Interplanetary Travel Map

Interplanetary Travel Map - 31 October 2310 (click to view)
Traditional orbital maps of the Sol system are of little use to 24th century interplanetary travelers. These static fixtures convey very little useful information for planning voyages beyond Earth. In the past century, travel agencies have devised more intuitive animated maps that provide more useful information relative to the point of departure (in this case Earth). At the top of this graphic is an Orbital Range Chart or "Orbit Slot" map, showing the maximum and minimum distances from Earth for a given planet or important object. The planet "rides" along this slot to show its current distance and direction of travel. This gives travelers a rough idea of ideal launch windows and whether the planet or object is approaching or retreating from Earth which can impact travel times and fuel costs.
While the map defaults to the current time and date, users can scroll forward or backward in time to preview a time when launch conditions may be more ideal.
Below the slot map are four orbital maps. The maps each depict a satellite system around one of the major planets of the Sol system. NOTE: Uranus and Neptune are not depicted due to the high resource cost to travel there. Only specialized exploratory missions are currently available for these planets and their moons, and even these are relatively rare. These maps are always oriented relative to Earth, with the exception of the Earth system, which is oriented to Sol. Another anomaly of the Earth system is the hollow diamond showing the "ghost" location of Most Mira Station - Мост Мира Станция which was destroyed in October 2301. Most Mira is the first major satellite to be removed from orbital charts in the modern era, so many cartographers have opted not to remove the icon from their maps. Instead, Most Mira's "ghost" continues to mark its historic orbital path that it would continue to follow had it not been destroyed. This is also the location of memorial Nav Markers which tourists can visit at the former location of Most Mira, giving the map icon a practical function.