23rd Century

The 23nd century, lasting from January 1st 2200 to December 31st 2299, is the 3nd century of the 2nd Millenium CE. It is the second century and supposed golden age of the Early Interplanetary Era. Highlights included various independence movements throughout the solar system, the maturation of the system-wide economy, the beginnings of Martian terraforming, the launch of the ATHENA project, and many medical advancements.

On Earth, the North African Union became a world power. The Soviet Union instituted a massive system of recentralization of rural communities, moving its primary government and industry off-world, reverting most of its territory to reformation. The seawalls of the late-21st century tended to fail after time, and sea level rose an average of 6.7 meters from 2000 levels. North America united under the North American Pact. China split between a nationalist regime and a communist one, prompting a series of civil wars on earth and various controlled conflicts throughout the system. The Russian Empire shifted towards democracy. Quality of life generally increased on Earth.

In space, Luna's various colonies, long wracked by tensions sculpted and controlled by their mother nations, formed the First Lunar Republic in 2231. Jupiter was granted independence in 2202. A few straggling STL interstellar missions were launched in the 2260s. The Saturn Coalition became a superpower, on par with the UMC, Tai, and several earth nations. Corporations reached nation-state levels on many worlds. VASIMR engines gradually became replaced by nuclear engines, leading to faster travel times throughout the system.

Key issues included bioethics, nanotechnology, terraforming, peacekeeping, corporatocracies, expansion of human rights, the fate of the species, and computer ethics.