Kuiper Belt Exploration Program

The Kuiper Belt Exploration Program, abbreviated as KBEP, was a program that was launched by NASA, SpaceX, and other space companies in 2045. These new missions came with the first manned mission being launched to Kupierian objects. The program has been involved with the colonisation of Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea and Sedna throughout the 21st to 23rd centuries.

Launch

After many debates on how to move further into the Solar System, NASA had gathered all space companies on Earth and plan out a new program to uncover new dwarf planets/minor bodies of the outer Solar System, even debating the idea of progressing into the Oort Cloud; a gigantic cloud about a light year away that is the source of all long-period comets. The Oort Cloud idea was eventually dropped when it was realized that stasis technology was not advanced enough at the time.

Nasa and SpaceX announced in 2145 that they had launced the new program, and began to set up space stations around Mars and Jupiter. Cryogenic freezing was now possible at this time, making stasis for months at a time possible. Minimal neccesities were needed on these ships that Nasa and SpaceX were building so it was quite cheap.

The first mission involved the first space probe placed into orbit around Pluto scanning the surface for a suitable colony location. After a year of scanning the surface, they found a location suitable for a small human colony which could support about twenty humans, a good start to an increasing population over the coming years.

Pre-missions

NASA and other space companies in the 2030's and 2040's had started to debate the idea of initiating the development of a new program that would help the human race progress into the outer Solar System. This involved ideas of mining the dwarf planets for their resources which can help construct new spaceships and even colonies. They discussed plans of paying Pluto another visit due and then moving towards Eris, the largest dwarf planet in the Solar System. During the debate, they hoped to catalogue all known objects in the Solar System but realising there are trillions of comets and asteroids, it was believed to be impossible.

Missions

Pluto (2056-2060)

One of the first missions were all to Pluto, including it's colonisation in 2060. These included orbital probes, space stations, robotic landers and rovers. In 2059, after the arrival of the first Stasis Ships, manned missions to the surface were being made, and small space stations were also put into Plutonian orbit.

Eris (2071-2075)

Eris as viewed from low-orbit, image brightene up for easier viewing.

The largest dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, Eris was colonized in 2075 following the recent fly-by of a space probe a few months earlier. A space station was placed into orbit around the dwarf planet which aided the colonisation. The first human to step on to the surface of Eris stared at the distant Sun and said with awe: "we are expanding, and nothing can stop us"

Haumea (2076-2080)

Haumea, the most oblated object found, is another Kuiper Belt which was officially reached in 2076. Like the other Kuiper Belt objects, exploration followed the arrival of numerous space probes. Haumea was difficult to colonise due to jts strange shape so landings were mainly conducted at the polar regions. Only short term settlements were built for the expedition as it was considered undesirable for any long-term habitation.

Makemake (2181-2185)

Another Kuiper Belt object, Makemake was reached in 2181, only a year later from Haumea thanks to their close orbits. Following the recent close encounter of a previous space probe, which has entered interstellar space by now. A research base, named Easter Outpost, was established to mine and study resources on the surface, whilst also mapping for future mining sites.

Sedna (2196-2210)

One of the most distant objects found in the Solar System, Sedna serves as mining world for interstellar missions. Although warp drives have entered the space industry, the mining stations instead fuel probes that scan incoming comets from the Oort Cloud or even extraterrestrial spacecraft. It was properly colonised in 2210, after 14 years of simple mining and exploration, due to its orbit towards the Solar System's edge.

First image of Sedna's surface, taken by an astronaut.

After 2210 C.E

Once Sedna was colonised, the KBEP was declared a huge success and was officially completed in 2280. It has been marked as a stepping stone for how willing Humanity's curiosity can be for exploration and the limits it will venture to.