1984 - The Rogers Report
The Rogers report looks into the near nuclear disaster at Jamestown. The report finds Soviet gunfire damaged the cooling system and caused the near disaster. There are rumors of a second secret nuclear reactor that was the real cause, but this is dismissed as conspiracy theories. (There really was a second reactor.) Congress calls for sanctions on the Soviet Union for nearly causing the disaster, but President Reagan disagrees. This leads to a US/USSR peace agreement that splits the moon between the two superpowers.
1985 - Internet Accessibility
Tim Berners-Lee calls for the US to open the Internet to the public. The US currently restricts it government computers.
1986 - Global Space Boom
India launches space station, joining a dozen countries, including several European nations, Japan, China, and Turkey. Frequent launches lower overall cost allowing other countries access to space. Polaris Space Tours is founded by Sam Cleveland and Karen Baldwin to provide private access to space. Their spaceplane Polaris 1 should start sending paying customers to low Earth orbit by 1987.
1987 - Clean Nuclear Energy
Dev Ayesa and Richard Hilliard develop first working nuclear fusion reactor. Helium-3 fuel for the reactor is rare on Earth, but NASA announces they found enormous deposits of Helium-3 on the Moon. NASA partners with Helios Aerospace, also founded by Ayesa and Hilliard, to mine the Helium-3. Gorbachev announces Soviet space agency Roscosmos will partner with energy conglomerate Kuragin to mine Helium-3 on the Moon. Kuragin is thriving because of Gorbachev’s hybrid market economy. President Gary Hart calls for acceleration of nuclear fusion and electric vehicles to reduce and eventually eliminate reliance on fossil fuels.
1988 - Mexico’s New President
Mexican Communist Party narrowly wins presidential election with 52% of vote defeating pro-American president. Mexican government will develop close diplomatic ties with the USSR and nationalize banks and businesses deemed critical to national interests. Five years ago, Panama’s Communist Party election win nearly caused a nuclear confrontation between the two superpowers. Since then, the US has taken a more laid back approach to legally elected communist governments, including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. Communist governments support Gorbachev’s hybrid economic model combining the best of a free enterprise system and a communist broad social safety net. Senator Bob Dole and other Republicans support breaking off diplomatic relations with Mexico, but President Hart does not citing the disastrous Panama response.
1989 - Pathfinder Tragedy
NASA recovers bodies of five moon Marines killed in a training exercise when Pathfinder shuttle unexpectedly depressurized. NASA and the Department of Defense grounds Pathfinder shuttles while cause is investigated. Pathfinder has launched Thomas Paine orbital telescope and Moonlab research station as well as contributing to the rapid expansion of Jamestown. In the meantime, NASA is looking at which missions can be completed with the existing Space Shuttle fleet. Trail Blazers defeat Pistons in NBA championship. Trail Blazer Michael Jordon named MVP.
1990 - North Korean Launch
North Korean rocket explodes again during launch. It’s feared North Korea is developing long range weapons under the cover of its space program. North Korea claims it was a scientific payload to be launched into polar orbit. President Hart urges Soviet Union to pressure North Korea to allow international observers to visit its space headquarters. Soviet Union has provided support to North Korea for its space program and nuclear energy facilities. In 1988, North Korea announced it will abandon its ICBM program in exchange for the lifting of UN sanctions. Instead, it will focus on its space program.
1991 - Kuwait Invasion
Iraq invades Kuwait. President Hart refuses to send troops to help them. He doesn’t see how sending troops would help the situation in a region that has never fully embraced democratic values, good governance, or rule of law. Saudi Arabia denounces Hart’s refusal and fears Iraq will attack them next. Oil prices in OPEC have collapsed because of fusion reactors.
1992 - Presidential Primaries
Vice President Al Gore and Governor Bill Clinton running for President. Al Gore refuses to go negative in campaign against Clinton concerning allegations of improprieties in real estate deals. Senator Bob Dole is Republican front runner. Republican Senator Ellen Wilson is also running. Ross Perot running as an independent.
