Earth-Saturn probe
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
The Earth-Saturn probe was the first manned mission from Earth to Saturn that took place in the early 21st century.
The expedition was led by Colonel Shaun Geoffrey Christopher; other crew members included Fontana and O'Herlihy.
Colonel Christopher was the reason the USS Enterprise had to find a way to return Captain John Christopher to Earth, after they accidentally intercepted him in 1969. Had they not done so, there would have been no Shaun Geoffrey Christopher, and the future would have been changed unpredictably. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
The mission patch was among others displayed in the 602 Club. (ENT: "First Flight")
[edit] Background
- Astronauts Fontana and O'Herlihy are named after writer D.C. Fontana and director Michael O'Herlihy of "Tomorrow is Yesterday".
- According to Star Trek Chronology this mission took place in 2009. This date is based on conjecture that 40 years had passed after the events of "Tomorrow is Yesterday".
- According to Spaceflight Chronology this mission took place in 2020. The spaceship used on the mission was the Aventeur-class UNSS Lewis and Clark. The clean fission-powered ship was assembled on Earth orbit in the year 2008. It was 125 meters in lenght and had the crew complement of 3 officers, 12 crew, and the passenger capacity of 94. The same ship was used for the first manned mission to Jupiter in 2014. The voyage to Saturn lasted 81 days. Geological surveys discovered signs of past mining on the second and fouth moons of Saturn, such as laser-cut mine shafts, tread marks, and strip mining scars. This was the first sign of the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life. According to "One Small Step" however, no signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life had been discovered prior to 2032.
