| Era | 22nd century and beyond |
| Purpose | Creating habitable environments |
| Key features | Diverse ecosystems • Customized landscapes • Integration of advanced technology • Interplanetary governance, economy, and culture |
| Planets and moons | Earth • Europa (Jupiter's moon) • Titan (Saturn's moon) • Enceladus (Saturn's moon) |
| Environmental challenges | Conservation • Sustainability • Preservation • Interplanetary relations |
Terraforming is the hypothetical process of making an extraterrestrial planet or other body such as a moon or asteroid habitable on a large scale for human life, or of making it able to support an Earth-like ecosystem. The concept of terraforming has been a subject of many works of science fiction, but the process has not been successfully implemented as of yet in our timeline.
Terraformed is an alternative timeline where humanity has successfully terraformed and colonized multiple planets and moons in the Solar System, creating an interplanetary civilization.
The first successful terraforming project involved restoring Earth itself in the 22nd century. After decades of environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources, global leaders united to restore Earth's beleaguered ecosystems. Large-scale projects such as the Great Barrier Reef replenishment, the Yellowstone National Park expansion, and the Sahara Desert reforestation demonstrated the potential of ecosystem restoration and inspired humanity to further explore extraterrestrial terraforming.
With Earth's environment restored and technological advancements in fusion engines, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, humanity expanded its reach to Mars and Venus. Terraforming these planets posed numerous challenges due to their atmospheric makeup and gravity conditions, leading to a lengthy process of climate manipulation, geoengineering, and biospheric manufacturing.
By the late 22nd century, both planets had been transformed into inhabitable worlds, with Earth-like environments supported by artificial atmospheres. These planets boast a variety of unique landscapes, flora, and fauna, reflective of the interplanetary spirit of innovation and diversity.
Later in the 22nd century, humanity expanded its reach to Jupiter and Saturn's moons, including Europa, Titan, and Enceladus. These terraforming projects were more technically complex due to their respective extreme environments. For instance, the moon of Europa required the creation of subterranean aquatic cities in order to build a habitable environment for human life.
In contrast, the moon of Titan required the manipulation of its thick atmosphere to create a human-friendly environment while still maintaining its famous methane lakes and icy landscapes. The moon of Enceladus, known for subsurface seas and towering ice columns, is now the location of cutting-edge research in astrobiology and low-gravity engineering.
As human colonies expanded throughout the Solar System, the need for interplanetary governance became a priority. Various forms of governments formed in response, including both transnational corporations and nation-states. International treaties were signed to establish the ownership, cooperation, and resource sharing in the colonization of the celestial bodies.
The Terrestrial Accords treaty formed in 2247 established the basic principles of interplanetary governance, including the fair distribution of resources and territories, the protection of indigenous ecosystems, and the development of interplanetary commerce.
Interplanetary commerce has been facilitated by the development of new energy sources, including nuclear fusion power and advanced artificial photosynthesis, which enable the transportation of resources across vast distances. The establishment of a Solar System Monetary Union helped streamline trade and maintain economic stability, while the networks of Interplanetary Trade Routes ensured that trade and commerce flowed seamlessly.
Despite rapid developments in terraforming, significant challenges remain in preserving the diverse environments of each world. Continued expansion has led to concerns over the depletion of resources, the contamination of ecosystems, and the promotion of unsustainable economic practices.
To combat these issues, the Solar System Environmental Agency was established to oversee preservation efforts, promote environmentally friendly economic practices and protect pristine environments for scientific research and long-term sustainability.
With humanity now an interplanetary species, terraforming efforts have only expanded. The most significant remaining frontier is humanity's quest to establish colonies on the moons of the gas giants Uranus and Neptune, as well as the search for potentially habitable exoplanets beyond our Solar System.
Advances in terraforming technology, interplanetary governance, and economic cooperation will continue to shape the future of our civilization. As new worlds are explored and terraformed, the hope is that humanity will continue to learn and grow, while preserving the intricate balance of life across the cosmos.
