1980-1999 SFC

This page details the dates beginning with reference stardate -1/80, until stardate -1/99.

Although the ST reference: Spaceflight Chronology authors intended for this timeline to be definitive as compared to real years, numerous details in canon contradict the timeline. The dates are presented as reference stardates (as the FASA RPG presented them) in order to help correlate them with canon dates.

Reference dates

1980

This reference date coincides with approximately 1981 or 1982 in relation to the real-life events described in the below source.

reference stardate -1/80

Earth's space shuttle flights begin as available payload space is booked full. Early missions will demonstrate the many uses of the gravity-free vacuum of space.

1982

This reference date coincides with approximately 1989 and later in relation to the real-life events described in the below source.

reference stardate -1/82

• A Human-built space probe, the Lunar polar orbiter transmits data concerning surface chemistry and heat flow on Earth's moon, Luna.
• Project Galileo departs from Earth orbit for Jupiter. It will descend into the Jovian atmosphere behind a heat shield, radioing back data until the increasing pressure crushes the hull, about 30 minutes after entry.

1983

reference stardate -1/83

• The space telescope is orbited. This 2.4m aperture optical telescope, working above atmospheric turbulence, will revolutionize man's view of the universe.
• The Venus Atmospheric Balloon enters the Venusian atmosphere, sending back data from its gondola of scientific instruments; it circles the planet on the stratospheric winds for several days.

1985

reference stardate -1/85

Probe flies by Halley's Comet with a battery of instruments that measure its tenuous tail, and continues on to encounter comet Tempel 2 on stardate -1/88.

1986

reference stardate -1/86

Multiple Asteroid Rendezvous Mission will view these bodies in space close-up with an eye on the future mining of these interplanetary travelers.

1987

reference stardate -1/8703

The Andorian civilization test their first prototype interstellar starship.

1988

reference stardate -1/88

Mars Sample Return Probe is launched. It will retrieve soil and rocks for analysis back on Earth when it returns on stardate -1/91.

1990

reference stardate -1/9001

Kahless epetai-Riskadh unifies the Klingon Empire and leads it to the stars (and against the Romulans). Ruled from stardate -1/9001 to 0/0306.15.

1991

reference stardate -1/91

The Saturn Dual Probe arrives at the planet, with the satellite going into orbit as the descent stage relays information as it enters the planet's atmosphere.

1992

This reference date coincides with approximately 2011 and later in relation to the real-life events described in the below source.

reference stardate -1/92

The space shuttle completes its twelve-year series so successfully, man will forever be in space.

1994

reference stardate -1/94

Manned missions to the moon begin again with several nations taking part. Cooperating as never before, they have a goal of building a permanent moon base by the turn of the century.

1996

reference stardate -1/96

The DY-100 is the first mass-produced space ship capable of short interplanetary travel (Earth-moon). In an uprated mode, it will be able to take men to Mars.

1998

reference stardate -1/98

Goddard Moonbase, the first large scale international space project, will provide accommodations for 70 in the fields of space research and industry.

1999

reference stardate -1/99

Asteroid Belt Lander reveals asteroids to be rich in important raw materials for further space industrialization.