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The Spaceflight Chronology was a Star Trek reference book published by Pocket Books December 24, 1979, by Stan and Fred Goldstein, illustrated by Rick Sternbach. It was, at time of printing, considered canonical.

Description

The stars beckon... Man responds!
The Human adventure is just beginning!
The publication of this book initiates an exciting and necessary project: to provide Starfleet Academy cadets with a concise illustrated history of their home planets, spaceflight, evolution and development.
So, cadets from Earth, welcome to the history of your planet's two-and-a-half illustrious centuries in space—years filled with extraordinary achievement, darkened by great tragedy, marked by countless marvels and perils. The future will be made by you who read this chronology.
Learn the past to make the future.
Live long and prosper!

Contents

1957–reference stardate 0/00
Apollo programSS CopernicusLunaSkylab ISoyuzspace shuttleSputnik 1Vostok 1
2001-2025 SFC
UNSS Lewis and ClarkMarsspace ferryUNSS U Thant (Stellar series) • UNSS Wheeler
2026-2050 SFC
Alpha CentauriUNSS FisherUNSS IcarusUNSS Prince of WalesUNSS Tycho Brahe
2051-2075 SFC
UNSS BonaventureUNSS Amityspace busspace arcVulcan
2076-2100 SFC
USS Horizonhospital shipUNSS PolluxRigeltransport
2101-2025 SFC
battlecruiserUSS EnterpriseUSS HurokUSS PattonPyrimiis
2126-2150 SFC
Alpha Virginis IIUSS DeweyUSS King CharlesshuttleplaneUSS Tritium
2151-2175 SFC
USS EnduranceHydra IIUSS MoscowUSS MuletrainRickenbacker-class
2176-2200 SFC
Enterprise shuttlecraftUSS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • space trawlerTalos IV
2200 SFC on
USS Enterprise (refit to Constitution II-class)

References

Characters

William AbramsonBela AbruzziMiriam AkkoordBuzz AldrinGregor AllinskyAnthony (Cruise Director)Robert AprilSarah AprilNeil ArmstrongAshworthJules AshworthRita AshworthWeldon AshworthHarmon AxelrodFrances BenoitBoyle (helmsman)ByxmyxRobert CarradineMordecai ChallahShaun ChristopherChuCoveyRichard DaystromFarnsworth DillinghamDwight EisenhowerLloyd ElkinsLuis FerarraKaren Van FleetCharles FourrierHenri FourrierJosé FreitagYuri GagarinZormer GanderaneManuel GassetMark GlynnAlex HamiltonJohn HammerlichTonsum HanRichard HannaWilhelm HenkeWendell HerzogJanet HesterHans HovendaalHadrian HuckleyChun JiFrank JocastaMohammed KahlilBoris KarpevKennedy (student)Haras KeolarKhrushchevHaddad KoireKorallMilton KornheiserVladimir KossenkoSerge KosyginDemetrius KovanasSvetlana KrenskyHelmut KreutzerAleksei LeonovIan MacGreggorLorenzo MalfattiStuart MannSalvatore MarcianoHenry McKennaPyotr MirabellaThomas MorrisonStephan MortimerOkuru NelsonStavros NiarchosAbel NiwenPeter O'BrianO'LearyLiam O'NeillLars OlmsteadJan OonlargerJohn OppenheimerRex OppermanMiguel OrtezCarlos dos PassosPeterson (student)Luigi PirelliFelix PjindikWilliam PomeroyPortilloKhan RevoxHarding RichardsonRosyJackson RoykirkAlberto SabellaHerbert SamuelsonHenry (USS Scythe)SevronShepherd (Admiral)Khan Noonien SinghWilliam SlaterJames SmithsonJoseph SpadoraSparonThomas StaffordHumphrey StannisStephan StephowskyThaddeau StonerPeter SullivanShu Tse SumSupakT'PauRoger TauberRoger TrautmannGregory TreeKonstantin TsiolkovskyFitzsimmons WallabeeGranville WebernTheodore WellerBruno WilhelmWinslowCarter WinstonHenry WinthropBrigham WuZeena
Referenced only
Alexander Graham BellZefram CochraneAlbert EinsteinGeorge WallabeeMargaret WallabeeRobert Wallabee

Starships and vehicles

Probes

Asteroid belt landerDrake probeExplorer 1Halley Comet probeLunar polar orbiterMariner 10Mars sample return probeMercury roverMilky Way probePioneer 10Pioneer Venus ProbeProject GalileoSaturn dual probeSputnik 1UNSS U Thant (Stellar series) • USS Orpheus (Kepler series) • Venus atmospheric balloonViking 1Voyager 1Voyager 2Wells series

Earth spacecraft

Apollo program (Apollo 7811121314151617Apollo-Soyuz) • Jupiter-CMercury 3SkylabSoyuz 19SS Copernicus (DY-100-class sleeper ship) • Voskhod 2Vostok 1Vostok 5Vostok 6

United Nations/United Earth starships

UNSS AdameveAFP-1UNSS Amity (Verne-class destroyer) • BathyscapheUNSS BonaventureUNSS Bon Homme RichardUNSS Courageous (DY-500-class) • UNSS FisherUNSS Icarus (Columbus-class) • UNSS Lewis and Clark (Aventeur-class sublight explorer) • UNSS Marco Polo (Merchant-class) • UNSS Pollux (Messier-class) • UNSS PowellUNSS Prince of Wales (Magellan-class space liner) • Terra 10 (generational ship) • UNSS TillerUNSS Tycho BraheVenus flyerWD-1 (warp ship) • UNSS Wheeler

Federation starships

USS AjaxUSS Alert (Castor-class) • USS ArchonUSS Bellweather (Placido-class) • USS Brahe (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Clara Barton (Castor-class) • CR-594USS Deerslayer (Voyager-class) • USS Dewey (University-class) • Diana (transport) • USS Endurance (Mann-class) • USS EnmityUSS Enterprise (Constitution-class heavy cruiser) • USS Enterprise (refit to Constitution II-class) • USS Enterprise (Declaration-class space-liner) • USS Garibaldi (Horizon-class) • USS Gemini (Libran-class) • USS Greyhound (Castor-class) • USS HammerUSS Hannibal (Marshall-class) • USS Horizon (Horizon-class) • USS Hurok (Broadway-class) • USS Icarus II (Placido-class) • USS Intrepid (Messier-class) • Juliana (starliner) • USS Kepler (Newton-class) • USS King Charles (Stellarford-class) • USS Leonides (Mann-class) • USS Moscow (Baton Rouge-class) • USS MuleskinnerUSS Muletrain (Provider-class) • USS Patton (Marshall-class) • USS Poisson (Calvary-class) • USS Poseidon (Mann-class) • USS Schlieman (Placido-class) • USS Scythe (Verne-class destroyer) • USS Sentry (Advance-class) • USS Tehran (Baton Rouge-class) • USS Tritium (Tritium-class) • USS ValiantUSS Wells

Klingon Empire starships

IKV Devisor

Starship classes

United Nations

Assist-classAventeur-classBelmont-classCochrane-classColumbus-classCompanion-classCosmos-classDY-100-classDY-300-classDY-500-classEdison-classFranklin-classGalileo-classGallant-classGlenn-classHorizon-classKeller-classLiberty-classLindbergh-classLong-classMagellan-classMerchant-classMessier-classMonticello-classParr-classSaratoga-classspace arkspace shuttleWheeler-classVanguard-classVerne-class

Federation Starfleet

Advance-classArrow-class fighterBaton Rouge-classBode-classBradley-classBroadway-classByrne-classCabot-classCalvary-classCanopus-classCastor-classClark-classConstitution-classChariot-classDeclaration-classDoppler-classEagle-classHale-classHopkins-classHunter-classLibran-classLowell-classMann-classMarshall-classMaster-classMercury-classMcCormick-classMessier-classNewton-classNormandy-classPalomar-classPointer-classPortsmith-classPowers-classPlacido-classProvider-classRickenbacker-classSawyer-classStellarford-classTritium-classUniversity-classVoyager-classWatt-class

Locations

Benecia colonyEarth (Balkonur CosmodromeCaliforniaCape CanaveralCape KennedyHoustonHuntsvilleJohnson Space CenterKhanton) • Luna (Clavius MinesFra MauroHadley RilleSea of StormsSea of Tranquility) • RralrarkSagittarius constellationSector 3.G4Sector 5BSector 7Sector 27Sector 34.9Sol asteroid beltTri-Beta sector

Stations and outposts

Arcturus test rangeAsteropolisCentauri firing rangeCentauri SpaceworksDelta research stationDelta VII outpostDeneva Research StationFarside MoonbaseGanymede outpostGoddard MoonbaseL-4 platformL-5 ColoniesMarsbase (Marsbase 1Marsbase 2Marsbase 3) • Memory AlphaPhobosPluto basePluto Research BaseRigel XII Mining ComplexSaturn solar baseSpaceflight MuseumStarbaseStarbase 1Starbase 5Starbase 6Starbase 11Starbase 12Starbase 20Starbase 25Starfleet MuseumTsiolkovskygradVenus North Pole Base

Planets and planetoids

Alpha CruciAlpha OmegaAlpha Virginis IIAndorArcturusArgelius IIBabelBayard's PlanetDelta IIDenevaEarthEpsilon ReptusGamma DemetriusGamma SpicaGanymedeHydra IIIotiaJupiterLunaMarsNeptunePlutoPyrimiis IPyrimiis IIRigel IIRigel IVRigel VRigel VIIRigel XIISaturnSigma Iotia IIT'KhutTalos IVTan TauriTellarTheta VIITitanUFC 522-IVVega ProximaVendikarVenusVulcanVulcanis A Vulcanis A IVVulcanis A VVulcanis A VIVulcanis A VII

Stars and systems

61 CygniAlpha Centauri (Alpha Centauri AAlpha Centauri BAlpha Centauri C) • Barnard's StarEpsilon EridaniGamma DemetriusHydraJewel StarsLalande 21185Phi PumaProcyon (Procyon AProcyon B) • PyrimiisRigelRoss 154Sol system (Sol) • Talos star groupTau CetiUFC 522Vulcan systemWolf 359

Races and cultures

AndorianCanarisCentauranHumanHydran (aquatic)IotianKlingonOrionRigellian (furred)RomulanTalosianTellariteVulcan

States and organizations

Army Ballistic Missile AgencyCombined Federation Strike FleetDeneva Research TeamJet Propulsion LaboratoryKlingon EmpireMerchant Marines NASANewsweek magazineProject SETISixth Fleet (UNSF)Soviet UnionStarfleet AcademyTASS news agencyThe New York Times newspaperSector 7 Wing FleetTime (magazine)UFP Galactic Crisis CenterUFP Patent OfficeUnited Federation of Planets United NationsUnited Nations 6th FleetUnited News ServiceUnited StatesVulcan Academy of Sciences

Science and classification

antimatter nacelleduotronicsfusion torpedofusion torpedo launcherimpulse enginelasermass driverparticle beamparticle beam cannonparticle cannonphasersolid crystal recordingspace stationstarshipsubspace radiotranstatortricorderwarp drive

Substances and energies

antimatterboron-steelcarboncondritic rockdilithiumgamma rayhydrogenhydroxylironlightmetalnickeloxygensilicontechnetium-99titaniumtrititaniumx ray

Events

Earth-Romulan War

Ranks and titles

captainchief administratorchief engineerchief medical officercommanding officercommodorecommunications officerdoctorprofessorscience officer

Scientific disciplines

astrotelemetryastronomycartographycommunicationsgeodynamometrygeometryhistoryholographymathematicsphysicspsionicstechnologywarp dynamics

Units of measurement

astronomical unitgigawattlight yearparsecwatt

Stellar classification

black holeCepheid variableclass S star

Other references

antimatter universeAmor asteroidsApollo asteroidsasteroidCochrane deceleration maneuvercontrolled-growth microorganismdilithiumdimensionelectromagnetismelementenergyFirst Babel Conferencefoodgeon holegovernmentgravityGross Solar ProductHodgkin's Law of Parallel Planetary DevelopmentholographhumanoidhyperspaceKassaba feverlibration pointlifeformmattermeasurementmedical tricordermicrobeOmega virusparallel universeplanetPluto plagueraces and culturesradiationradiorankrefitrelativityRigellian plagueSagittarian signalsSaurian brandyscienceSecond Babel ConferenceSol asteroid beltspacespace-timespace-time matrixstarstar systemstellar classificationtelekinesistelepathyTheory of Relativitytimetime gatetitleTransporter Demonstration ProjectUnified Field Equationsuniversal cubeuniverseweapon

Chronology

20th century

Appendices

Background

The book opens with a letter from Commandant of Starfleet Academy Brigham Wu thanking the faculty who helped to author the volume, which is intended to educate Starfleet Academy cadets about the history of the Federation and Starfleet, beginning with the early space voyages of Earth.

At the time that the Spaceflight Chronology was published, canon consisted solely of The Original Series and the TOS movie: The Motion Picture. Licensed sources up to that date only included a handful of novels by Bantam Books and the series of comics by Gold Key Comics, and did not have any cohesive influence on the topics of the Chronology.

The timeline described in Spaceflight Chronology and the events and ships therein were used by a number of other licensed works from the 1980s, such as the novels The Final Reflection, Strangers from the Sky, and Spock's World, the reference book "Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise", and FASA's Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. The FASA RPG's reference stardate system was a modified version of the SFC timeline, and dates from novels, FASA products, and other items based on this timeline are incorporated (with source notes).

The SFC timeline was increasingly strained by the events of the TOS movies, and eventually invalidated by details that were revealed over the course of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Enterprise. Due to this, some details from the SFC timeline must inevitably be disregarded. However, other details can be adapted (albeit imprecisely) into the now-standard timeline.

Differences from the standard timeline

World War III and the late 20th/early 21st centuries

In the SFC timeline, WW3 appears to be synonymous with the Eugenics Wars, is over by 1996, and has negligible effect on the expansion into space. The first decades of the 21st century are one long march of progress into the solar system, climaxing with manned sublight voyages to nearby star systems.

Summary

The SFC envisions much more rapid development in this period than later canon, and the situation at the end is completely different. It is very problematic to adapt SFC events in this period to the standard timeline. They need to be determined on a case-by-case basis to see how they mesh with later canon.

First contact and early warp

Following some 50 years of exploration, expansion, and development into the solar system, Earth was a stronger and more dynamic entity at mid-21st century in the SFC timeline than the war-ravaged place on the brink of complete collapse that emerged in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek First Contact, and Star Trek: Enterprise. The flow of events in its first contacts with its alien neighbors and interactions with them are equally different.

Summary

The SFC timeline in this period is completely unlike that later established in canon: Instead of a world reeling from global war and skirting the brink of complete collapse, with a single warp test vehicle spurring the Vulcans to make First Contact, there is a thriving but peaceful society throughout the solar system, making its first expeditions to other stars. Rather than being both aided and "held back" under Vulcan tutelage, Earth is one of the most advanced and leading societies in nearby space. Many of the events in the SFC timeline simply cannot be adapted to the main timeline, and those which can would likely have to be "stretched" or altered in some way to fit the different circumstances.

Birth of the Federation and the Romulan War

This period is the SFC's closest equivalent to the period depicted in Star Trek: Enterprise, even though the dates, sequence of events, and the political circumstances have many differences.

Summary

A period of interstellar diplomacy and trade, with increasing covert provocation by the Romulans culminating in war, this period has many strong parallels to the canon 2150s and 2160s. Major differences include the timing of the incorporation of the UFP relative to the Romulan War, and the relative strengths of the founding members (and composition; the SFC includes Rigel as a founding member), but if one includes the Coalition of Planets and compresses the timescale, a number of broad events and specific items are readily adaptable to the standard timeline.

Abridged version

The United Kingdom publication company, Phoebus Publishing, released an abridged version of the Spaceflight Chronology. The second cover posted above is from this book. This was released in 1980 to fans in England. This book contained the timeline and some starship profiles but lacked the news articles.

From the back cover:

The Spaceflight Chronology - abridged from a much greater work - has been compiled to provide Star Fleet Academy Cadets with a concise, illustrated history of their home planet's space-flight evolution and technical development. It covers two centuries, starting with the first Space Shuttle flights in 1980 and ending with the heavy cruiser Constitution class star ships in 2188. More than 100 spacecraft are featured; these include the Icarus which, in 2048, made Earth's first contact with the Alpha Centauri civilization and the King Charles, the most luxurious starliner ever built. Henceforth, freshman Cadets of planet Earth and eventually all freshman Cadets from Vulcan, Rigel, Alpha Centauri, Tellar and Andor, should include Spaceflight Chronology on their essential reading list.

Images

Timeline

1957–reference stardate 0/00

Connections

Spaceflight Chronology Timeline Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology
1980-1999 SFC2000-2049 SFC2050-2099 SFC2100-2149 SFC2150-2199 SFC2200-2249 SFC2250-2299 SFC2300 SFC2301 SFC2302 SFC2303 SFC
Starship classes of the Spaceflight Chronology
United Nations, United Earth Assist-classAventeur-classBelmont-classCochrane-classColumbus-classCompanion-classCosmos-classDY-500-classEdison-classFranklin-classGalileo-classGallant-classGlenn-classHorizon-classKeller-classLiberty (picket cruiser)Lindbergh-classLong-classMagellan-classMerchant-classMessier-classMonticello-classParr-classSaratoga-classWheeler-classVanguard-classVerne-class Earth icon image. Seal of United Earth icon image.
Federation, Starfleet Advance-classBaton Rouge-classBode-classBradley-classBroadway-classByrne-classCabot-classCalvary-classCanopus-classCastor-classClark-classConstitution-classChariot-classDeclaration-classDoppler-classEagle-classHale-classHopkins-classHunter-classLibran-classLowell-classMann-classMarshall-classMaster-classMercury-classMcCormick-classMessier-classNewton-classNormandy-classPalomar-classPointer-classPortsmith-classPowers-classPlacido-classProvider-classRickenbacker-classSawyer-classStellarford-classTritium-classUniversity-classVoyager-classWatt-class Federation icon image. icon image.
Star Trek reference works
In-universe BlueprintsStar Fleet Technical ManualMedical Reference ManualOfficial Cooking ManualSpaceflight ChronologyMonstersThe Motion Picture BlueprintsMapsBiographiesKlingon DictionaryWho's Who in Star Trek (Issues 12) • Mr. Scott's Guide to the EnterpriseThe Worlds of the FederationTNG Technical JournalTNG Technical ManualChronologyEncyclopedia (Volumes 1234) • Ferengi Rules of AcquisitionFederation PassportThe Klingon WayNCC-1701-D BlueprintsThese Are the Voyages...Federation Travel GuideA Star to Steer Her ByLegends of the FerengiKlingon for the Galactic TravelerQ's Guide to the ContinuumDS9 Technical ManualThe Tribble HandbookThe Klingon HamletStar Trek CookbookCelebrationsStarship SpotterBridge Commander – Official Strategy GuideThe Hologram's HandbookThe Starfleet Survival GuideStar ChartsShips of the LineStar Trek Legacy Prima Official Game GuideCaptain Kirk's Guide to WomenHaynes Manuals (USS EnterpriseKlingon Bird of Prey) • Federation: The First 150 YearsOn Board the USS EnterpriseA Very Klingon KhristmasStellar CartographyKlingon Art of WarAutobiographies (James T. KirkJean-Luc PicardKathryn JanewaySpockBenjamin Sisko) • Hidden Universe Travel Guides (VulcanKlingon Empire) • Shipyards (Starfleet Ships, 2151-2293Starfleet Ships, 2294-The FutureThe Klingon FleetFederation MembersBorg & Delta Quadrant, A to K Delta Quadrant, L to ZAlpha Quadrant, A-KAlpha Quadrant, L-Z) • Illustrated Handbooks (NCC-1701-DNCC-1701 & 1701-AVoyagerDeep Space 9) • Body by StarfleetKirk Fu ManualThe Star Trek CookbookUSS Cerritos Crew Handbook
Real world The Making of Star TrekThe World of Star TrekInside Star TrekMaking of The Motion PictureCompendiumMaking of The Wrath of KhanTNG CompanionMake-Up FX JournalWhere No One Has Gone Before: A History in PicturesMaking of DS9The Art of Star TrekInside Star Trek: The Real StoryMaking of First ContactPhase II: The Lost SeriesTOS SketchbookThe Continuing MissionScience LogsTNG Sketchbook: The MoviesAction!Secrets of InsurrectionQuotable Star TrekDS9 CompanionAliens & ArtifactsThe Magic of TribblesVOY CompanionVoyages of Imagination101Star Trek: The Art of the FilmArt of Star Trek OnlineA Comics History365TNG 365Star Trek VaultVisual DictionaryCostumesNew Life and New Civilizations: Exploring Star Trek ComicsPop-UpsTNG: WarpedThe Star Trek BookThe Official Guide to Our Universe50 Artists 50 YearsDesigning Starships (The Enterprises and BeyondThe USS Voyager and BeyondThe Kelvin TimelineDSC Designing StarshipsDS9 and Beyond) • TreknologyThe Art of Star Trek: The Kelvin TimelineLost ScenesThe Art of John EavesOfficial Guide to TASThe Motion Picture: Inside the Art & Visual EffectsCocktails: A Stellar CompendiumArt of DSCVOY: A CelebrationThe Artistry of Dan CurryDesigning the Final FrontierTOS: A CelebrationThe Star Trek Book of FriendshipPicard: The Art and Making of the SeriesThe Art of Star Trek: Lower Decks

External link