Void Frontier, Beyond Known Space

You must be determined to travel across the void; those who can't will often lose their minds. - Astral Pioneer

Since the first Astral Crafts left the atmosphere of Zanphra, they have sought out worlds to explore and colonize their resources. Yet all must travel across the dark and empty space that is the void to reach them. These planets, moons, and asteroids have been most colonized in the centuries that followed through strength and hardship. Still, now more significant challenges have come to face as spacefaring people set their sights on what lies beyond their solar system in unknown reaches of the Void Frontier.

Geography

Astra travelers use the term Void Frontier to generalize the completely unknown regions of space that are uncharted within and beyond the solar system. With little to no information to use, it is dangerous to those seeking to travel there.

Ecosystem

Zero Gravity: Lacking any gravity has made it impossible for any objects entering its area to stay in place, making them float aimlessly within its reaches unless caught in the orbit of any object or have anything create propulsion to create movement.
Lifeless: Without a proper atmosphere, no form of chemicals can create breathable air, and without it, anyone with a breathing system will suffocate in a matter of minutes.
Subzero Temperatures: Without proper environmental gear and tempered machinery to produce heat, living beings can instantly freeze, and electronics are rendered useless.

Natural Resources

Potential Resources: Many going into the frontier are often looking for resources to be used to make a profit or begin to construct infrastructure to create settlements and bases to create permanent holdings in the area.
Unknown Worlds: Many have sought out unexplored worlds to colonize and terraform to make them more habitable, with few hoping that there are actual planets that can support life.

History

Traversing The Silent Unknown

In the early decades of the solar system's traversal by the global powers that could traverse it, Astranauts felt eerie entering the lifeless void, as they had nowhere to go but towards their destination. Their only safety is several dense layers of metal from dying in silence in the cold, empty darkness they traveled across. Not everyone was able to handle the months inside their vessels and went mad, often choosing to end their misery and their compatriots by sabotaging their craft, killing all onboard, or attempting to return to Zanphra. Some even went missing altogether, failing to find anything valuable as they journeyed into the unknown. However, with technology and a better understanding of travel across the solar system, the Void Frontier began to shrink as space stations and colonies began to be built by anyone able to reach it. Leading to it being colonized faster with these checkpoints for craft to resupply and their crews to rest.
In the five hundred years since those pioneering days, much of the solar system has been explored and colonized, with various factions claiming them. But now, people seek to find more in the unexplored dark reaches of space to find their place amongst the stars. The only problem is that no forms of technology beyond their own allow FTL to travel into other systems. This has caused the race to find a way to reach them much faster, such as generation craft to reach their destination decade or centuries after they set out to travel towards it. Some have even delved into long-term cryosleep to avoid any problems during the journey and lessen the hardships of such a journey. Whatever idea will succeed doesn't matter; when that time comes, a new chapter exploring the Void Frontier will arrive to prove what is out there in the not-so-empty void.

Tourism

Very few travel to these regions unless they are prepared to do so. Most venture into unknown areas of the solar system and beyond, as there is no way to reach the system outside. Those who tread here are mainly pioneers, explorers, criminals, corporations, and military forces, all seeking to claim whatever they can find.

Alternative Name(s)

Unknown Space

Type

Void

Contested By

• Coalition of Democratic States
• Imperial Allegiance

Race To Power

by Jester%

There are stalemates everywhere, so they explore the void to have the tide turn in their favor. - Astra Miner

Since the colonization of much of the solar system, various groups have tried to lay claim to whatever they can find to further their goals. As these claims became less and less, the more they continued to explore the outer reaches to seek out more to enrich themselves. As the end of solar exploration is at hand, many have been attempting to create FTL technology to begin their conquest of the stars and cement their dominace over their rivals.