 0855−0714 Patala 7.43 797 815 Deeper Covenant
Henshin Beamrider Network Wolf 359 Akela 7.860 797 817 Deeper Covenant

After the Rabelais left the Solar System, no more craft were launched into interstellar space (apart from a few Hider craft that migrated outwards via the Oort cloud) until the end of the Dark Age. The next ship to leave the system was the Dyaushpitr bound for Achird, at the start of the Federation Era.

In contrast, the nascent Beamrider Network continued to slowly expand. This expansion took the form of both missions to new locations and the addition of new vessels to the existing interstellar cycler networks. Perhaps just as important, the philosophy and lifestyle of what was already starting to be called the Deeper Covenant continued to spread among the beamrider-linked systems.

Drive Sail
Image from Steve Bowers
Two boostbeams focus on a drive sail as it assists a colony ship out of the Solar System
 
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Appears in Topics
0030 to 0900 AT: Solsys Era130 to 400 AT: The Interplanetary Age400 to 530 AT: The Solsys Golden Age
530 to 900 AT: The SunderingInner SphereInterstellar Colonization
 
Development Notes
Text by AstroChara, Ryan B (Rynn), Steve Bowers
Initially published on 21 November 2019.


Updated 20 January 2026 by Todd Drashner
 
 
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